Manipulating network data streams with Netsed
Switcheroo
© Lead Image © KONSTANTYNOV, 123RF.com
Netsed is a small communication tool that lets users modify the content of TCP and UDP data packets on the local network.
The Netsed command-line tool lets you directly manipulate unencrypted data streams, allowing data integrity tests and black-box protocol auditing. It needs very little in terms of resources and is available for installation in all the major distributions. If your distribution only offers a legacy version, rather than the current v1.2, you can download the source code [1] and build the software manually with:
make && sudo make install
Netsed naturally only works on computers that route packages (i.e., routers, e.g., under OpenWrt) or on servers that provide this service. Like a proxy, the software sniffs the data stream from a defined connection and then manipulates it in-line according to rules you define.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.