An IDS (Intrusion Detection System) is a software type that is specifically designed to identify and monitor for potential attacks or unauthorized access attempts on a network. It analyzes network traffic and system logs to detect any suspicious or malicious activity and alerts the system administrator. Unlike a packet sniffer, which simply captures and analyzes network packets, an IDS is proactive in identifying and responding to potential threats. Similarly, an IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) is also designed to identify and prevent attacks, but it actively blocks or mitigates the threats instead of just alerting the administrator. A port scanner, on the other hand, is used to identify open ports on a network, but it does not have the capability to detect attacks.