NetStumbler (also known as Network Stumbler) was a tool for
Windows
Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...
that facilitates detection of
Wireless LAN
A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a wireless computer network that links two or more devices using wireless communication to form a local area network (LAN) within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, campus, or office building ...
s using the 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g WLAN
standards Standard may refer to:
Symbols
* Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs
* Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification
Norms, conventions or requirements
* Standard (metrology), an object t ...
. It runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems from Windows 2000 to Windows XP. A trimmed-down version called MiniStumbler is available for the handheld
Windows CE
Windows CE, later known as Windows Embedded CE and Windows Embedded Compact, is a discontinued operating system developed by Microsoft for mobile and embedded devices. It was part of the Windows Embedded family and served as the software foun ...
operating system.
Netstumbler has become one of the most popular programs for
wardriving
Wardriving is the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks as well as cell towers, usually from a moving vehicle, using a laptop or smartphone. Software for wardriving is freely available on the internet.
Warbiking, warcycling, warwalking ...
and wireless reconnaissance, although it has a disadvantage. It can be detected easily by most
intrusion detection system
An intrusion detection system (IDS) is a device or software application that monitors a network or systems for malicious activity or policy violations. Any intrusion activity or violation is typically either reported to an administrator or collec ...
, because it
actively probes a network to collect information. Netstumbler has integrated support for a GPS unit. With this support, Netstumbler displays GPS coordinate information next to the information about each discovered network, which can be useful for finding specific networks again after having sorted out collected data.
[''Security Power Tools'' by Bryan Burns and others, O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2007, pages 105-106.]
The program is commonly used for:
* Verifying network configurations
* Finding locations with poor coverage in a WLAN
* Detecting causes of wireless
interference
Interference is the act of interfering, invading, or poaching. Interference may also refer to:
Communications
* Interference (communication), anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message
* Adjacent-channel interference, caused by extra ...
* Detecting unauthorized ("rogue") access points
* Aiming
directional antenna
A directional antenna or beam antenna is an antenna that radiates or receives greater radio wave power in specific directions. Directional antennas can radiate radio waves in beams, when greater concentration of radiation in a certain directio ...
s for long-haul WLAN links
No updated version has been developed since 2004.
See also
*
InSSIDer was created as an alternative to Network Stumbler for the current generation of Windows operating system
*
Kismet for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Mac OS X
*
KisMAC
KisMAC is a wireless network discovery tool for Mac OS X. It has a wide range of features, similar to those of Kismet (its Linux/BSD namesake). The program is geared toward network security professionals, and is not as novice-friendly as simil ...
for Mac OS X
References
External links
NetStumbler's author's website (stumbler.net)
Wireless networking
Computer network security
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