


NetStumbler v0.4 Released 200
mindless4210 writes "A new version of the popular wireless network discovery tool NetStumbler was released today. Updates include support for more wireless cards, ip address reporting, new scripting features, and several bug fixes. This is the first new release since late August of 2002, over a year and a half ago. A new version of the handheld version, MiniStumbler, is also available for download."
Awesome. (Score:5, Funny)
share with your nieghbor why not :) (Score:3, Interesting)
is it that different from modem doubling ?
regard john
Re:share with your nieghbor why not :) (Score:4, Interesting)
You'd have to get a real router (not one of those cheap broadband NATs) with 3 ethernet ports, two wireless access points and a wireless bridge. Link one port in through ethernet, another through the access point and bridge, and set those to loadbalance the traffic to the 3rd port (with NAT, and DHCP if you want). Stick the second access point off that and have double speed broadband.
Complicated and probably rather touchy, but if you really wanted to, you could. Though it'd be cheaper to just use one broadband account and pay for the combine bandwidth, and share that out.
Re:share with your nieghbor why not :) (Score:3, Redundant)
Re:share with your nieghbor why not :) (Score:3, Funny)
Then, when your neighbor asks, just say, "Oh yeah, we're sharing alright. I've set everything up."
-Adam
Release notes (in case the server goes bye bye) (Score:5, Informative)
Marius Milner
Thank you for your interest in NetStumbler. It is provided to you as a convenience, at no cost and without warranty. If you don't like it, or if you feel that it doesn't quite do what you want, you are free to delete it from your system. By installing or using it, you agree to be bound by the terms of the License Agreement.
NetStumbler is "beggarware". This means that you do not have to pay for a license to use it. However if you use it and like it, please consider making a donation at http://www.stumbler.net/donate to support future development, web hosting and other costs that I incur as a result of making this software available to you. Please bear in mind that I do this as a hobby in my spare time, not as a full time job.
Commercial and Government users are strongly encouraged to donate. The suggested donation is US$50 per copy. You may donate by visiting the web site http://www.stumbler.net/donate. You can pay in a variety of ways and may send a Purchase Order if needed.
What is NetStumbler?
NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g. It has many uses:
* Verify that your network is set up the way you intended.
* Find locations with poor coverage in your WLAN.
* Detect other networks that may be causing interference on your network.
* Detect unauthorized "rogue" access points in your workplace.
* Help aim directional antennas for long-haul WLAN links.
* Use it recreationally for WarDriving.
Requirements
General Requirements
The requirements for NetStumbler are somewhat complex and depend on hardware, firmware versions, driver versions and operating system. The best way to see if it works on your system is to try it.
Some configurations have been extensively tested and are known to work. These are detailed at http://www.stumbler.net/compat. If your configuration works but is not listed, or is listed but does not work, please follow the instructions on the web site.
The following are rules of thumb that you can follow in case you cannot reach the web site for some reason.
* This version of NetStumbler requires Windows 2000, Windows XP, or better.
* The Proxim models 8410-WD and 8420-WD are known to work. The 8410-WD has also been sold as the Dell TrueMobile 1150, Compaq WL110, Avaya Wireless 802.11b PC Card, and others.
* Most cards based on the Intersil Prism/Prism2 chip set also work.
* Most 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g wireless LAN adapters should work on Windows XP. Some may work on Windows 2000 too. Many of them report inaccurate Signal strength, and if using the "NDIS 5.1" card access method then Noise level will not be reported. This includes cards based on Atheros, Atmel, Broadcom, Cisco and Centrino chip sets.
* I cannot help you figure out what chip set is in any given card.
Firmware Requirements
If you have an old WaveLAN/IEEE card then please note that the WaveLAN firmware (version 4.X and below) does not work with NetStumbler. If your card has this version, you are advised to upgrade to the latest version available from Proxim's web site. This will also ensure compatibility with the 802.11b standard.
