tcpdump vs Driftnet

Struggling to choose between tcpdump and Driftnet? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

tcpdump is a Network & Admin solution with tags like packet-capture, network-traffic, commandline.

It boasts features such as Packet capture and network traffic monitoring, Capture filters for selective packet capture, Reading packets from files for offline analysis, Output to console, files, or other programs, Decoding of various network protocols and pros including Free and open source, Available for multiple platforms, Powerful command line interface, Wide protocol support, Allows inspection of raw network traffic, Lightweight and fast.

On the other hand, Driftnet is a Security & Privacy product tagged with network, traffic, images, ethernet, capture, sniffing.

Its standout features include Captures images from network traffic, Displays captured images in a window, Works on Ethernet networks, Open source program, and it shines with pros like Free and open source, Easy to set up and use, Good for demonstrating how images traverse networks unencrypted.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

tcpdump

tcpdump

tcpdump is a command-line network monitoring and data acquisition tool used to capture packet data flowing over a network. It can intercept and log traffic passing over a digital network or part of a network.

Categories:
packet-capture network-traffic commandline

Tcpdump Features

  1. Packet capture and network traffic monitoring
  2. Capture filters for selective packet capture
  3. Reading packets from files for offline analysis
  4. Output to console, files, or other programs
  5. Decoding of various network protocols

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Available for multiple platforms

Powerful command line interface

Wide protocol support

Allows inspection of raw network traffic

Lightweight and fast

Cons

Command line only, no GUI

Steep learning curve

Manual analysis of captures required

Does not do automated intrusion detection

Requires root/admin rights on most OSes


Driftnet

Driftnet

Driftnet is an open source program that captures network traffic images from Ethernet networks. It can detect and extract images from network traffic and display them in a window on your screen.

Categories:
network traffic images ethernet capture sniffing

Driftnet Features

  1. Captures images from network traffic
  2. Displays captured images in a window
  3. Works on Ethernet networks
  4. Open source program

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Easy to set up and use

Good for demonstrating how images traverse networks unencrypted

Cons

Only works on Ethernet, not WiFi

Unethical if used to spy on private network traffic

Images may be fragmented and incomplete