What is the primary purpose of network sniffing?

The primary purpose of network sniffing is to capture and analyze data packets flowing across a network. This technique is commonly employed by network administrators and security professionals to monitor network traffic, troubleshoot problems, generate performance reports, and ensure security compliance. By capturing packets, one can gain insights into the types of traffic on the network, detect unauthorized communications, and identify vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers.

Packet analysis can also highlight trends and patterns in network usage that can inform decisions about resource allocation and network design. The information gathered during sniffing can be invaluable for diagnosing issues and enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.

The other choices reflect activities that do not align with the primary goals of network sniffing. Disabling network security and enhancing network speed are not direct objectives of sniffing, and creating backups of network files pertains to data preservation rather than active monitoring or analysis of data traffic.