Other Requirements and Compatibility Issues
* Your card must be configured in such a way that it can be seen by the management software that came with the card.
* The Microsoft-provided Orinoco drivers that come with Windows 2000 do not work with NetStumbler. Please visit Windows Update or www.proxim.com and upgrade to the latest drivers.
* When NetStumbler is in "auto reconfigure" mode (the default), it will occasionally disconnect you from your network. This enables it to perform its scans accurately, and is not a bug.
* If you have the WLAN card configured to connect to a specific SSID, NetStumbler may not report any accees points other than tho
Re:Release notes (in case the server goes bye bye) (Score:2)
Kismet (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Kismet (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Kismet (Score:5, Informative)
On the other hand, when you sniff with ethereal when connected to the network, you are sniffing the ethernet network, not the wireless network. It's like sniffing inside a pptp tunnel, you don't see the raw ppp frames.
Re:Kismet (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Kismet (Score:2)
Re:Kismet (Score:5, Informative)
Of course, if the wlan isn't wep'ed up, kismet will happily read and drop the packets to a log file just like ethereal will. Basically your hunch was right.
Re:Kismet (Score:2, Informative)
Do you mean the level below [erols.com]?
Re:Kismet (Score:2, Informative)
Looks good (Score:4, Informative)
Fixed bug (introduced in 0.3.30) that caused "Reconfigure" to put ORiNOCO cards into a state where they would report no access points.
Support for Atheros, Atmel, Intersil Prism2 based wireless cards. Improved support for Cisco cards.
Allow use of Serial Earthmate GPS. (USB Earthmate should already work using NMEA and serial driver)
If you scroll all the way to the right of the graph view, it will auto-scroll new data.
Fixed bug (introduced in 0.3.30) in graph view: corrupted display when scrolling.
Fixed bug in graph view: improper scroll bar tracking with large data sets.
If "Reconfigure" is on, the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration service will be stopped when you start scanning. It is restarted when the application exits.
If you connect to a network that supports DHCP, the IP subnet is reported.
If the access point is discovered in the ARP table, its IP address is reported.
While you are scanning, the system will be prevented from going into standby unless power is critically low.
Large files load several times faster than before (though the really large ones still don't load fast enough).
A whole lot of new Scripting features.
Yeah but (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Yeah but (Score:2)
Re:Yeah but (Score:5, Funny)
For the Mac user in you.. (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.istumbler.net/
also.. (Score:5, Informative)
if you are like me.. (Score:5, Informative)
Q. What is Netstumbler?
A. NetStumbler is a Windows tool that allows you to discover 802.11b (and 802.11a, if using Windows XP) wireless LANs. It includes GPS integration and a simple, intuitive user interface.
Though primarily targeted at owners of wireless LANs, it has been the de facto tool for casual users such as "war drivers" since 2001.
NetStumbler 0.3 won the eWeek / PC Magazine i3 award for Innovation In Infrastructure, 2002.
I find it interesting that it isn't opensource.
Re:if you are like me.. (Score:2, Informative)
Oh, groan. As if that's important to you, and as if you'd contribute if it were.
Re:if you are like me.. (Score:5, Funny)
Not all programers drank the GNU/Kool-aid.
Re:if you are like me.. (Score:2, Funny)
GNU+NDA Don't mix. (Score:5, Informative)
From the Feb. 1 Q&A in Marius' blog: "NetStumbler is not open source. Indeed it contains a lot of code that was developed under Non-Disclosure Agreements, and the source cannot be released to the general public - if I do so then several teams of lawyers will show up on my doorstep."
Personally, I'm thrilled that Atheros is now supported since stubling 802.11a with NDIS drivers leaves a lot to be desired.
Reason for not being OSS (Score:5, Insightful)
Q: Can I see the NetStumbler source code? Is it open source? Etc...
