Other Internet Protocols

FTP, SMTP, and lots of the behind-the-scenes protocols use datagrams to communicate. These protocols can be subjected to attack. The easiest way to attack these datagrams is by monitoring the network using a packet sniffer. A packet sniffer surreptitiously monitors and decodes packets, allowing the attacker to gather information about the network and the devices and persons attached to it. A more sophisticated attack would be to change the contents of a datagram (data modification) or to make it appear as if it came from a different party (spoofing). Packet sniffers are, however, very useful tools for network administrators because they allow you to see what protocols are on the network.