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Ask Slashdot: Best Way To Monitor Traffic?
First time accepted submitter Shalmendo writes "My client needs to monitor traffic on his LAN, particularly going out to the internet. This will include websites like Facebook, Myspace, and similar, including from mobile devices. So far, based on the network education I have, I've concluded that it might be best to get a tap (And some kind of recording system with wireshark, probably a mini-barebone), or replace the existing Linksys router with a custom built mini barebone system with linux routing software and appropriate storage capacity etc to record traffic internally. (either way it looks like I will need to put together a mini barebone system for some purpose) My client is trying to protect his family from scammers and other unsavory types, and isn't savvy in this matter, so i'm doing it for him. What I need is a way to record the traffic at a singular point, like modem/router areas, or similar, and a way to scrape out Facebook, Myspace, and other messages. It also appears that the client's family is using iPhones and some game called 'words' which has message capability. Is it possible to scrape messages out of that game's packets, or are they obfuscated? Can I write a script? What software would you recommend? Linux routing OS? Can we sniff packets and drop them on the internal hard drive? or would a tap be better? How do I analyze and sort the data afterwards? my client needs easily read evidence (Such as text or screenshots) he can use as proof in discussion with his family to try and intercede in any potentially harmful transactions. In other words, how can I Achieve this goal? I have basic and medium training in computer networking, so I can make my own cables and such, but I've never worked on this exact kind of project before, and thought it might be better to query slashdot instead of do my own research from scratch. After days of discussion with the client, it's not plausible to put monitoring software in the devices on the network (due to legal issues and a few other factors), so I concluded a network tap or other device would be the best way to capture and study what's going on."
I admit the scope of the project is overwhelming, and I've told my client that he's asking for an NSA quality project. I will direct him to this post and your replies to help him to better understand the nature of his requests. Also, it appears that my article was truncated before being posted, so some of the explanatory bits were cut off, although the core of the question is still there for the most part. And yes, this is an actual client, not myself. I already suspected what most of you were saying, and tried to tell him that, but computers are a big 'mystery box' to him, and I can't seem to nail stuff home on my own. (IF it was myself i would have all already solved this problem.) Also, I'm a little surprised at some of the hostility and non-seriousness i've seen here, but I suppose it is to be expected considering alot of the drama and arguing i've seen going on in other arguments. When I originally wrote the article, I did specify 'serious answers only please, I don't want to start an argument, but a bunch of random answers that are unrelated won't help me solve this problem' And to be more specific, it's a home network with a cable connection. (I obviously can't be too specific due to his need for anonymity to avoid 'alarming' his family to his clandestine monitoring intentions). He does reasonable cause for suspecting something is going on and just needs to have information available to aid him in making decisions about some unusual behavior. and yes, I know that you can't get 'screenshots' right off a client PC through a network, by screenshots i meant some kind of recreation of a visited website, or just text information in printable form off some kind of analyzer software. I really would like to solve this problem, but I agree it's an excessive project. He wants the moon without having to go there to get it, type of issue.