Kismet
Kismet monitors and captures Wi-Fi network traffic, with wireless intrusion detection and wardriving features.
About Kismet
Kismet monitors and captures Wi-Fi network traffic as a sniffer, wireless intrusion detection system, and wardriving tool. It can also collect Bluetooth, Zigbee, RF, ADSB airplane beacons, and power and water meter data, and supports remote capture from distributed sensors to one central location.
It runs on Linux and macOS, with Linux noted as most compatible. Windows use is limited to remote capture via WSL, and collection beyond Wi-Fi requires compatible hardware and drivers.
Key features
- Monitors and captures Wi-Fi traffic as sniffer and WIDS
- Supports wardriving with device and location logging
- Collects Bluetooth, Zigbee, RF, ADSB data with compatible hardware
- Distributed remote capture over TCP sockets or websockets
- Stores packets, devices, and location in sqlite-based kismetdb file
- Provides REST API for scripting against Kismet server
Best for: People on Linux or macOS who need to monitor Wi-Fi traffic, detect wireless intrusions, or map networks with multiple sensors.
Good for
- Handles Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth, Zigbee, RF, ADSB, and meters with compatible hardware
- Collects data from distributed sensors into one central location
- Stores packets, devices, location, and runtime data in one sqlite-based file
Watch out for
- Linux is listed as most compatible, indicating limits on other systems
- Windows is limited to remote capture via WSL
- Non-Wi-Fi collection requires proper hardware and driver support
Kismet at a glance
- Website
- kismetwireless.net
- Category
- Privacy & Security › Security Tools
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
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Kismet FAQ
Which operating systems can run Kismet?
Linux, noted as most compatible, and macOS; Windows is supported for remote capture via WSL.
What can Kismet capture besides Wi-Fi?
With compatible hardware and drivers, Bluetooth, 802.15.4 Zigbee, RF sensors, ADSB airplane beacons, power meters, water meters, and nRF-based keyboards.
How does Kismet handle multiple sensors?
It supports remote capture for all capture types over TCP sockets or websockets to collect data in one place.
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