International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 3 4 2014 April 2 Characterizing Strengths of Snort-based IDPS 88 94 EN ZolfaghariZaferani Rashid 1 Faculty of Education And Consulting, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, IRAN Haji AliakbariNeda 2 HosseinRezaeiDolat Abadi 1 Islamic Azad University, Persian GULf International Educational Branch, Khuzestan, IRAN AliReza Eghbali 2 HassanHeidarySoltan Abadi 3 EspananiHamid Reza 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Payam Noor University of Iran, Employee social security, Isfahan, IRAN Shirani Kobra 2 Department of Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, IRAN Khalilian Saadat 3 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IRAN Sadeghi Leila 4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Payam Noor University of Iran, Isfahan, IRAN YousefiBabadiVahid 5 Physiology Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical AmraeaiEsmaiel 6 Bansal A. 1 Department of ECE, G.L.A. University, Mathura, UP, INDIA Agarwal R. 2 Department of EIED, Thapar University, Patiala, Punjab, INDIA Sharma R.K. 3 School of Mathematics and Computer Applications, Thapar University, Patiala, Punjab, INDIA Paria Mohammadiha 1 Dept. of Educational Administration, Faculty of Psychology and Social Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IRAN Mahdi Shariatmadari 2 Fereshteh Kordestani 3 Bakht Azam 1 Department of Computer Science, Islamia College Peshawar, Peshawar, K.P, PAKISTAN Qureshi RashidJalal 2 Faculty of Computing, SZABIST, Dubai International Academic City, Dubai, U.A.E Zahoor Jan 3 Department of Pathology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, K.P, PAKISTAN TajAli Khattak 4 Jafar Omari 1 Fazlzadeh Alireza 2 Department of Accounting, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, IRAN MohammadrezaM. Nahidi 3 Economics and Management Faculty, Tabriz University, Tabriz, IRAN Subahana K.R. 1 CO Research and Green Technologies Centre, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Natarajan R. 2 Suman Bareth 3 Ayub G. 1 University of Swat, Khyber Pakhtonkhawa, PAKISTAN Rehman N.U. 2 Economics Department, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtonkhawa, PAKISTAN Iqbal M. 3 Statistics Department, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtonkhawa, PAKISTAN Zaman Q. 4 Atif M. 5 Waqas Haider 1 Computer Science Department COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Wah Cantt, PAKISTAN Hadia Bashir 2 Department of Computer Science University of Engineering and Technology Taxila, PAKISTAN Abida Sharif 3 Department of Electrical Engineering, the University of Lahore – Islamabad Campus, PAKISTAN Sharif Irfan 4 Abdul Wahab 5 Masoumifard Mohammad 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Meshkinshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Meshkinshahr, IRAN Norouzi 2 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Meshkinshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Meshkinshahr, IRAN Rouhollah 3 Nezamkhiavy Khosro 4 Askarpour S. 1 Faculty Member of Technical and Vocation University, Kerman, IRAN SaberiAnari M. 2 Faculty Member of Technical and Vocation University,Yazd, IRAN Brumandnia A. 3 Faculty member of Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, IRAN Javidi M.M. 4 Faculty member of Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, IRAN Ali Jamalinesari 1 Department of English Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University, Ilam Branch, Ilam, IRAN Taheri AbedReza 1 Accounting Department, Allame Amini High Educational Institude of Bahnamir, Babolsar, Mazandaran, IRAN Rezaei Mehdi 2 Accounting Department, Rahedanesh High Educational Institude of Babol, Mazandaran, IRAN Ghilman Ahmed 1 Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Islamabad, PAKISTAN Hussain Mehdi 2 Khan M.N.A. 3 > Research Article 2013 7 27 2014 April 2 The Internet has revolutionized computer networks and the last decade witnessed tremendous expansion in its usage. It provides remarkable opportunities and growth potential for all types of organizations, academia and businesses. Network security is vital for any organization connected to the Internet. Foolproof network security is a key challenge which can be addressed by hardening the network against threats e.g., hackers, malwares, botnets, data thieves etc. Firewalls, antivirus and intrusion detection systems are used to protect the network. Firewall can control network traffic but sole dependence on this type of security measure is not enough. Attackers use open ports such as web server (http) port 80 and POP server port 110 to infiltrate networks. Intrusion detection system (IDS) minimizes security gaps and strengthens security of a network by analyzing the network packets for sifting malicious packets. Snort is renowned as a leader in IDS technology. Snort uses both misuse-based and anomaly-based techniques for capturing malevolent packets. Addition of prevention support in IDS is a step forward as it can help block malicious packets. Real time detection with prevention by Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) has taken the security of a network to an advanced level by hardening the network against mischievous activities. The objective of this paper is to review the contemporary literature and to provide a critical evaluation of various techniques of intrusion detection and prevention systems. We analyze and identify the strengths and limitations of various techniques used in Snort-based IDPS systems. This paper also highlights the usefulness of IDPS in network security environment. Copyright@ International Science Community Association