Can any data exchanged on a local machine using the loopback IP 127.0.0.1 (localhost) be packet sniffed if the PC is also connected to a network (wireless or landline)?

Would like to know if the loopback, as a means of interprocess communication for locally running processes, can be regarded as a secure means of exchanging data (i.e., not privy to ease-dropping by anyone that resides externally on the network with a packet sniffer program).

This question is being asked in respect to all the pertinent OS platforms:

  • Win2K/WinXP
  • Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Mac OS X
  • Linux
network-programming tcp
Edit
Report