EtherApe: A Complete Guide to Real-Time Network Visualization

Whether you're diagnosing suspicious network activity, tracking bandwidth usage, or performing network forensic analysis, EtherApe simplifies the process with an easy-to-use interface. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about EtherApe, including installation, features, and real-world usage.

When to Use EtherApe?

1. Network Security Analysis – Detect potential DDoS attacks, data exfiltration, or unauthorized access.
2. Troubleshooting Network Issues – Identify slow connections, bandwidth hogs, or misconfigured devices.
3. Monitoring User Activity – See who is using what protocols and how much bandwidth they consume.
4. Network Forensics – Analyze historical traffic data by loading a PCAP file.

How to Install EtherApe on Kali Linux

Since EtherApe is included in the Kali Linux repository, installing it is straightforward.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing EtherApe, make sure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install EtherApe

Run the following command to install EtherApe:

sudo apt install etherape -y


Step 3: Run EtherApe with Root Privileges
Since EtherApe captures live network traffic, it requires root permissions:
sudo etherape
💡 Tip: If you want to run EtherApe without root privileges, use sudo setcap:
sudo setcap cap_net_raw,cap_net_admin=eip /usr/bin/etherape

How to Use EtherApe for Network Monitoring
Step 1: Choose a Network Interface
After launching EtherApe, a window will appear asking you to select a network interface.
💡 Common interfaces:
eth0 – Wired Ethernet connection
wlan0 – Wireless connection
lo – Localhost (useful for testing)
tun0 – VPN connections
👉 Example: If you want to monitor your Wi-Fi traffic, select wlan0.
Step 2: Start Network Capture
Once the interface is selected, EtherApe will immediately begin capturing live network traffic and display it in a graphical format.
Step 3: Analyze Network Traffic
EtherApe visualizes network activity using colored nodes and connections:
🔵 Blue – Normal traffic (safe)
🟡 Yellow – Medium traffic load
🔴 Red – High traffic (potential issue or attack)
Understanding the Graph:
Circles represent devices (computers, routers, servers).
Lines between circles represent network connections.
Thicker lines indicate higher traffic between two devices.
Colors indicate the protocol type (HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SSH, etc.)
Step 4: Filter Traffic by Protocol
EtherApe allows you to filter traffic to focus on specific network activities.
1. To filter by protocol:
Click Edit → Preferences → Protocols and check/uncheck the protocols you want to monitor.
2. To view only HTTP traffic:
sudo etherape -p HTTP
3. To capture traffic from a specific IP:
sudo etherape -p IP -f "host 192.168.1.10"
(Replace 192.168.1.10 with the target IP address.)
Step 5: Capture and Save Data for Analysis
If you need to analyze traffic later, you can save a capture file:
Click File → Save As
Save the file in .pcap format
Open the saved file later with EtherApe or Wireshark for deeper analysis.
Real-World Use Cases of EtherApe
1. Scenario 1: Detecting a DDoS Attack
If you see multiple unknown IPs sending excessive traffic to a single server, it could be a DDoS attack.
Use protocol filters to check for malicious connections.
2. Scenario 2: Identifying Bandwidth Hogs
If one device is generating an unusually thick red line, it may be using excessive bandwidth.
Identify the protocol (BitTorrent, YouTube, etc.) and apply traffic shaping if needed.
3. Scenario 3: Checking for Unauthorized Connections
If a strange external IP is communicating with an internal machine, it might be malware or an unauthorized user.
Investigate using Wireshark or Netstat.
Final Thoughts
EtherApe is a must-have tool for anyone who needs a quick, visual representation of network activity. Whether you're troubleshooting slow network speeds, investigating security threats, or monitoring connections, this tool simplifies live network traffic analysis.
Key Takeaways:
1. Easy to install & use – Perfect for beginners and pros.
2. Real-time visualization – Ideal for spotting anomalies.
3. Supports multiple protocols & filters – Customize traffic analysis.
4. Lightweight but powerful – Doesn’t slow down your system.