Best Free Wi-Fi Network Finder Utility
NetStumbler is a free packet sniffer utility used to locate Wi-Fi networks. It's one of the first tools of its kind and arguably still the best. So much so that it is the standard product used by war-drivers in their perpetual search for free bandwidth via unsecured Wi-Fi networks as well as road-warriors looking to connect their laptops back to the office.
Basically it's a wireless packet sniffer that lists all networks available at a given geographical location. For each network it displays over 20 different parameters including the signal strength, noise level, encryption method used, GPS coordinates and more.
It's a great product with a couple of caveats: first, it only works with specific wireless card chipsets and if yours is not one these then you are out of luck. However, most Centrino-based laptops work fine including many Dells and IBMs. Second, the program won't connect you to a network; you have to do that by other means.
That said, NetStumbler is a valuable product for any laptop user who accesses Wi-Fi systems while on the road. It's also a standard tool in trade for IT security workers who need to audit Wi-Fi security.
NetStumbler
Website: http://www.netstumbler.com/about/
Download link: http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/netstumblerinstaller_0_4_0.exe
Author: NetStumbler.com
Current Version: 0.4.0
Version Date: April 21, 2004
Download File size: 1.3MB
License: Beggarware
Operating Systems supported: Windows 2000/XP
Additional Software Required: You may ned to update your wireless card firmware and/or drivers
64 Bit capable: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: No
Other relevant information: None
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Peter Feerick. Registered site visitors can contact Peter by clicking here.
Delicious
Digg
Technorati
http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider
www.netstumbler.com/downloads/ returns Error 404 - Not Found.
Even if you access www.netstumbler.com and click on "Download NetStumbler" star on right-top, you receive Error 404.
It seems that the program is discontinued.
Unknown as yet why the download page is unavailable, however, the direct download link from softpedia still seems to work, so I'll change the link to this http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/netstumblerinstaller_0_4_0.exe
Good review of free alternatives at:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=13130
Post new comment