About Dataplane.org

Internet intelligence,
built in the open

We are a small nonprofit of operators and researchers who believe foundational Internet data should be freely available to everyone who needs it - researchers, operators, analysts, and the public.

Our Mission

Foster a more robust and healthier Internet through data, analysis, and statistics.

Dataplane.org runs a global network of passive sensors that observe unsolicited Internet traffic. We collect, process, and publish what we see - continuously, at no cost, for anyone.

The Internet is a shared resource. Understanding what moves across it - who is scanning, probing, and connecting unsolicited - is foundational work for operators defending networks, researchers studying behavior, and analysts building threat intelligence. That data shouldn't require a vendor relationship to access.

Our signals are derived from passive observation only. We don't probe, we don't scan, and we don't touch traffic in transit. We simply report what arrives uninvited at our infrastructure.

Passive by design

Our sensors only receive and record. We never generate scanning traffic, never probe third-party systems, and never modify what we observe.

Free for the community

Every signal feed is publicly downloadable, no account required. We believe open access to foundational Internet data is a public good.

Grounded in operations

Dataplane.org was built by network operators, for network operators. Every data feed reflects something real that operators encounter in their infrastructure every day.

2016.
Year founded, growing from John Kristoff's ongoing research at DePaul University and Northwestern
300+
Passive sensors across 65 metro areas and 6 continents
19
Freely downloadable signal feeds covering 8 protocols
501(c)(3)
Charitable nonprofit - Dataplane.org NFP - governed by IRS rules on public benefit

"We observe what arrives uninvited - and we report it clearly, consistently, and freely, so anyone who needs to understand the Internet's background noise can."

- John Kristoff, Founder
Our Story

From academic curiosity to public infrastructure

What began as a research project became a sustained commitment to keeping fundamental Internet observation data openly available - indefinitely.

Early 2000s
Foundation in research

John Kristoff begins deploying sensors across networks to observe and report on unsolicited Internet application communications - work that will eventually define Dataplane.org's core methodology.

2016
Dataplane.org launches

Dataplane.org is formally established as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization - Dataplane.org NFP. PhD research at DePaul University drives expansion into BGP, DNS, IPv6, and RPKI signal collection.

Present
Growing global coverage

19 signal feeds across 8 protocols, updated continuously from 300+ sensors on 6 continents. Used by university research programs, commercial threat intelligence teams, network operators, and independent analysts worldwide.

The Team

Built by operators, for operators

A small, focused team with deep roots in network operations, security research, and Internet infrastructure.

John Kristoff
John Kristoff
Founder & Principal Researcher

Network operations and security researcher with decades of experience across ISPs, academic networks, and Internet governance bodies. PhD work in network security drives Dataplane.org's research agenda. Active contributor to DNS-OARC, NANOG, IETF, and FIRST.

Website Publications GitHub
Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp
Cofounder, Technology & Operations

Technologist and leader with broad experience across IT functions. Focused on building the unique systems and teams that keep Dataplane.org's sensor network running reliably and its data pipeline delivering consistent, high-quality signals.

Contact Website
Bill
Bill
Cofounder, Infrastructure Architecture

Seasoned infrastructure architect guided by a collaborative approach to designing and delivering solutions with optimum security. Responsible for the backbone that keeps Dataplane.org's sensor network operational and secure across its global deployment.

Contact
Community & Affiliations

Rooted in the Internet operations community

Dataplane.org and its team members are active participants in the organizations that keep the Internet running. Our work is shaped by, and contributes back to, the broader network operations and research community.

DNS-OARC DePaul University Dragon Research Group ICANN IETF FIRST Internet2 NANOG Northwestern University nsp-security ops-trust REN-ISAC Team Cymru
How We're Funded

Two ways to support the mission

Dataplane.org operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Free signal feeds are sustained by a combination of individual donations and revenue from custom data work.

Community Donations

Individual and organizational donations directly fund sensor infrastructure, bandwidth, and engineering time. Every contribution - large or small - helps keep all 19 signal feeds free, forever. Donations are tax-deductible under 501(c)(3).

Donate Now

Custom Data Feeds

Organizations needing tailored signal data - specific protocols, geographic coverage, delivery methods, or update cadence - can commission custom feeds. This revenue directly subsidizes our free public data program.

Discuss Custom Feeds

Dataplane.org NFP • EIN available upon request • 501(c)(3) charitable organization

Get in Touch

Questions, research partnerships, or just want to say hello?

We're a small team, but we read everything. Whether you're a researcher, an operator with questions about our data, or an organization interested in a custom feed - reach out.

General inquiries

Research questions, data questions, feedback

Custom feeds & partnerships

Protocol-specific data, private delivery, research collaboration

Open source & code
GitHub

Sensor code, tooling, and analysis scripts