An internal security audit determines that Telnet is currently being used within the environment to manage network switches. Which of the following tools should be utilized to identify credentials in plaintext that are used to log in to these devices?
To identify credentials in plaintext used to log in to Telnet-managed network switches, a network traffic analyzer should be utilized. Telnet transmits data, including login credentials, in unencrypted plaintext. A network traffic analyzer, also known as a packet sniffer, can capture and inspect the data packets traveling over the network. By examining these packets, the analyzer can identify and reveal the plaintext credentials being transmitted. Tools like Wireshark are popular examples of such analyzers.
B. Network traffic analyzer: A network traffic analyzer (also known as a packet sniffer or protocol analyzer) captures and inspects the data packets traveling over the network. Since Telnet transmits data, including credentials, in plaintext, a network traffic analyzer can be used to capture the packets containing the login credentials as they are sent over the network. Tools like Wireshark are commonly used for this purpose and can help identify and analyze the plaintext credentials.