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snort VS Nmap

Compare snort VS Nmap and see what are their differences

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Ensure healthy website performance, uptime, and free from vulnerabilities. Automatic checks for SSL Certificates, domains and monitor issues with your websites all from one console and get instant notifications on any issues. featured
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snort logo snort

Snort is a free and open source network intrusion prevention system.

Nmap logo Nmap

Nmap Free Security Scanner, Port Scanner, & Network Exploration Tool. Download open source software for Linux, Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD, etc.
  • snort Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-20
  • Nmap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-15

snort features and specs

  • Open Source
    Snort is open-source software, which means that it is free to use and has a community of developers who keep it updated and secure.
  • Real-time Traffic Analysis
    Snort provides real-time traffic analysis and packet logging capabilities, enabling quick detection and response to potential threats.
  • Flexibility
    The software supports a range of deployment options and can be customized to meet the specific security needs of an organization.
  • Signature-based Detection
    Snort uses a robust signature-based detection method to identify and respond to known threats based on rule sets.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong community of users and contributors who provide support, documentation, and regular updates to Snort.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Snort can be integrated with various other security tools and systems, enhancing its functionality and providing a comprehensive security solution.

Possible disadvantages of snort

  • Complex Setup
    Snort can be complex to configure and deploy, requiring a certain level of expertise in network security and intrusion detection systems.
  • High Resource Consumption
    The software can be resource-intensive, especially in large network environments, which may require significant hardware investments.
  • Signature Updates
    The effectiveness of Snort heavily depends on the timely updating of signatures to protect against new threats; failing to do so can leave vulnerabilities.
  • False Positives
    Like many IDS systems, Snort can generate false positives, which may lead to unnecessary alerts and the need for careful tuning to minimize them.
  • Limited Zero-Day Threat Detection
    While Snort is excellent at detecting known threats through its signatures, it is less effective against zero-day threats that are not yet documented.
  • Maintenance Burden
    Ongoing maintenance and monitoring are required to keep Snort effective, which can be time-consuming for security teams.

Nmap features and specs

  • Comprehensive Scanning
    Nmap can perform a wide variety of scans, including port scanning, service detection, and OS fingerprinting, making it a versatile tool for network exploration and security auditing.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source tool, Nmap is free to use and has a large community of users contributing to its development and improvement.
  • Scripting Engine
    The Nmap Scripting Engine (NSE) allows users to write custom scripts to automate tasks, detect vulnerabilities, and extract information, significantly extending its capabilities.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Nmap is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, ensuring broad accessibility for users.
  • Large Knowledge Base
    Nmap has extensive documentation and a wealth of online resources, tutorials, and community support, making it easier for beginners to learn and use the tool effectively.
  • Performance Optimization
    Nmap is designed to be efficient and can handle large networks, making it suitable for both small-scale and enterprise-level scanning.

Possible disadvantages of Nmap

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive features and options, Nmap can be overwhelming for beginners, requiring a steep learning curve to fully utilize its capabilities.
  • Potential for Misuse
    Nmap can be used for malicious activities such as unauthorized network scanning, potentially leading to security violations and ethical concerns.
  • Permission Issues
    Using Nmap without proper authorization can be illegal in some jurisdictions, and unauthorized scans can be considered invasive or hostile by network administrators.
  • False Positives/Negatives
    Like any scanning tool, Nmap can produce false positives and negatives, requiring additional verification and analysis to ensure accuracy.
  • Resource Intensive
    Some Nmap scans, especially comprehensive ones, can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting network performance and consuming significant CPU and memory resources.
  • Network Disruption
    Aggressive scanning techniques used by Nmap can disrupt network services and lead to denial of service, particularly in sensitive or critical environments.

Analysis of snort

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Snort is generally regarded as a reliable and effective tool for network security.

Why this product is good

  • Snort is considered a good intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS) because it is open-source, highly configurable, and widely used by both professionals and organizations. It offers real-time traffic analysis and packet logging, robust rule-based logging, and protocol analysis, making it effective for detecting various types of network attacks and misuse.

Recommended for

  • Network security professionals looking for a robust intrusion detection and prevention system.
  • Organizations needing a cost-effective and customizable security solution.
  • IT departments that require a well-documented and community-supported security tool.

Analysis of Nmap

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Nmap is a highly effective and reliable tool for network scanning and security auditing. Its comprehensive suite of features and frequent updates ensure it remains relevant in the constantly evolving landscape of network security.

Why this product is good

  • Nmap is widely regarded as a powerful and versatile network scanning tool. It is known for its ability to discover hosts and services on a computer network, thus creating a 'map' of the network. Security professionals and system administrators use it to conduct network inventory, manage service upgrade schedules, and monitor host or service uptime. Its robustness, open-source nature, and support of a wide range of platforms make it a staple in the toolkit of network security experts.

Recommended for

  • Network security professionals
  • System administrators
  • Penetration testers
  • IT professionals responsible for network management
  • Anyone interested in learning more about network mapping and security

snort videos

+ Add

Network Intrusion Detection Systems (SNORT)

More videos:

  • Review - Intrusion Detection System for Windows (SNORT)
  • Review - Massive Beer Review 2692 Bolero Snort Brewing Crushable Hazie IPA

Nmap videos

+ Add

Nmap Tutorial For Beginners - 1 - What is Nmap?

