What is a legitimate use case for a packet sniffer?

• A. Troubleshooting network issues.
• B. Hiding user activity from admins.
• C. Disrupting network services.
• D. Overloading a network with traffic.

Answer: (A)

Packet sniffers are diagnostic tools that observe network traffic to troubleshoot problems. By capturing and analyzing packets, they help you see where latency or packet loss occurs, verify that devices are communicating correctly, and confirm that protocols and configurations are behaving as intended. This passive, investigative use is legitimate when you have authorization, because it helps identify root causes and optimize performance without altering the traffic. Using the tool to hide user activity from admins or to disrupt or overwhelm the network would be misuse or harm, not a legitimate use.