How to uninstall ‘npcap loopback adapter’

Npcap came in to replace the obsolete WinPcap library for Windows. Nmap Project launched it as a packet sniffing and sending library. However, it packs more speed, portability, efficiency, and security than its predecessor.

What is NPCAP Loopback Adapter?

Npcap license is available for free on up to 5 systems. Pairing it with Nmap or Wireshark or both, it runs on unlimited devices. You can download the executable installer from nmap.org and access the complete source code.

Features

Some of the critical features of npcap are

• Npcap is compatible with NDIS 6 Light-Weight Filter (LWF) API, making it available for Windows 7 and later versions.
• You can limit user access to only administrators, who can access npcap to sniff packets, while others need to pass the UAC Dialog.
• Npcap can sniff loopback packets using Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) and send the same using Winsock Kernel (WSK).
• The Libpcap API allows npcap to enable Windows applications to capture potable packets.
• The WinPcap Compatible Mode is helpful for backward compatibility for running applications that do not support the advanced features of npcap.

How to Remove NPCAP from your computer

Users have reported a potential Windows crash while updating Wireshark. It would be best if you uninstalled npcap before running it manually –

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator. Open it from the Start Menu or Run Dialog box (Win + R), and enter “cmd.”
2. Enter the command –

sc.execonfignpcap start=disabled.

The process may fail if you have not enabled WinPcap Compatibility Mode.

3. Reboot your system.
4. Open Control Panel and navigate to “App and Features.”
5. Find npcap from the list and click on Uninstall.
6. Finally, open Device Manager from the Start menu or enter “devmgmt.msc” in the Run Dialog box.

You can right-click on My Computer, go to Properties, and click on the Hardware tab to open Device Manager on older Windows versions.

7. Under “Network adapters”, you need individually uninstall each “Npcap Lookback Adapter.”
8. Right-click on the Adapter and select Uninstall.

You may also need to remove NpcapLoopback Adapter on a host machine that no runs a standalone ClearCase Configuration.