Home
>
Software
>
Snort for Network IDS

Snort for Network IDS

What is Snort?

Snort is an open source network intrusion detection system (NIDS) that can audit network traffic in real-time. Snort is a packet sniffer, a packet logger, and a network intrusion detection system.

Snort as I mentioned before is an open source software which means it can be configured and complied on most operating systems. Snort has been ported over to Microsoft Windows operating systems also, but it's bread and butter is back on the UNIX/Linux side of the house. Most Linux distributions now include Snort as part of their install package, and though it may not be enabled by default, normally it is on the installation CD's or DVD's.

Should I run Snort if I have a firewall?

I believe that yes you should run a NDIS even with a firewall. Firewalls help to block packets coming in to your system, however if you are running different servers or services that require the firewall to let them through you are letting a large amount of data go un-audited. Snort has the ability to see trends in incoming data and identify them as a threat and take appropriate action on your system. Snort gives you the ability to see if you are being port scanned, or to see if someone is trying to abuse well known backdoors or problems in well known daemons. Running services and applications that help you to protect your system is always a good idea. Many system administrators run a firewall, snort, and a data file integrity checker (often Tripwire).

How does snort actually work?

Snort generally is running as a background application and it is constantly packet sniffing all the information passing through your network interface card (NIC). The data is then sorted by various preprocessors that basically sort the packet data in to different categories. Once the data has been sorted out it is run through the rules, or the detection phase. As Snort detects trends in the data it applies the rules and actions them appropriately. The final stages are logging the rule infractions and if configured alerting the system administration team in real-time as the infraction occurs.

Is Snort difficult to configure and use?

Snort, as mentioned before now often comes bundled or available through rpm's in most Linux distributions. The hard part of running snort is if you decide to create your own original rules which can get extremely complex. However, luckily for us you can download up to date rule sets for free off the Snort website (you must signup for the free registration).

For extra ease of use there are many different applications and log parsers which have been designed to work with Snort. These applications can create websites based on the data Snort has logged or help you identify trends or possibly security threats on your system.

Ken Dennis
http://kendennis-rss.homeip.net/

professional maid services Morton Grove ...

In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Meta removed over 600,000 predatory accounts from Instagram and Facebook while launching enhanced safety protections for teenage users on both platforms.

Facebook crypto scams trick users with fake celebrity endorsements and legitimate-looking cryptocurrency exchange ads that install malware on victims' devices.

Create private chat rooms using the iPhone Notes app collaboration feature with instant messaging capabilities and full control over conversation privacy.

Lyft rolled out safety upgrades with a new Safety Hub, driver blocking capability and a favorite driver option to give riders more control over their experience.

New research shows Americans increasingly trust AI for wellness guidance over social media, with 63% finding artificial intelligence reliable for health.

Luxury fashion brand Dior experienced a January 2025 data breach affecting customer personal information, and notifications were sent months after the discovery.

The commercial Unitree H1 humanoid robot weighs 104 pounds with 365 pound-feet torque per joint and demonstrates dangerous potential when software glitches occur.

Americans average 10-plus hours online daily, according to recent survey, splitting time between streaming shows on TV and browsing websites on multiple devices.

Boost your smartphone privacy instantly with these security tweaks for iPhone and Android that limit ad tracking, hide notifications and prevent unauthorized access.

Platforms like Hoax Tech and JS Click Cloaker help cybercriminals bypass detection systems using machine learning to selectively display scam content to victims.

A new battery recycling technique transforms old lithium-ion batteries into high-performance components that retain 88% capacity after 500 cycles with minimal waste.

Google's Android operating system can warn users about earthquakes before the shaking even begins – and there are ways to do it on your iPhone, too.

Meta's new gesture control wristband might just be the most seamless way to control a computer yet. And no, it doesn't require surgery, a camera, or even a touchscreen. All it needs is your wrist.

Long-haul trucks are now being upgraded with a surprising twist, thanks to California-based startup Revoy. Their electric boost doesn't replace diesel but works alongside it to cut emissions and fuel costs without major disruption.

PayPal and Venmo just rolled out something big: AI-powered scam alerts for Friends and Family payments.

As data centers multiply across the United States, energy demand is increasing at a rapid pace. This has not escaped the notice of large investment firms from Wall Street.

The Unicode Consortium, the nonprofit organization that maintains the Unicode Standard to ensure emojis work across devices, has announced Unicode 17.0, which includes nine new emojis slated for release this fall, in September 2025.

OpenAI is one of the world's leading AI research labs. Founded in 2015, it's behind some of today's most talked-about tools, including GPT, DALL·E, and ChatGPT.

Ever catch your dog staring at the screen during movie night and wonder if they're actually watching? Turns out, they might be. A new scientific study from Auburn University found that many dogs really do engage with television, and not all pups react the same way.

Stop the scammers from making contact in the first place. They're getting your parents' contact information and much more personal data besides, from somewhere.

The Walker S2 robot from UBTech autonomously exchanges its batteries in just three minutes, allowing continuous operation in car factories operated by BYD, Nio and Zeekr.

The FX Super One electric MPV from Faraday Future offers flexible seating, zero-gravity recliners and an AI system that creates a personal connection between driver and vehicle.

Practical solutions for reducing unwanted charity mail, political texts and email spam by opting out of shared lists, replying "STOP" and using data removal services.

Delta's new AI pricing system eliminates static airfares for personalized rates based on individual data, raising questions about fairness while promising optimized revenue.

Snort for Network IDS

Software