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Could you recommend a resource that would provide some good information on this? I keep hearing about ways to modify routers to operate this way, but have yet t

Could you recommend a resource that would provide some good information on this? I keep hearing about ways to modify routers to operate this way, but have yet to come across something that clearly describes how this is done.

asdfaoeu 11y ago
The cheap and easy way to do this is to buy a hub and plug it into your router the computer you want to analyse and another computer.
- lewiseason 11y ago
  Or buy/make something like this: http://hakshop.myshopify.com/products/throwing-star-lan-tap http://hakshop.myshopify.com/products/throwing-star-lan-tap and a couple of USB-Ethernet adaptors
- mikeash 11y ago
  If you happen to have a computer with both WiFi and ethernet (many/most laptops these days), set it up as a bridge, connect the Windows machine to one of those interfaces and use the other one to connect to the internet.
- BuildTheRobots 11y ago
  Even easier (buying hubs is hard) and possibly cheaper (switches with mirror ports aren't the cheapest) is to just stick two network cards into your linux box, set up a layer-2 bridge and sniff everything going between. CentOS/RedHat derivitives: https://www.banym.de/linux/centos/setup-bridge-device-on-centos https://www.banym.de/linux/centos/setup-bridge-device-on-cen... Debian/Ubuntu: https://wiki.debian.org/BridgeNetworkConnections https://wiki.debian.org/BridgeNetworkConnections
bitwize 11y ago
Use a Linux box (a Raspberry Pi, for example) as a router/AP.
xfalcox 11y ago
The most common way is using an alternate firmware, like OpenWRT. You need a compatible router, but the official site is good enough. http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start
wrenky 11y ago
As bitwise said, best is to use a small linux computer on the same lan. You could use any computer really, just make it different than the host you are trying to capture on!
smtddr 11y ago
I have a blog explaining how to watch the traffic of a Nintendo Wii console using a USB-ethernet adapter. http://smtddr.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/02/16/tvclb_part1 http://smtddr.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/02/16/tvclb_part1 It's probably overly complicated, but because I happened to have an extra router laying about it was the easiest way for me to do it. The setup ultimately looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/klNvoTS.png http://i.imgur.com/klNvoTS.png The spare router is really only needed for the smartphone. Anything with an ethernet port can be connected directly to the linux laptop.
- danlindley 11y ago
  This has taught me a lot. Thank you.
natep 11y ago
As someone tech-savvy and having used WireShark, even, I'm curious to know from my sibling commenters, what are you thinking? Of course you start by buying hardware or modifying a router. Parent comment is specifically asking for "good information" and something that "clearly defines how this is done." IMO, xfalcox and lewiseason come closest to actually answering the question, because their links mention specific software. But simply installing software isn't enough, it needs to be configured. How does one set up OpenWRT or WireShark to filter for this kind of information? What pitfalls might one encounter? Do you need a CS degree in order to interpret the data? What keywords should one use when searching for more information? With vague answers like the ones so far, you're just making it seem more difficult and intimidating for anyone that has little to no experience in this area. If we want people to be more concerned about their privacy, it needs to be as easy (or easier) for people to take control of their information as it is for them to give it away. Edit: smtddr has the right idea, thumbs up. Should have hit refresh one more time before posting.

asdfaoeu 11y ago

The cheap and easy way to do this is to buy a hub and plug it into your router the computer you want to analyse and another computer.

lewiseason 11y ago
Or buy/make something like this: http://hakshop.myshopify.com/products/throwing-star-lan-tap http://hakshop.myshopify.com/products/throwing-star-lan-tap and a couple of USB-Ethernet adaptors
mikeash 11y ago
If you happen to have a computer with both WiFi and ethernet (many/most laptops these days), set it up as a bridge, connect the Windows machine to one of those interfaces and use the other one to connect to the internet.
BuildTheRobots 11y ago
Even easier (buying hubs is hard) and possibly cheaper (switches with mirror ports aren't the cheapest) is to just stick two network cards into your linux box, set up a layer-2 bridge and sniff everything going between. CentOS/RedHat derivitives: https://www.banym.de/linux/centos/setup-bridge-device-on-centos https://www.banym.de/linux/centos/setup-bridge-device-on-cen... Debian/Ubuntu: https://wiki.debian.org/BridgeNetworkConnections https://wiki.debian.org/BridgeNetworkConnections

bitwize 11y ago

Use a Linux box (a Raspberry Pi, for example) as a router/AP.

xfalcox 11y ago

The most common way is using an alternate firmware, like OpenWRT. You need a compatible router, but the official site is good enough. http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start

wrenky 11y ago

As bitwise said, best is to use a small linux computer on the same lan. You could use any computer really, just make it different than the host you are trying to capture on!

smtddr 11y ago

I have a blog explaining how to watch the traffic of a Nintendo Wii console using a USB-ethernet adapter. http://smtddr.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/02/16/tvclb_part1 http://smtddr.hatenablog.com/entry/2014/02/16/tvclb_part1 It's probably overly complicated, but because I happened to have an extra router laying about it was the easiest way for me to do it. The setup ultimately looks like this: http://i.imgur.com/klNvoTS.png http://i.imgur.com/klNvoTS.png The spare router is really only needed for the smartphone. Anything with an ethernet port can be connected directly to the linux laptop.

danlindley 11y ago
This has taught me a lot. Thank you.

natep 11y ago

As someone tech-savvy and having used WireShark, even, I'm curious to know from my sibling commenters, what are you thinking? Of course you start by buying hardware or modifying a router. Parent comment is specifically asking for "good information" and something that "clearly defines how this is done." IMO, xfalcox and lewiseason come closest to actually answering the question, because their links mention specific software. But simply installing software isn't enough, it needs to be configured. How does one set up OpenWRT or WireShark to filter for this kind of information? What pitfalls might one encounter? Do you need a CS degree in order to interpret the data? What keywords should one use when searching for more information? With vague answers like the ones so far, you're just making it seem more difficult and intimidating for anyone that has little to no experience in this area. If we want people to be more concerned about their privacy, it needs to be as easy (or easier) for people to take control of their information as it is for them to give it away. Edit: smtddr has the right idea, thumbs up. Should have hit refresh one more time before posting.