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Product Overview of Kismet
Kismet is a robust and versatile tool designed for wireless network detection, packet sniffing, and intrusion detection, specifically tailored for 802.11 wireless LANs. Here’s a detailed look at what Kismet does and its key features.
What Kismet Does
Kismet is an essential tool for network administrators and cybersecurity professionals, serving as a network detector, packet sniffer, and intrusion detection system. It operates by using a wireless card in raw monitoring (rfmon) mode to silently scan all available Wi-Fi channels, capturing and analyzing wireless traffic without actively transmitting any data.
Key Features and Functionality
Network Detection and Analysis
- Kismet can detect hidden networks, classify the types of networks and devices, and provide detailed information about the networks within its range, including SSID, MAC address, channel, encryption type, and signal strength.
Packet Sniffing
- It supports the sniffing of 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n data, allowing for comprehensive capture and analysis of wireless traffic. The captured packets can be logged in formats compatible with tools like tcpdump, Wireshark, and Airsnort.
Intrusion Detection
- Kismet features a robust intrusion detection system (IDS) that can identify various wireless attacks, such as KARMA evil twin access points, WEP/WPA cracking, deauth floods, spoofed MAC addresses, and broadcast probe SSIDs. It alerts users to potential security threats in real-time.
User Interface
- Kismet offers both a graphical user interface (GUI) and a web-based interface. The GUI provides real-time information about surrounding networks and devices, while the web interface, accessible via `http://
:2501`, offers detailed data visualizations and drill-down tools for analyzing the wireless environment.
Advanced Capabilities
- Channel Hopping: Kismet can hop between channels to capture packets from multiple networks, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- GPS Integration: If a GPS receiver is available, Kismet can record the geographical coordinates of detected networks.
- Drone Mode: It supports remote capturing and monitoring through its drone mode, allowing multiple sensors to feed data back to a central server, which is useful for covering large areas or multiple locations.
Customization and Integration
- Kismet supports plugins and custom scripts, enabling users to extend its functionality, automate tasks, and integrate it with other security tools. It also features a REST API for further integration capabilities.
Educational and Professional Use
- Kismet is widely used in educational environments to teach about wireless security and network monitoring. It is also a valuable tool in penetration testing, network security assessments, and troubleshooting wireless network issues.
In summary, Kismet is a powerful and versatile tool that is indispensable for anyone involved in wireless network security, monitoring, and analysis. Its extensive features and capabilities make it an industry standard for passive wireless network detection and intrusion detection.
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