Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kismet VS TCPView

Compare Kismet VS TCPView and see what are their differences

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Kismet logo Kismet

Kismet is an 802.11 layer2 wireless network detector, sniffer, and intrusion detection system.

TCPView logo TCPView

TCPView is a Windows program that will show you detailed listings of all TCP and UDP endpoints on...
  • Kismet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-12-24
  • TCPView Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05

Kismet features and specs

  • Open Source
    Kismet is open-source software, allowing users to examine the source code, customize the tool according to their needs, and contribute to its development.
  • Platform Compatibility
    Kismet works on various platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows (through WSL), making it versatile and accessible to a wide range of users.
  • Wireless Network Detection
    Kismet can detect and capture traffic from a variety of wireless networks (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.), making it useful for network monitoring and security auditing.
  • Passive Sniffing
    Kismet is capable of passive sniffing, allowing it to detect networks and devices without emitting any signals that might alert the target.
  • Extensive Plugin Support
    Kismet supports plugins and external tools, enabling users to extend its functionality and integrate it with other network security tools.

Possible disadvantages of Kismet

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Kismet can be complex to set up and use, particularly for those who are not familiar with networking and wireless security concepts.
  • Limited Windows Support
    While Kismet can be used on Windows via the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), it is primarily designed for Unix-based systems, which may limit its usability on Windows.
  • Hardware Dependency
    Kismet requires compatible wireless network adapters to function properly, which might necessitate additional hardware purchases.
  • Potential Legal Issues
    Using Kismet for unauthorized network monitoring can be illegal in many jurisdictions. Users must ensure they have permission to monitor the networks they are testing.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running Kismet can be resource-intensive, particularly on devices with limited processing power or memory, potentially affecting system performance.

TCPView features and specs

  • Detailed Connection Information
    TCPView provides detailed information about all TCP and UDP endpoints, including the local and remote addresses and the state of TCP connections.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    The utility updates in real-time, allowing users to monitor active connections and their status changes as they happen.
  • Intuitive Interface
    TCPView offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate graphical user interface that makes it accessible even for less technical users.
  • Free Tool
    As part of the Sysinternals suite, TCPView is a free utility, making it cost-effective for personal or enterprise use.
  • Identify Suspicious Activity
    Allows users to identify and terminate unauthorized or suspicious connections, enhancing network security.
  • Lightweight
    TCPView is a lightweight application, requiring minimal system resources, which makes it suitable for use on a wide range of hardware configurations.
  • Integration with Process Explorer
    Seamless integration with Process Explorer helps users correlate network activity with specific processes.

Possible disadvantages of TCPView

  • Windows Only
    TCPView is only available for Windows, limiting its use for cross-platform environments or users on macOS or Linux systems.
  • No Historical Data
    The tool does not provide historical data or logs of past connections, making it less useful for long-term network analysis.
  • Basic Functionality
    TCPView offers basic network monitoring features and lacks advanced options available in more comprehensive network monitoring tools.
  • Manual Intervention Required
    While it allows users to terminate connections, this requires manual action, which may not be practical in automated environments.
  • No Built-in Alarms
    TCPView does not come with built-in alarms or notifications for specific activities, requiring constant monitoring for immediate response.
  • Limited Analysis Features
    The tool lacks detailed analysis and reporting features that more advanced network management solutions offer.

Analysis of Kismet

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Kismet (kismetwireless.net) is generally considered a good tool for network monitoring and wireless security auditing.

Why this product is good

  • Open source
    Kismet is an open-source tool, which means it's freely available and can be modified to suit specific needs.
  • Community support
    The tool has a robust community and support base, ensuring regular updates and improvements.
  • Comprehensive features
    It offers a wide range of features for wireless network monitoring, including packet sniffing, device tracking, and intrusion detection.
  • Multi-platform support
    Kismet is compatible with multiple platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it accessible to a broad range of users.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators
  • Security professionals
  • Wireless network enthusiasts
  • Penetration testers

Analysis of TCPView

Overall verdict

  • TCPView is considered a reliable and effective tool for monitoring network connections on Windows systems. Its authenticity as a Microsoft product assures users of its security and integration capabilities. While it is highly specialized, its focused functionality makes it an excellent choice for its intended purposes.

Why this product is good

  • TCPView is a network monitoring tool developed by Microsoft for Windows, useful for viewing detailed listings of all TCP and UDP endpoints on your system, including local and remote IP addresses and their associated ports. It provides a real-time view of network activity, making it valuable for identifying and troubleshooting network-related issues. As an official Microsoft tool, it integrates well with Windows environments and offers a user-friendly interface for both advanced users and beginners interested in network management.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators who need to monitor and troubleshoot active connections.
  • IT professionals looking for a reliable tool to diagnose network issues on Windows.
  • Advanced users interested in detailed network activity insights.
  • Security enthusiasts who want to analyze potential unauthorized connections.

Kismet videos

KISMET PURE VITAMIN C PRIMER REVIEW

More videos:

  • Review - Kismet - 2 Minute Review
  • Review - Newton Kismet Main Review

TCPView videos

TCPView - Monitor the Network Activity on your local computer.

More videos:

  • Review - RouterGods - TCPView utility for easy port/process info

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kismet and TCPView)
Monitoring Tools
47 47%
53% 53
Log Management
56 56%
44% 44
Security
0 0%
100% 100
Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Kismet and TCPView

Kismet Reviews

5 Best Wireshark alternative packet sniffers
Kismet’s data collector doesn’t probe networks like other packet sniffers, so intrusion detection systems can’t spot its activities. This makes it a powerful tool for hackers who have access to a computer that is connected to the network. Standard network monitoring systems will spot the presence of the device on which Kismet is running, but won’t see that the program is...

TCPView Reviews

We have no reviews of TCPView yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TCPView seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 37 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Kismet mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Kismet yet. Tracking of Kismet recommendations started around Mar 2021.

TCPView mentions (37)

  • Why there is no good task manager and system monitoring software on linux?
    It's basically like https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/tcpview but for Linux. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Some people prefer using DCS on Steam for the download speed, yet I get my whole 1Gbps bw used every time with the ED installer. What is the deal?
    Unfortunately I don't think there is an existing list of CDN endpoints to pick from, I found a few by starting updates while using a VPN and using tcpview to find which IP address it was connecting to. Once I'd found one that was faster than the default I opened my hosts file: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How do I know what ports an application is using?
    Try https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/tcpview and it will show you in real time what ports are being used to connect to there. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to detect RCE/arbitrary code injection/RAT's from video games
    Maybe something like TCPView: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/tcpview. Source: about 2 years ago
  • strange remote listeners from private ip with "winrm" command
    I understand that netstat isnt exactly user friendly so if you'd like to keep monitoring the situation you can use SysInternal's TCPView https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/tcpview which displays everything for you in a GUI. Just don't forget to filter for only listening ports cause it will show all connection states by default (use the green flag icon). It even has the added benefit of... Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kismet and TCPView, you can also consider the following products

Vistumbler - Vistumbler is a wireless network scanner for Windows Vista and Windows 7. Features:

Open Nettest - Open Nettest is a platform for collecting, processing and visualizing data related QoS and QoE.

Homedale - With Homedale you can search for Wi-Fi / WLAN Access Points and monitor their signal strength.

Fping (open source) - fping is a program to send ICMP echo probes to network hosts, similar to ping, but much better performing when pinging multiple hosts.

inSSIDer - inSSIDer Essential makes it easy to maintain small business WiFi.

Ping Meter Gadget - Customizable, graphical, semi-transparent ping (latency) meter.