RE: Identifying a computer

From: David Gillett (gillettdavid_at_fhda.edu)
Date: 12/03/03

  • Next message: Ben Huntley: "RE: Ad-aware"
    To: "'Cheetah'" <cheetahx@online.no>, <security-basics@securityfocus.com>
    Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 13:36:28 -0800
    
    

      If you can capture any of the packets with a sniffer, you should
    be able to find the source MAC address. In the usual case, the
    network switch(es) should be able to tell you which switch port
    that address originates on.
      Unless the MAC address is being spoofed, the prefix (first three
    of the six bytes) will be one assigned to the manufacturer of the
    network interface device or NIC. That can provide a pretty strong
    clue as to what sort of device you're looking for: PC, Mac, SUN,
    LinkSys router, etc.

      If your network isn't switched, this isn't going to help much.
    If there's wireless in the network (and if there are lots of users,
    one of them might have added an access point without bothering to
    tell the sysadmin!), the device might be out in the parking lot.

      If the address isn't leased via DHCP, you might just block it at
    your firewall or border router and see who complains.

    David Gillett

    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Cheetah [mailto:cheetahx@online.no]
    > Sent: December 3, 2003 07:38
    > To: security-basics@securityfocus.com
    > Subject: Identifying a computer
    >
    >
    > Hello.
    >
    > I am helping the sysadmin on my local LAN to manage the network, etc.
    > We have limited internet-bandwidth, and therefore it is
    > necessary to make
    > sure no-one
    > is taking to much of the bandwidth, as others will not be
    > able to use the
    > internet connection.
    >
    > For the last 2 days, a new IP has appeared, and it is
    > constantly using a lot
    > of bandwidth.
    > We have a linux-server running DHCP, DNS and the
    > internet-connection. I have
    > checked the
    > dhcpd.leases file, but the IP isn't there. I have also tried
    > to ping and
    > scan this IP, but the computer
    > is running a strong firewall, shows no open ports and doesn't
    > even respond
    > to pings.
    >
    > Is there any way I can get some information out of this
    > computer without
    > running around
    > and asking everyone what their IP is?
    >
    > Tore
    >
    >
    >
    > --------------------------------------------------------------
    > -------------
    > --------------------------------------------------------------
    > --------------
    >

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    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


  • Next message: Ben Huntley: "RE: Ad-aware"

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