A: NetStumbler is not open source. Indeed it contains a lot of code that was developed under Non-Disclosure Agreements, and the source cannot be released to the general public - if I do so then several teams of lawyers will show up on my doorstep.
Cut the guy some slack. He writes award winning software.
Re:Reason for not being OSS (Score:2)
Sure. And he would never spy on us. I completely trust his unseen code. Look in to the light and everything will be okay. Don't ask questions, it's for your own good.
Lots of OSS drivers were written under NDAs BTW.
And have you ever heard of reverse engineering? I guess that doesn't win you awards *psh*
Re:Reason for not being OSS (Score:2)
I can image a tool like this would be very usefull for hacking....
minor risk assessment (Score:5, Funny)
NetStumbler is not open source. Indeed it contains a lot of code that was developed under Non-Disclosure Agreements, and the source cannot be released to the general public - if I do so then several teams of lawyers will show up on my doorstep.
What about the RIAA and FBI agents showing up on our doorsteps, just for using it?
Re:minor risk assessment (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:minor risk assessment (Score:3, Funny)
Surely the whole point here is that they show up at somebody else's doorstep? Just like you did one day with your laptop?
Warning: It's not easy being slashdotted... (Score:5, Funny)
Since I released NetStumbler 0.3.30, I have experienced birth, death, illness, new job, and increased bandwidth costs.
Well, at least Slashdot causes one of them. I'm pretty sure about the others too...
Re:Warning: It's not easy being slashdotted... (Score:2)
New Poll Idea... (Score:5, Funny)
Already Complaining about Options... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Already Complaining about Options... (Score:3, Interesting)
However, many are in residential neighborhoods. My friend couldn't get DSL at his house, but four block away his PTP-friendly neighbor already had it. With the aid of a Linksys WET-11 and WAP-11 plus a bit of a boost to the WET-11's antenna (I think) via a half-moon reflector, he manages to get access to the internet - F
Re:New Poll Idea... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:New Poll Idea... (Score:2)
Where did you think they got the phrase 'NO CARRIER' from? A pigeon that got 0wnt by a local hawk.
Re:New Poll Idea... (Score:2)
5) I e-mailed my response to Cowboyneal
Re:New Poll Idea... (Score:2)
If you're going to go to that much trouble, just post your own story [slashdot.org] the way someone did a couple years ago.
Note to editors... (Score:2, Informative)
HTH
New chipsets supported (Score:5, Interesting)
The cisco cards work great under linux and its nice to see this great app become even more useful even if it is for windows. On that topic has anyone ported NS or another active wifi scanner to linux?
Re:New chipsets supported (Score:2)
Re:New chipsets supported (Score:4, Informative)
Why? (Score:2)
You could take the source to kismit and have it periodically run that command and have it pretend it "discovered" those APs at that time in order to deal with APs that don't send beacons but also reply to any request.
Now an AP that
Re:New chipsets supported (Score:2)
Still scans slower than my old ORiNOCO based laptop.
Re:New chipsets supported (Score:2)
I have the cheapest card I could find in 2002 (TRENDnet TEW022 or somesuch) and I found that NetStumbler now supports it, reporting it as a simple NDIS 5.1
Makes me really glad I happened to check on netstumbler.net about 6 hours ago, BEFORE the front-page story here.
Time to send some donation $$ along.
--
my regular client software can do most of this (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:my regular client software can do most of this (Score:2)
Re:my regular client software can do most of this (Score:4, Informative)
That is the power of NS. A regular client just shows "I see this near me right now" You tell it to rescan and it updates the list, and loses all the old "finds"
NS logs them with a time and (if a GPS is avial) location you found the AP at.
-Grump
Re:my regular client software can do most of this (Score:2)
Re:my regular client software can do most of this (Score:2)
No G? (Score:4, Interesting)
Palm (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Palm (Score:5, Informative)
I haven't seen anything for Sony systems or the rare (forgot which brand) PalmOS handhelds with a CF slot.
