Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF)

The Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) is a technology used in computer networking that allows efficient and flexible capturing and filtering of data packets traveling over a network. Think of it as a highly selective filter in a security scanner that only allows certain types of information to pass through for analysis. It helps network tools and programs quickly identify, monitor, or analyze specific network traffic without processing every packet, improving performance and precision. BPF can be customized with rules to target particular data patterns, making network diagnostics and security monitoring more effective.