Netstat

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Netstat ( engl. Net work stat istics "network statistics ") is a command line program that displays protocol statistics and current computer network connections .

history

Netstat first appeared in 1983 with the introduction of TCP / IP in 4.2 BSD . Netstat was also implemented for Linux , which was developed in 1991 . Windows 3.11, published in 1993, was also able to communicate with TCP / IP with a post-installation extension and thus also got an implementation of the netstat command. All netstat implementations are relatively similar in terms of functionality, but their parameters and their output differ slightly.

application

These statistics can be used to find out which ports are open or which connections exist to remote computers. Among other things, the address of the remote station can be read for existing connections.

It may also be used to find out whether the computer is infected with a backdoor program. An unknown open port or an unknown IP address are indications of a possible infection. However, this is only meaningful if other programs, e.g. B. a web browser, must be closed beforehand, as they often establish connections to computers with unknown IP addresses.

Netstat is a command line program without a graphical user interface . There are, however, programs that graphically display netstat statistics, e.g. B. TCPView from Sysinternals .

It is available for Unix and Unix derivatives and is also integrated as standard in Windows or mainframe systems, but the syntax differs.

Netstat can display all connections and listened in ports. The connections are primarily organized according to protocol. A distinction is made between TCP and UDP . In addition, there are local and remote addresses / port numbers and status.

The higher-level process identification linked to each connection can also be displayed.

As a security software, netstat also harbors the potential for abuse by hackers (e.g. identification of open ports).

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