How does a network work?

To understand what packet sniffing is, we should understand first what a network is. A computer network is, in simple terms, a set of devices connected to each other, capable of exchanging information.

This communication takes place in an organized and standardized manner, following a conceptual model called Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) which divides data transmission into the following 7 layers:

Packet sniffers in the data flow

When a user accesses a website or sends a message, the information is fragmented into data packets. Each packet carries pieces of the communication and contains information that is public by default, such as the source and destination addresses and control flags. Thus, during their route, packets can be intercepted and exploited for various purposes.

This is where sniffers come in: programs or devices that can “eavesdrop” on each packet as it flows through the network, monitoring and recording traffic. These tools can observe all communication passing through a given point in the infrastructure if the network is not properly protected.

Thus, the technique of packet sniffing is a form of traffic analysis that consists of intercepting and recording packets in transit, which can serve a variety of purposes: from diagnosing failures and optimizing performance to spying on communications and stealing sensitive information.

The sniffer

A sniffer is the mechanism — in software or hardware — that makes packet sniffing possible. It acts as a network traffic log, observing the packets that pass through an interface and making them available for analysis.

In modern networks, sniffers are mainly used in two distinct ways:

• Legitimate contexts in which network administrators use tools such as tcpdump (command line, focused on capture) or Wireshark (graphical interface, with advanced decoding) to diagnose failures, audit configurations, and perform forensic analysis. Thus, it is the use of packet inspection tools to verify the health and security of a system.
• Malicious contexts in which hacker communities use adapted sniffers to capture credentials, session tokens, and other sensitive data, which can then be used for espionage or more elaborate attacks.

Therefore, the difference is not in the technology itself, but in the intention of the operator.

Broadcast and sniffing techniques

The broadcast sniffing technique exploits the operation of Ethernet networks in shared environments. Whenever a machine sends data, it is encapsulated in a MAC frame that carries the physical address of the recipient.

The network interface card (NIC) is the hardware component responsible for this communication: it connects the computer to the network, translating data into electrical or radio signals, and has a unique 48-bit MAC address. The first 24 bits identify the manufacturer and the last 24 bits identify the card's serial number. This address serves as the machine's physical “identity” within the network.

Normally, the NIC only accepts frames destined for its own MAC address and discards the rest. However, a sniffer changes this behavior by putting the card into promiscuous mode. In this state, the NIC accepts all incoming frames, regardless of the recipient, and delivers them to the operating system for analysis.

In networks based on hubs or other means of diffusion, this means that a single computer can observe virtually all local traffic. In modern networks with switches, port isolation limits this visibility, requiring additional resources such as port mirroring, TAPs, or traffic manipulation techniques (e.g., ARP spoofing) for effective capture.

Therefore, in short, broadcast sniffing consists of exploiting the network card's ability to accept packets that do not belong to it, turning the network's broadcast architecture into an opportunity to monitor other people's communications.

Legitimate and illegitimate uses of packet sniffing

If we stick with the definition of packet sniffing as the capture by a user of communication packets to which they do not have access permission, we should consider all sniffer activity to be malicious. However, as is often the case in the world of information security, the same tools and techniques can be used for hacking, protecting, or optimizing.

Therefore, we can refer to the legitimate practices of monitoring a network, using tools such as Wireshark and tcpdump, as packet analysis. The beneficiaries of inspecting data packets on a network with these tools include:

• Developers: to diagnose slow responses, retransmissions, and bottlenecks; validate payload and header formats; and reconstruct requests and measure latencies during debugging processes.
• System administrators: to obtain an accurate snapshot of current network conditions (throughput, losses, congestion), adjust performance parameters, and use advanced filters to maintain infrastructure efficiency.
• Security analysts: to perform forensic investigations based on captured traffic, identify anomalous behavior, confirm exfiltration vectors, and produce solid evidence in response to incidents.
• Students: to observe the functioning of protocols (such as DHCP, TCP, TLS) in a practical way in laboratories or controlled environments, transforming abstract concepts into concrete experiences and accelerating learning.

Packet sniffing, on the other hand, which is the use of these same tools with malicious intent, benefits cybercriminals in two ways:

1. Passive attacks: the attacker only observes traffic for reconnaissance (mapping hosts, ports, and services), captures plaintext data (HTTP, FTP, Telnet, some VoIP streams) to extract credentials, tokens, or cookies, and collects useful metadata to plan the next phases of the attack (timings, communication patterns, exposed endpoints). It is stealthy and difficult to detect because it does not alter the observed flow.
2. Active attacks: the attacker acts to increase their visibility or manipulate traffic — for example, using ARP spoofing to redirect packets, injects or modifies packets to falsify sessions or cause failures, and to create conditions that enable data interception and alteration. These methods are preliminary steps in the famous Man in The Middle attack and constitute one of the most efficient attacks for hijacking data and credentials.

Defense techniques against packet sniffing

The best defense practices against sniffing are:

1. Use end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption ensures that even if an attacker intercepts network packets, they cannot read the content. Secure protocols such as HTTPS, TLS, and SSH help protect confidential communications.

2. Implement network segmentation

Dividing a network into smaller segments reduces the chances of an attacker gaining access to the entire system. This method of decentralization limits the damage caused by a successful interception attempt.

3. Enable secure authentication mechanisms

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and strong password policies can prevent attackers from using stolen credentials to access sensitive data.

4. Deploy network monitoring tools

Regularly monitoring network traffic using intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) can help identify suspicious activity and mitigate threats before they cause damage.

5. Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

VPNs encrypt internet traffic, making it difficult for hackers to intercept or examine network packets. This applies particularly to remote employees and those who access company networks via public Wi-Fi.

For the best protections against packet analysis, using a decentralized VPN is essential. Traditional VPNs are based on centralized servers, making your IP address linkable to your online activities on the VPN company’s single proxy. With a decentralized VPN like NymVPN, your data packets are routed through a multi-hop, decentralized network to make you unlinkable to your destination or activity.

6. Regularly update software and security patches

Outdated software often contains vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit to deploy packet sniffers. Keeping operating systems, network devices, and applications up to date reduces the risk of such attacks.

Conclusion

Packet sniffing is both one of the most powerful and most dangerous tools in the field of cybersecurity. When used legitimately — in development environments, system administration, teaching, or forensic analysis — it becomes indispensable for understanding, debugging, and strengthening computer networks. On the other hand, when exploited with malicious intent, it becomes a stealthy mechanism for spying and stealing sensitive information.

This dual nature highlights a central lesson: technology itself is neither good nor bad, nor even neutral: it depends on the purposes of those who use it, as Melvin Kranzberg rightly pointed out. It is up to organizations and users to adopt robust defense measures — such as encryption, network segmentation, strong authentication, and continuous monitoring — to reduce the attack surface and hinder the actions of malicious sniffers.

Finally, understanding the workings, uses, and risks of packet sniffing is not just an academic exercise, but an essential step for anyone interested in protecting data and maintaining the integrity of communications in today's digital world.