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tcpdump VS snort

Compare tcpdump VS snort and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. » Base Details
  2. » Videos
  3. » Reviews
  4. » Alternatives

tcpdump logo tcpdump

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

snort logo snort

Snort is a free and open source network intrusion prevention system.
  • tcpdump Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27
  • snort Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-20

tcpdump features and specs

  • Powerful packet capturing
    tcpdump offers comprehensive capabilities for capturing network packets, providing detailed insights into network traffic, which makes it a powerful tool for network diagnostics and analysis.
  • Wide compatibility
    Being a widely used tool, tcpdump is compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and macOS, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.
  • Filter flexibility
    tcpdump supports a wide range of filtering options that allow users to capture specific types of traffic, ensuring efficient and targeted packet capture.
  • Command-line interface
    tcpdump is a command-line tool, which provides advanced users the ability to script and automate tasks, making it highly efficient for those familiar with command-line operations.
  • Free and open-source
    tcpdump is open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and can be modified and distributed by anyone, fostering a community of users and contributors.

Possible disadvantages of tcpdump

  • Steep learning curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and packet-level networking, tcpdump can be difficult to learn due to its complex commands and options.
  • Minimal graphical interface
    tcpdump lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), which can make it less accessible for users who prefer visual tools over text-based interfaces.
  • Limited analysis capability
    While tcpdump is excellent for capturing packets, it offers limited built-in analysis features, requiring additional tools for comprehensive analysis of captured data.
  • High resource usage
    Running tcpdump with extensive capture options or on high-traffic networks can result in significant CPU and memory usage, potentially impacting system performance.
  • Security risks
    tcpdump requires root or elevated privileges to capture packets, which could pose security risks if not managed correctly, especially on sensitive systems.

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.

tcpdump videos

+ Add

Tcpdump - Protocol Review 5 (TCP)

More videos:

  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 3 (UDP)
  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 4 (DNS) - Draft

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to tcpdump and snort)

tcpdump

snort

Monitoring Tools
65 65%
Monitoring Tools
35% 35
Security & Privacy
0 0%
Security & Privacy
100% 100
Log Management
100 100%
Log Management
0% 0
Cyber Security
0 0%
Cyber 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 tcpdump and snort

tcpdump Reviews

6 Best Wireshark Alternatives for Windows and macOS
The quickness that you can have with tcpdump over Wireshark is awesome. It is one of those tools that many network administrators prefer whenever they need to take a look at the actual network packets that are being transmitted. The Tcpdump is not as feature rich as Wireshark but the output of its packet dump can be used as input by other programs. Moreover, It can be used...
Source: techwiser.com

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, snort seems to be more popular. 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.

tcpdump mentions (0)

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

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 / 10 days 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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing tcpdump and snort, 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.

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

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

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.

SmartSniff - SmartSniff is a packet sniffer that capture TCP/IP packets and display them as sequence of conversations between clients and servers.

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.

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