iwScanner vs Vistumbler

iwScanner is a free Linux wireless scanner with a graphical interface. It detects wireless networks and displays each access point, MAC address, channel, and encryption type. A signal chart shows the strength of detected networks, and scanning speed can be adjusted. The program uses wireless-tools and is ready to run when iwlist is available. It is designed in Glade and written in Python; the maker says PyGTK is needed in a Linux environment. iwScanner can open and save NetDetect (.ndd) and NetStumbler (.ns1) files, and the source is included with the download. The latest listed release is version 0.2.4, dated 2010-04-15, offered as an Ubuntu deb package and a generic Linux tarball. That release fixes networks being incorrectly detected as WPA2. Notes for version 0.2.3 add support for the rt2860sta card. The maker identifies Renzo Bertuzzi as author and invites email contact.

Vistumbler is free, open-source software for scanning nearby wireless access points and mapping them with wireless and GPS data. It finds networks through the Windows Native WiFi API or netsh and supports COM/NMEA GPS receivers. Users can import and export access point data, save KML and GPX files, track scans live in Google Earth, and use audio alerts. The stable release supports Windows 10 and 11 and requires .NET Framework 4. Official releases include an installer, source code, and a portable ZIP; the maker says these downloads do not bundle third-party installers or adware. The project recommends checking available checksums and using standard anti-malware practices during installation. Vistumbler can collect GPS and WiFi location data while running. WiFiDB accepts wireless scan uploads, including data from Vistumbler, and creates statistics and maps. The software is intended for legitimate network analysis and WiFi mapping; its terms prohibit unauthorized network access and monitoring without consent. An experimental MAUI preview is available for Windows and Android, but it remains in development and may have missing features or bugs.