Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What technique can help identify sniffers installed on a network?

1. ARP spoofing

2. Port scanning

3. Ping Method

4. Packet sniffing

The correct answer is: Ping Method

The ping method, which involves sending ICMP echo request packets to a target and waiting for a response, can be effective in identifying network devices, but it isn't the primary method for detecting sniffers. Instead, understanding the characteristics of sniffers is crucial. Packet sniffing itself is a well-suited technique for identifying sniffers on a network. It allows for real-time analysis of network traffic and can reveal suspicious activity that may indicate the presence of a sniffer. If a device on the network is intercepting traffic, it might generate unusual traffic patterns or capture packets that wouldn’t typically be directed to it. ARP spoofing, while a tactic that attackers may use, helps identify the presence of unauthorized devices on the network by misleading the legitimate devices about the MAC addresses of the others. Port scanning is a method for identifying open ports on devices connected to the network but does not specifically help in identifying sniffers. Therefore, although the ping method can provide some information about active devices on a network through their responses, it won’t pinpoint sniffers as effectively as packet sniffing, which focuses directly on the analysis of network traffic for irregularities associated with sniffers.