Maybe there will be more when (if?) the SDIO 802.11 drivers get released for palms
Is Netstumbler detectable? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Is Netstumbler detectable? (Score:5, Informative)
That means that instead of just listening to packets as they fly by, it actually sends out 802.11 frames to request info about any APs that will respond. So whereas you will get wireless nets that otherwise have no traffic at the moment, you won't get any that don't broadcast their SSID.
So to answer your question, yes, a NIDS tool could detect that you are sending out 802.11 frames at the rate of once a second. :)
Re:Is Netstumbler detectable? (Score:4, Informative)
umm....my $50 Netgear MR814v2 802.11b AP/router can disable beacons. Any AP should have this option.
With beacons off, it is invisible to Windows Zero Config and Netstumbler-like tools. Kismet and any other tool using RFMON mode (Airopeek is the only one on Win32 AFAIK) can still see it.
Re:Is Netstumbler detectable? (Score:2)
Here is an example [wlandb.com] of one that netstumbler would miss. It does not transmit it's ESSID on every beacon.
Donationware (Score:5, Insightful)
While it's no Kismet, it is a solid tool and the new MiniStumbler actually does a great job on my HP iPaq with integrated WLAN.
(I'm also glad I got them yesterday [grin])
Wow. I actually read this using the neighbor's AP (Score:5, Interesting)
Btw, SSID: Bartell_LTD
WEP is actually a lot more effective than people on slashdot will tell you.
Re:Wow. I actually read this using the neighbor's (Score:2)
WEP is actually a lot more effective than people on slashdot will tell you.
Um....
Re:Wow. I actually read this using the neighbor's (Score:2)
Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:5, Funny)
Thinking different is fine, as long as you're *THINKING*
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:2)
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:2)
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:2)
Airport Extreme 802.11g is not yet supported. I've heard that these are Broadcom based (no open source drivers yet)
If you have the AE, I feel you pain. I have a Broadcom
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:2)
Since this is the same situation experienced b those who went from Airport to Airport Extreme, I thought it was relevant.
Re:Apple PowerBook G4 support? (Score:4, Insightful)
My advice would be to splash out some cash for a PCMCIA Orinoco or PRISM-II card, and jam it into the sideslot. Working this way, and with something like KisMac, you can use the Orinoco to scan in passive mode, and then use the Airport or Airport Extreme card for "active" usage, such as performing a packet reinjection flood to generate more traffic on the network.
I believe Kismac does support the old Airport standard card in monitor mode ( maybe! ), but not the new APX. It can be used in active mode ( which sucks ) however.
iStumbler (Score:3, Informative)
Cheers,
Ian
Thank goodness (Score:2)
Taking a quick look at the survey explains why my connection is intermittent... there are 6 B networks in the area. Damnit... if only 2WIRE didn't have such a saturation.
The S/N ratio is showing all the crappy interference. No wonder, anyone know if G has the possibility to interfere as harshly as B? I know A is much better with crosstalk but I
complete clueless question (Score:4, Interesting)
How does one determine what chipset is in use in a given card? I have the intel pro wireless (centrino default) integrated wifi card in my laptop, but i don't know what chipset it uses... and more importantly, i don't know where to look. Help, anybody?
Re:complete clueless question (Score:2)
Re:complete clueless question (Score:2)
Not another one... (Score:5, Funny)
side sotry: netstumbler meets tech support person. (Score:5, Interesting)
1. NOT broadcast SSID and,
2. use a 128 bit wep key
But he was pissed off because his network was still "showing up as an available network!" After talking to the guy for a long time I figured out that he was using netstumbler (V3) and that SSID was showing up there, but no place other than that.
Because every one that I work with uses netstumbler, and war drives I asked them if there was any way to make iso stumberl coul dnot see the WAP. When I told this to the guy on my phone he freaked out hard core, and told us that we needed to take some sort of leagle action aginst the guy who invented netstumbler.
