Side by side
BruteShark vs Malcolm
Both stand on network packet analyzer software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxWindows
Choose BruteShark if you need a free tool for network traffic analysis, credential and hash extraction, or network mapping on Windows or Linux. Consider its capture prerequisites and the resource demands of large files when planning its use.
Visit BruteShark
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Malcolm combines traffic intake, enrichment, and browser-based analysis for security monitoring. Plan deployments carefully, particularly if using rootless Podman or the installer ISO.
Visit MalcolmThe facts
| BruteShark | Malcolm | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 1 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | idaholab.github.io |
| On network packet analyzer software | #8 of 32 | #12 of 32 |
BruteShark: what it does well
- Free software licensed under GPL-3.0.
- Windows GUI and Windows/Linux command-line interfaces.
- Analyzes PCAP and PCAPNG files and supports live capture.
- Extracts credentials and authentication hashes from listed protocols.
- Exports network connection and endpoint data as JSON.
What to know first
- Windows capture requires Npcap and the appropriate .NET Core runtime.
- Linux capture requires libpcap.
- Large-file analysis can consume time and resources.
- File carving is described as effective for formats with known headers and footers.
Malcolm: what it does well
- Accepts PCAP files, Zeek logs, and Suricata alerts.
- Can process live traffic from lightweight forwarders.
- Includes OpenSearch Dashboards and Arkime analysis interfaces.
- Free software released under Apache License 2.0.
- Supports Docker, Podman, and Kubernetes deployments.
What to know first
- Rootless Podman cannot capture local network interfaces.
- Installer formats all non-removable storage without warning.
- Requires deployment as containers or a Debian-based installer ISO.
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