Bettercap Sniffing and Spoofing

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

Bettercap is a powerful cybersecurity tool used in network sniffing, spoofing, and security auditing. As an ethical hacker, penetration tester, or cybersecurity professional, Bettercap helps you test, intercept, and tamper with network traffic to identify vulnerabilities.

Packet sniffing, MITM attacks, password cracking, ARP spoofing, and live WiFi security testing are all possible using Bettercap. It is small, modular, and forward-looking in comparison to the older style of utilities such as Ettercap, and therefore a crucial addition to network security scans.

This article will walk you through installing Bettercap, sniffing and spoofing traffic, and using the core commands to derive advantage to your security experience. Whether you're testing your own network defense or performing an authorized penetration test

Setting Up BetterCap

Step 1: Install Bettercap

Ensure your system is updated before installing Bettercap. Open your terminal and type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install bettercap

Step 2: Running Bettercap

To start Bettercap, simply open your terminal and type:

sudo bettercap
You will enter the Bettercap interactive session, ready to execute commands.

Key Features of Bettercap

Here are some key features of bettercap tool:

  • Network Sniffing – Catches packets and examines live network traffic.
  • Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks – Snoop and modifies network communications.
  • Password Cracking & Credential Sniffing – Stolen login credentials from plaintext traffic.
  • Wi-Fi Hacking & Deauthentication Attacks – Scans wireless vulnerabilities and deauthenticates devices from networks.
  • HTTPS Downgrade Attacks – Downgrades HTTPS connections to HTTP, making them susceptible to eavesdropping.
  • DNS & ARP Spoofing – Diverts network traffic for session hijacking and phishing attacks.
  • Bluetooth & IoT Exploits – Exploits Bluetooth vulnerabilities and Internet of Things (IoT) security

Sniffing with Bettercap

Sniffing is the process of intercepting and logging traffic on a network. With Bettercap, you can capture data packets for analysis.

Step 1: Start Sniffing

To begin sniffing network traffic, enter the following command within the Bettercap session:

net.sniff on

Bettercap will start capturing and displaying all network traffic it intercepts.

Step 2: Filter Traffic

To focus on specific types of traffic, you can apply filters. For example, to capture only HTTP traffic, use:

net.sniff.filter ether proto 0x0800 and tcp port 80

This command ensures that only HTTP traffic (which uses TCP port 80) is captured.

Note: To see the captured traffic, simply monitor the output in the Bettercap session. You can also log this traffic to a file for later analysis.

net.sniff.output /path/to/logfile.pcap

Replace /path/to/logfile.pcap with your desired file path.

net.sniff on
Bettercap Sniffing

For more details refer the article Sniffing using bettercap in Linux

Spoofing with Bettercap

Spoofing tricks devices into thinking the attacker’s device is another device on the network. One common method is ARP spoofing.

Step 1: Enable ARP Spoofing

To start ARP spoofing, use the following command:

arp.spoof on

This command will initiate ARP spoofing, allowing you to intercept traffic between devices.

Step 2: Target Specific Devices

To target a specific device, you need to specify its IP address. For example, we have a target device with IP address 192.168.1.10, use:

set arp.spoof.targets 192.168.1.10
arp.spoof on
This command directs Bettercap to focus on spoofing traffic from the specified IP address.
Bettercap Spoofing

Note: Once ARP spoofing is active, you can intercept and analyze traffic between the targeted device and the network. You can combine this with sniffing to capture sensitive data.

Bettercap Sniffing and Spoofing Options in Linux

Bettercap is a sophisticated network security utility utilized for network sniffing, spoofing, and attacks. It offers different modules to sniff network traffic, edit packets, and execute MITM attacks. A comprehensive table depicting Bettercap sniffing and spoofing features and their descriptions and usage is presented below.

Option / ModuleDescriptionUsage Command
net.sniffCaptures packets on the network and logs HTTP/HTTPS credentials, requests, and other traffic.net.sniff on
net.sniff.verboseEnables detailed packet logging for network sniffing.set net.sniff.verbose true
net.probeScans the local network for active hosts.net.probe on
net.showDisplays all discovered network hosts.net.show
arp.spoofLaunches an ARP spoofing attack to intercept network traffic between devices.arp.spoof on
arp.spoof.targetsSets specific target IP(s) for ARP spoofing.set arp.spoof.targets <IP>
Example: set arp.spoof.targets 192.168.1.10
dns.spoofRedirects domain requests to a fake IP address, useful for phishing attacks.dns.spoof on
dns.spoof.allSpoofs all DNS requests instead of only the configured ones.set dns.spoof.all true
dns.spoof.domainsDefines specific domains to spoof.set dns.spoof.domains example.com
net.reconContinuously discovers new devices connected to the network.net.recon on
wifi.showDisplays nearby WiFi networks and connected devices.wifi.show
wifi.assocForces a device to associate with an access point.set wifi.assoc <BSSID>
wifi.deauthSends deauthentication packets to disconnect users from WiFi.wifi.deauth on
http.proxyIntercepts and modifies HTTP traffic in real-time.http.proxy on
https.proxyIntercepts HTTPS traffic using SSL stripping.https.proxy on
http.serverHosts a fake HTTP server to capture credentials.http.server on
caplets.updateUpdates all available Bettercap caplets (scripts).caplets.update
caplets.showLists all available caplets (Bettercap scripts).caplets.show
session.listShows all active sessions in Bettercap.session.list
quitExits Bettercap.quit

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Conclusion

By following this article, you've learned how to use Bettercap for network sniffing and spoofing. These techniques are vital for understanding potential vulnerabilities in your network. Bettercap's versatility makes it an invaluable tool for security professionals. Remember, ethical use is paramount—always ensure you have permission before conducting any network tests.

Unauthorized use is illegal and can have serious consequences. Use these techniques to strengthen network security, identify weaknesses, and protect against real-world attacks. Understanding and practicing these methods responsibly will enhance your ability to secure networks and data.

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