Anyway, my point is that WiFi networks + Americans who are afarid of everything + Netstumbler = one pissed off fear filled sue happy american.
sweet irony (Score:5, Funny)
Kismet Netstumbler (Score:3, Insightful)
Kismet >>>>> Netstumbler
In Kismet you can actually view if there are Netstumbler users nearby and they won't even have a clue you are in the area Plus you can see cloaked networks in Kismet and its totally silent/undetectable.
Go on...load up some intrusion detection ware and watch what happens when someone busts out Netstumbler on you.
With Kismet it won't be noticed at all
DSTUMBLER for those on FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD (Score:5, Informative)
Pocket PC support (Score:2)
K vs N (Score:4, Interesting)
but you have to think about getting your damm wifi card to even work in *nix.
Ive spent weeks trying to get my 2 working in linux, no luck yet.
NetStumbler is the only real way to go in Winblows.
(yes im a linux guy, made the switch 2 months ago)
Re:K vs N: Kismet runs under windows (Score:2, Informative)
MAC Address Filter (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't have any WEP set up, so kismet users can see my packets, but by my logic, anyone knowledgeable enough to be using a linux WiFi tool is smart enough to crack WEP.
Re:MAC Address Filter (Score:2, Informative)
Re:MAC Address Filter (Score:2, Informative)
The thing is if someone wants to go through all the problems of a)breaking wep, b)changing their mac addy, c) hacking through Iptables on linux, I say let them. They obviously know of some really important data on my machine that I do not know about, maybe they can
Very cool indeed. (Score:4, Informative)
He didn't have very heavy requirements for his internet access so I suggested just trying to use a wireless 802.11 card in his computer to see what open access points he can pick up.
Sure enough, there were about 6-7 open access points available at decent signal strength from his living room.
I suggested that as long as he doesn't do his banking & other information sensitive transactions, he should be okay "borrowing" someone elses connection.
As far as Netstumbler is concerned, I'm sure the area that he lives in yields 100s of hits. It won't take long to "stumble" onto a lot of ports.
Re:Very cool indeed. (Score:2)
Re:Very cool indeed. (Score:3, Insightful)
pocket PC (mini stumbler) (Score:3, Informative)
Pocket Warrior [sourceforge.net]
open source and GPL ta boot.
Re:pocket PC (mini stumbler) (Score:2, Informative)
Download Mirrors (Score:2)
stumbler.net, fastbone.com, netstumbler.com, and Hosted Zone all seem to be out of bandwidth.
Re:Proof open source works (Score:3, Informative)
Sorry, GNU/troll. This doesn't prove much of anything about open source.
Due to NDA restrictions on some of the underlying code, the author of Netstumbler can't publish the source code under GPL or any other license or without one. He has the right to publish the software as a complied binary, but we're never going to
Re:No more 98SE support (Score:2)
Why not? I'm curious. Linux advocacy aside (Linux will run on just about anything) if it can run 98SE it should be capable of Windows 2000 or even XP.
I've run XP on a P200 with 128Mb of RAM, it was slow but it worked.
Re:No more 98SE support (Score:2)
Re:No more 98SE support (Score:2)
Linux wireless support is, sadly, not very complete yet. The main reason for this is the fact that most of the chipset manufacturers are either unwilling to make Linux drivers, or unwilling to release their hardware specs. Have a look at this website [linuxant.com] though, the software here provides a wrapper for NDIS2 drivers:
Re:No more 98SE support (Score:2)
I got a bigger HD for $10, so I've tried a few Linux distros on it, but they run really slowly. Is it KDE that
No (Score:2)
Re:Legal eavesdropping (Score:2)
Actually there are two openings under legal eavesdropping. There is the "readily accessible to the general public" clause you already mentioned. The 802.11X standards are certainly "readily accessible".
The second opening is another clause that deals with interference.