Packet Sniffers

Hi, I have a question. I go to a large university, and I was recently informed of this packet sniffing. I was told by some friends that anyone with a packet sniffer on their computer could find out things like people's browsing habits, passwords, and credit card information, because of the fact that the university uses a hub to connect all of the computers in their dorm to the internet. Is this true? Is it that easy to find out things using a packet sniffer? And, if it is, how can I protect myself?

 

Well, it's true enough, but the fact is the internet is just a big hub, so the same principle applies to the entire internet. Not just your dorm room. Anyone from any place with a little knowledge can easily use a packet sniifer to look at what you are doing online. The internet is a very opened place, you don't protect yourself from this. You just deal with it. If someone is really bound and determined to see where you are browsing to they can.

Now, well anyone can use packet sniffers all they can see is the data that is being transmitted. This is why banking sites and such use encryption. They encrypt the data packets. So well, someone can see them, unless they decrypt them they can't tell what they are.

So in short, you do absolutely nothing diffrent then you would with a normal internet connection.

 

Well, at the same time, I can't imagine that the packets you send out go to EVERY SINGLE COMPUTER ON EARTH, do they?

 

Here try this:

1. Open a command prompt by doing the following:
-Hit windows key + r (or click start --> run)
-Type 'cmd' (NT/2000/XP) or 'command' (95/98/ME) without the quotes
-Press enter (or click ok)
2. type 'tracert www.majorgeeks.com' and press enter.

This shows you the route between your computer and the server that hosts majorgeeks.com. It will give you the IP and host name of every router it has to pass along the way to get there, and how long it takes to get to that router and back, if the router is configured to do so. This illustrates just how much of an inter-network the internet is!

 

No it does not, but for someone who knows what they are doing it's not hard to stick their nose in and look at what you are doing. The internet is a very opened place.

You could consider it similar to going to a mall. Anyone can see anyone else, although most people just don't care what the others are doing. Although if you do want to follow someone you do have to get yourself close to them to see them, same concept with the internet.

Plus as you can see from what Mada_Mility pointed out you're most likely going through about 30 servers just to read this.

 

I'm sorry, I'm still slightly confused, because some people tell me that it would be really hard to do, but you're saying its easy? Or are you saying it's possible to do, but not easy?

 

I'm saying it's incredibly simple to do. It does require an understanding of the internet and how packets work but it's very simple and it is done quite commonly.

Of course that being said, mostly only computer admins or just hardcore geeks would know how. Most linux users could most likely do it with little effort as well.

It's really nothing to worry about. If your living under the impression that everything you do online is private your sadly mistaken. It's very easy to track. The only catch is it's only easy to track to an IP. Changing an IP into a name requires help from your ISP. Of course if the ISP is willing thats also very easy.