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Install

Pre-built binaries for every release are on the Releases page.

macOS

Download PortFinder_<version>_universal.dmg, mount it, and drag PortFinder into /Applications.

For non-root packet capture, also install the BPF helper:

  1. Download PortFinder-BPF-<version>.pkg from the same release.
  2. Double-click to install. macOS will prompt for your password.
  3. Click Install BPF Access in the app the first time you run it (or re-run the .pkg).

The BPF helper also drops a symlink at /usr/local/bin/portfinder so the CLI is callable from any shell.

Already have Wireshark?

Wireshark's ChmodBPF helper is the same idea — if it's installed, PortFinder will use it.

If you don't need the BPF helper (e.g. you already have Wireshark's, or you're fine running with sudo) but you do want portfinder on your PATH, use the standalone scripts in the repo root:

```bash

Install the symlink (no BPF, no group changes)

curl -fsSLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/packetThrower/PortFinder/main/install-cli.sh sudo sh install-cli.sh

Remove it later

curl -fsSLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/packetThrower/PortFinder/main/uninstall-cli.sh sudo sh uninstall-cli.sh ```

install-cli.sh looks for PortFinder.app in /Applications or ~/Applications and links the bundle's portfinder binary at /usr/local/bin/portfinder. uninstall-cli.sh removes it again, refusing to touch the symlink unless it actually points back into a PortFinder.app bundle.

Linux

Pick the package that matches your distro:

bash sudo apt install ./PortFinder_<version>_amd64.deb

bash sudo dnf install ./PortFinder-<version>-1.x86_64.rpm

bash chmod +x PortFinder_<version>_amd64.AppImage ./PortFinder_<version>_amd64.AppImage

The .deb and .rpm packages run a postinstall hook that grants CAP_NET_RAW to the binary, so packet capture works without sudo.

Windows

  1. Install Npcap — be sure to tick "Allow non-administrators to capture" during install.
  2. Download PortFinder_<version>_x64-setup.exe from the release.
  3. Run the installer.

Already have Wireshark?

Wireshark on Windows ships with Npcap, so you may already have it. Open Programs and Features and check for Npcap — if it's there, you're set.