Over the years, there have been numerous freeware and commercial network monitoring software packages available. Many 'techs' prefer command line utilities in Windows, OS X or Linux to keep an eye on network traffic. Others simply ignore it or don't know how to access it.
What is really being sent over your network?
Is there something (or someone) that shouldn't be there?
The Network Monitor for the rest of us is here. (or ....now you can see what you ISP sees ? :)
Last week, Microsoft posted Network Monitor 3.2 to the MS Download Center and it will be offered soon as an optional download via Microsoft Update (Windows update).
Think you have spyware? You'll now know with a few mouse clicks.
The small Windows utility literally walks you though the first steps of starting and stopping network monitoring and enables 'captures' over long periods of time. (Of course, longer periods of time will require more memory and hard disk space).
The stand-out feature of this latest (free) version is for those that aren't totally 'tech savvy'. They'll be able to install it, start and stop it, or just turn it off, without having to use the command line at all.
For small network administrators, it's a simply yet versatile tool.
Network Monitor 3.2 is available for XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008 with both 32 and 64 bit versions available. Complete details with screen shots can be found on the Microsoft TechNet NetMon blog here.