More videos:

  • Review - Nmap - Review of Scan Types
  • Review - LABS 50 Bypassing Windows Firewall Using Nmap Evasion Techniques REVIEW

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to snort and Nmap)

snort

Nmap

Security & Privacy
100 100%
Security & Privacy
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
11 11%
Monitoring Tools
89% 89
Cyber Security
100 100%
Cyber Security
0% 0
Security
0 0%
Security
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 snort and Nmap

snort Reviews

8 Best Open Source SIEM Tools
Snort is an open-source intrusion detection and prevention system that you can use for real-time network traffic analysis and packet logging on IP networks. You can also use Snort to detect attacks or possible probes. You can configure Snort to work in three main modes:
Source: www.logiq.ai
The Top 14 Free and Open Source SIEM Tools For 2022
It is also equipped with log analysis capabilities and the ability to display traffic or dump streams of packets to log files. Users have access to a user manual, FAQ file and guides on how to locate and use Oinkcode. Snort has three great uses:
Source: logit.io

Nmap Reviews

The Top 5 Open Source Vulnerability Scanners
Nmap is a tool that scans ports, does service fingerprinting, and identifies versions of operating systems. Nmap also comes with a scripting engine that detects security vulnerabilities. Once these are detected, Vulcan’s platform can help you to prioritize and fix vulnerabilities.
Source: vulcan.io
9 Best Angry IP Scanner Alternatives Reviewed 2021 (Free & Paid)
If you’re a network administrator looking for more depth and raw power from a port scanner, look no further than Nmap. What Nmap lacks in frills and functional GUI it makes up for with sheer command-line based power. If you’re not a fan of strictly just a command-line interface, you can always use Zenmap, which is the exact same software just with a graphical interface. Both...
Source: www.comparitech.com
15 Best Nmap Alternatives Network Security Scanner
Nmap is an open-source tool that lots of IT professionals find useful in their careers. It is a tool that can locate available hosts and other services that they offer within a network. The Nmap program makes use of raw IP packets to find the hosts and services that are available.
Source: technicalustad.com
10 Best WireShark Alternatives for Android Devices in 2021
Nmap is a popular open-source network scanning app for Android and desktop. While it works on both rooted and non-rooted Android, you get more functionality during a rooted Android smartphone. Like some apps, Nmap is not available on Google play store or their website.
Source: techreen.com
Alternatives to Nmap: from simple to advanced network scanning
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Nmap, the open-source network mapping tool that became the standard used by many IT professionals, but that can be a bit much if you only need to do general network maintenance and are intimidated by its command-line interface.
Source: www.networkworld.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Nmap seems to be a lot more popular than snort. While we know about 200 links to Nmap, we've tracked only 7 mentions of snort. 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.

snort mentions (7)

  • What is a Denial of Service (DoS) Attack? A Comprehensive Guide
    Snort - Open-source Intrusion Prevention System for network security. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Who does check linux distros of malware - open source
    Linux has (free) tools to improve security and detect/remove malware: Lynis,Chkrootkit,Rkhunter,ClamAV,Vuls,LMD,radare2,Yara,ntopng,maltrail,Snort,Suricata... Source: over 1 year ago
  • NETGATE 4100 - Snort Fatal Error on new install
    Okay I figured it out. The problem occurs when you're only using the community rules for Snort. If you go to snort.org and register for a free or subscriber "oink" code, enter the code in pfSense and update the rules then it magically works as expected. My best guess is that unicode information get's added when the new rules are updated. At any rate, this worked for me. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Trying to learn Rogue Device Detection
    Snort (not an insult) https://snort.org/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Snort Subscriber Ruleset - Not Downloaded - error code 422 - md5 download failed
    422 supposedly means the requested file doesn't exist, and sure enough if you look on the snort.org rules downloads page there is no file for version 29180. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Nmap mentions (200)

  • 🛡️ Top 10 Free Penetration Testing Tools Every Security Team Should Use in 2025
    Nmap (Network Mapper) is like a GPS for your network. Scan ports, find devices, and discover what’s alive and vulnerable. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • 3 Types of Chaos Experiments and How To Run Them
    Start by mapping out your network’s topology, including routers, switches, gateways, and the connections between different segments. Tools like Nmap or network diagram software can help visualize your network’s structure. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • How to Install and Use Nmap in Termux
    If you want to scan a website, Nmap can help you find its open ports, see active IPs, and get other important details quickly. For anyone serious about cybersecurity, Nmap is a necessary tool. To learn more, visit their official website at Nmap.org. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Your First Ethical Hack: Learn Network Scanning with Nmap
    Starting Nmap 7.80 ( https://nmap.org ) at 2025-04-12 00:10 IST Nmap scan report for scanme.nmap.org (45.33.32.156) Host is up (0.24s latency). Other addresses for scanme.nmap.org (not scanned): 2600:3c01::f03c:91ff:fe18:bb2f Not shown: 991 closed ports PORT STATE SERVICE 22/tcp open ssh 25/tcp filtered smtp 80/tcp open http 135/tcp filtered msrpc 139/tcp filtered netbios-ssn 161/tcp ... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • The Impact of Open-Source Tools in Cyber Warfare: A Deep Dive
    The democratization of powerful software technologies is a double-edged sword. On one hand, open-source tools empower organizations and individuals to bolster their cybersecurity defenses without incurring steep financial costs. On the other hand, these same tools can be harnessed by malicious actors, leading to a surge in both the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks. Open-source resources like Metasploit... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing snort and Nmap, you can also consider the following products

Suricata - Suricata is a high performance Network IDS, IPS and Network Security Monitoring engine.

Angry IP Scanner - Open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use

Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS) - Cisco Firepower NGIPS (Next-Generation IPS) provides contextual awareness, security intelligence, and advanced threat protection against attacks and malware.

Zenmap - Zenmap is the official cross-platform GUI for the Nmap Security Scanner.

McAfee Network Security Platform - McAfee Network Security Platform guards all your network-connected devices from zero-day and other attacks, with a cost-effective network intrusion prevention system.

Fing - Discover which devices are connected to any Wi-Fi network, map devices, detect intruders, assess...

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