netcat is a
program written by
hobbit (
hobbit@avian.org) used to create
raw udp/
tcp connections, etc. .. making it a useful
network debugging and exploration
utility.
regarding tlf's writeup: Weld Pond, a member of the L0pht, simply ported netcat to NT .. he did not (nor did any member of the L0pht for that matter) originally write the program.
features:
- Outbound or inbound connections, TCP or UDP, to or from any ports
- Full DNS forward/reverse checking, with appropriate warnings
- Ability to use any local source port
- Ability to use any locally-configured network source address
- Built-in port-scanning capabilities, with randomizer
- Built-in loose source-routing capability
- Can read command line arguments from standard input
- Slow-send mode, one line every N seconds
- Hex dump of transmitted and received data
- Optional ability to let another program service established connections
- Optional telnet-options responder
list of
features retrieved from hobbit's
website:
http://www.avian.org