Can these tools cause harm?

Most tools are passive and safe to run anywhere: Ping, Trace, Path ping, DNS, Subnet, SSL, HTTP, WHOIS, IP info, ARP, MAC lookup, Monitor, Discovery, and SNMP read. They observe — they don't change anything.

Use judgment with these:

• Port scanner — scanning hosts or networks you don't own or aren't authorized to test can violate policy or law. Scan your own gear.
• SSH — this runs real commands on real devices. A bad command can disrupt a device. Know what a command does first.
• Discovery — an ICMP sweep is generally safe but adds traffic and may trip noisy-host alerts on monitored networks.

Important: SubnetSlinger never changes a device config or shuts a port by itself. For actions like a MAC lockout or shutting a switch port, the tool helps you gather and confirm the evidence — you perform the enforcement on the switch. Containment can cause an accidental outage if you act on the wrong port, so always verify the building, closet, and exact port first.