NetStumbler
Encyclopedia
NetStumbler is a tool for Windows
that facilitates detection of Wireless LAN
s using the 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g WLAN standards
. 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
operating system.
The program is commonly used for:
As of February 2010, the author is working on an updated version that will work correctly with Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
that facilitates detection of Wireless LAN
Wireless LAN
A wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
s using the 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g WLAN standards
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent...
. 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
Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
operating system.
The program is commonly used for:
- WardrivingWardrivingWardriving is the act of searching for Wi-Fi wireless networks by a person in a moving vehicle, using a portable computer, smartphone or PDA....
- Verifying network configurations
- Finding locations with poor coverage in a WLAN
- Detecting causes of wireless interference
- Detecting unauthorized ("rogue") access points
- Aiming directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links
As of February 2010, the author is working on an updated version that will work correctly with Windows Vista and Windows 7.
Alternatives
- InssiderInssiderinSSIDer is a Wi-Fi network scanner for Windows. It received a 2008 Infoworld Bossie Award for "Best of open source software in networking".-History:...
was created as an open-source alternative to Network Stumbler for the current generation of Windows operating system. - Vistumbler is an alternative to Network Stumbler for Vista and newer Windows operating systems, it is open source project written in AutoIt scripting language.
- Kismet for Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Mac OS X.
- KisMACKisMACKisMAC is a wireless network discovery tool for Mac OS X. It has a wide range of features, similar to those of Kismet...
for Mac OS X.