Re: Telnet concerns from auditors

[David Gibbs <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John McKee wrote:
> I have an application on my computer at work called NetPerSec.  It 
> shows network
> activity, at some level.  It was my understanding (since I don't work with the
> networking part) that we used several switches.  So, why do I see network
> activity with this program?  Am I not actually connected via a switch?  I can
> sit here, do nothing, and watch the activity change over time.

Don't know anything about the program ... but it all depends on where the network activity monitor (sniffer) is located.

A switch will isolate traffic to and from individual machines from other machines ... machine A can't see the traffic to & from machine B.

If, however, the activity monitor is attached to a smart switch or some other network appliance that routes network activity through it, then that device can see everything.

david