What does the sniffing process involve in a network?

The sniffing process in a network involves capturing or monitoring data that is traversing the network. This technique allows individuals or tools to intercept and log traffic that flows through the network, which can include various types of information such as usernames, passwords, and sensitive data being transmitted.

Sniffing can be performed using various tools, often called packet sniffers or network analyzers, which listen to network traffic and can capture packets in real time. This capability is crucial for network administrators to diagnose issues, analyze network performance, or detect unauthorized access. However, it also poses a security risk if used maliciously, as attackers can exploit this capability to gather sensitive information from unencrypted communications.

The other options present activities that are not directly related to what sniffing entails. For instance, sending encrypted data involves securing data to prevent unauthorized access during transmission, which is not part of the sniffing process. Blocking unwanted network traffic is related to security measures that control which data packets can enter or leave a network, diverging from the passive observation and capturing nature of sniffing. Lastly, enhancing network security protocols refers to improving the methods used to secure data transmissions rather than capturing data itself.