Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

netcat VS PFConfig

Compare netcat VS PFConfig and see what are their differences

netcat logo netcat

Netcat is a featured networking utility which reads and writes data across network connections...

PFConfig logo PFConfig

PortForward's PFConfig Software lets you forward ports on any router for any program.
  • netcat Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-19
  • PFConfig Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-06

netcat features and specs

  • Versatility
    Netcat can be used for a wide variety of network-related tasks, including port scanning, file transfers, and working as a backdoor.
  • Simplicity
    Netcat operates with simple command-line arguments, making it easy to use for those familiar with command-line interfaces.
  • Speed
    Netcat is lightweight and performs network operations quickly, without the overhead associated with more complex tools.
  • Scriptability
    Netcat is highly scriptable, allowing users to automate network tasks by including it in bash or other scripts.
  • Cross-Platform
    Netcat is available on multiple operating systems including Unix, Linux, and Windows, making it a versatile tool for different environments.

Possible disadvantages of netcat

  • Security
    Netcat can be misused, as it is often favored by attackers for creating reverse shells and other malicious activities.
  • Lack of Encryption
    Netcat does not natively support encrypted connections, meaning data transmitted can be vulnerable to interception.
  • Minimal Logging
    Netcat provides minimal logging capabilities, which can make it difficult to track usage or troubleshoot issues.
  • Basic Functionality
    Netcat provides core networking functions but lacks advanced features found in specialized tools.
  • Cannot Handle High Load
    Netcat is not designed to handle high traffic loads effectively, making it less suitable for some enterprise use cases.

PFConfig features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    PFConfig simplifies the port forwarding process by providing an intuitive interface that guides users through the steps, making it accessible even for those with limited technical knowledge.
  • Router Compatibility
    The software supports a wide range of router models, ensuring that most users can benefit from its functionalities without worrying about compatibility issues with their specific router.
  • Automated Configuration
    PFConfig automates the port forwarding setup, significantly reducing the time and effort required to manually configure port settings on a router.
  • Customer Support
    Users have access to customer support, which can be particularly helpful if they encounter any issues or have questions about configuring their network settings.
  • Frequent Updates
    The software receives regular updates to ensure it stays compatible with the latest routers and security protocols, thereby providing a reliable and secure experience.

Possible disadvantages of PFConfig

  • Cost
    Unlike some free alternatives, PFConfig requires a purchase, which may not be justified for users who only need port forwarding infrequently or have the technical skills to configure ports manually.
  • Limited Trial
    While a trial version may be available, it could have limitations that prevent users from fully assessing the software's capabilities before making a purchase decision.
  • Dependency on Software
    Using PFConfig can create a dependency on the software for port forwarding needs, potentially making it difficult for users to manage their network settings independently without it.
  • Potential for Technical Issues
    Like any software, PFConfig may occasionally face bugs or technical issues, which could disrupt the port forwarding process or require troubleshooting.
  • Security Concerns
    Automated tools for port forwarding need to be used with caution as improper configuration can expose the network to security vulnerabilities if ports are not managed correctly.

netcat videos

Linux Terminal 101: Netcat

More videos:

  • Review - Advanced Netcat and TCP Fun - Hak5 1922
  • Review - Netcat 101: Remote Shells in Windows, HakTip 86

PFConfig videos

No PFConfig videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to netcat and PFConfig)
Monitoring Tools
65 65%
35% 35
Log Management
78 78%
22% 22
Productivity
54 54%
46% 46
Network & Admin
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

netcat Reviews

9 Best Angry IP Scanner Alternatives Reviewed 2021 (Free & Paid)
Netcat lacks a lot of the documentation you can easily find with software like AngryIP or Nmap which in my opinion is its biggest drawback. If you’re thinking about trying out Netcat, check out our Netcat Cheat Sheet to quickly pull up powerful and useful commands. Netcat is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.
Top 5 Best Port Scanners
Netcat is one of the oldest network tools in the "Unixverse", it's been there since 1995, and the last official version is from 2004. Although it has many forks and variants that work pretty well on modern operating systems, like ncat from the Nmap suite, or this alternative Netcat version from Mike Frysinger.

PFConfig Reviews

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

Based on our record, netcat should be more popular than PFConfig. It has been mentiond 7 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.

netcat mentions (7)

  • could not connect to the rhel-9 from putty in windows machine
    If you don't like using telnet, that's fine. Don't use it. There are plenty of other options available. Use netcat. Or use netcat. Or use netcat. Or read and write directly to /dev/tcp/hostname/port using shell constructs. Or run openssl s_client if you suspect something complicated is listening on the other end. There is more than one way to do it and ways that are not your way still work. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • The HTTP crash course nobody asked for
    Reminder, there are many different netcats, here are some of the most commons: - netcat-traditional http://www.stearns.org/nc/ - netcat-openbsd : https://github.com/openbsd/src/blob/master/usr.bin/nc/netcat.c (also packaged in Debian) - ncat https://nmap.org/ncat/ - netcat GNU: https://netcat.sourceforge.net/ (quite rare) To prevent any confusion, I like to recommend socat: http://www.dest-unreach.org/socat/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Gaining remote access to a computer with a reverse shell attack in Node.js
    A common tool to execute a reverse shell is called netcat. If you're using macOS, it should be installed by default. You can check by running nc -help in a terminal window. - Source: dev.to / almost 3 years ago
  • Programm to send and receive TCP/UDP Packets
    You could try using Ncat on Windows or netcat on Linux, though it's a command-line only tool if that matters. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Is there a way to copy a file from a remote shell to local without using scp?
    If you have netcat, you can easily set up a transfer from one machine to the other:. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

PFConfig mentions (4)

  • Port was opened now it says unreachable.
    But the network tends to be slow with updating data. I've downloaded this tool https://portforward.com/store/pfconfig.cgi You can check to see if ports are open. Maybe it already works but the explorer shows you old data. This could give you some peace of mind. Source: over 3 years ago
  • i need help with port forwarding
    If your running it from a server, connect to it if your using windows server 2015 - 2019 essentials which is easy or if you’re running it from your computer, it’s same thing..Download portfoward’s software and install it. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • friends cant connect to my server (1.17.1)
    Make sure your router is set to ipv4 and not ipv6, and you can install https://portforward.com/store/pfconfig.cgi To open your ports and make your ip static, that is how I fixed my server. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Port Forwarding to HyperV VM
    You can go to https://portforward.com/store/pfconfig.cgi (or any testing) which can test the ports on your public IP to see if they are open. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing netcat and PFConfig, you can also consider the following products

Wireshark - Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

AUTAPF - Reliable TCP and UDP port forwarding for Windows.

tcpdump - tcpdump is a common packet analyzer that runs under the command line.

Robusta Port Forwarder - This tool is created with the primary intention of making it easy to the end user to set forwarding rules in his router....

Ettercap - Ettercap is a suite for man in the middle attacks on LAN.

Port Map - TheCodingMonkeys, authors of software like SubEthaEdit.