hping3 — Packet Crafting & Network Stress-TestingStep-by-step reference: install & use hping3 to craft raw TCP/UDP/ICMP packets, scan ports and stress-test firewalls. Educational purposes only.FAQ

What is hping3?

hping3 is a network tool that lets you craft and send raw TCP, UDP and ICMP packets directly from the command line. It is commonly used for firewall testing, network diagnostics, port scanning and load/stress testing.

Is hping3 illegal?

hping3 itself is a legal, open-source network tool. Using it to flood, scan or attack systems you do not own or have written permission to test may be illegal. Only test machines and servers you own or are authorized to assess.

How do I install it?

On Kali/Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install hping3. On macOS with Homebrew: brew install hping3. It is preinstalled on most Kali distributions.

How do I do a basic SYN scan?

Run: hping3 -S -p 80 example.com. The -S flag sends a SYN packet and the -p flag sets the port. A reply with the SA flag means the port is open.

How do I test a firewall with a flood?

Use: hping3 --flood -S -p 80 example.com. This fires a high rate of packets and shows whether the target or its firewall drops traffic. Only do this on systems you own.

What is the --flood flag?

--flood sends packets as fast as possible without waiting for replies. It is a stress/load test to see how a server or firewall behaves under high volume.

Can it craft UDP packets?

Yes. Use the --udp flag: hping3 --udp -p 53 example.com. This lets you craft custom UDP packets, useful for testing UDP services and game-server ports.

What can hping3 find?

Open/closed/filtered ports, firewall rules, how a server responds to crafted packets, and how it behaves under load. It is a diagnostics and stress-testing tool.

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