In the context of cybersecurity, what does ‘sniffing’ refer to?

In the context of cybersecurity, ‘sniffing’ refers specifically to the process of monitoring data flow across a network. This involves capturing and analyzing data packets that are transmitted over the network. Sniffing can be used by network administrators to troubleshoot network issues, but it can also be exploited by malicious actors to intercept sensitive information, such as login credentials, financial data, or other confidential communications.

Understanding this concept is crucial in cybersecurity as it highlights the importance of implementing robust security measures, like encryption and network security protocols, to protect data from being captured during transmission. The other choices do not accurately depict what sniffing entails; for instance, encrypting sensitive information, transmitting stored passwords, or changing passwords do not involve monitoring or analyzing traffic on a network in the same way that sniffing does.