Snort is an open-source Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) and Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that performs real-time traffic analysis and packet logging on IP networks. The system uses a rule-based language that combines signature, protocol, and anomaly-based inspection methods to detect malicious activity. Snort can be deployed in three primary modes: - As a packet sniffer similar to tcpdump - As a packet logger for network traffic debugging - As a full network intrusion prevention system Snort offers two rule sets: - Community Ruleset: Developed by the Snort community and quality-assured by Cisco Talos, freely available to all users - Subscriber Ruleset: Developed, tested, and approved by Cisco Talos, available through subscription for real-time updates The platform supports inline deployment to not only detect but also block malicious packets. With its extensive rule documentation and regular updates, Snort helps organizations identify and mitigate network threats, including command injections, proxy tools, and various attack vectors. Snort 3, the latest major version, introduces new features and improvements over the legacy Snort 2 system while maintaining the core functionality that has made it widely adopted across the security industry.