What term describes programs that capture data from information packets as they travel over networks?

• A. DNS Spoofing
• B. ARP Spoofing
• C. Network Sniffing
• D. Packet Sniffers

Answer: (D)

Capturing data from packets as they move across a network is packet sniffing, and the tools used for this are packet sniffers. A packet sniffer listens to network traffic, often placing the network interface in promiscuous mode so it can receive and log packets not addressed to the host. This lets you see headers and, if the traffic isn’t encrypted, the payload, which is invaluable for diagnosing network problems, analyzing protocols, or conducting security assessments with proper authorization. DNS spoofing and ARP spoofing describe attack methods that alter how data is directed or delivered, not the software that records the traffic itself. So, the term for programs that capture data from information packets as they travel is packet sniffers.