diff --git a/capture/capture.go b/capture/capture.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d01bfc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/capture/capture.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package capture
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
+
+	"github.com/gopacket/gopacket"
+	"github.com/gopacket/gopacket/layers"
+	pcap "github.com/packetcap/go-pcap"
+)
+
+// ListInterfaces returns all network interfaces using Go stdlib.
+// Does NOT use pcap.FindAllDevs (go-pcap has no such function).
+// Requires no privileges (CAPT-02).
+func ListInterfaces() ([]net.Interface, error) {
+	return net.Interfaces()
+}
+
+// OpenCapture opens a live capture handle on the given interface.
+// snaplen=65535, promiscuous=false, timeout=0 (block until packet).
+// Returns a platform-specific error message if permission is denied (CAPT-04, D-05).
+func OpenCapture(ctx context.Context, iface string) (*pcap.Handle, error) {
+	handle, err := pcap.OpenLive(ctx, iface, 65535, false, 0, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		if isPermissionError(err) {
+			return nil, permissionErrorMsg(iface)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to open interface %q: %w", iface, err)
+	}
+	return handle, nil
+}
+
+// StartCapture opens a capture handle and returns a channel of gopacket.Packet.
+// The channel is closed when ctx is cancelled (Ctrl+C) or capture ends.
+// Uses non-blocking send with drop counter per Pitfall 4 from RESEARCH.md.
+// Uses dynamic link type detection per Pitfall 6 from RESEARCH.md.
+func StartCapture(ctx context.Context, iface string) (<-chan gopacket.Packet, *int64, error) {
+	handle, err := OpenCapture(ctx, iface)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	lt := layers.LinkType(handle.LinkType())
+	packetSource := gopacket.NewPacketSource(handle, lt)
+	packetSource.NoCopy = true // safe: go-pcap copies internally
+
+	packets := make(chan gopacket.Packet, 512)
+	var droppedPackets int64
+
+	go func() {
+		defer close(packets)
+		defer handle.Close()
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				return
+			default:
+			}
+			pkt, err := packetSource.NextPacket()
+			if err != nil {
+				// Context cancelled or handle closed
+				return
+			}
+			select {
+			case packets <- pkt:
+			default:
+				atomic.AddInt64(&droppedPackets, 1)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return packets, &droppedPackets, nil
+}
+
+// isPermissionError checks if the error indicates insufficient privileges.
+func isPermissionError(err error) bool {
+	s := strings.ToLower(err.Error())
+	return strings.Contains(s, "permission denied") ||
+		strings.Contains(s, "operation not permitted") ||
+		strings.Contains(s, "pcap_create")
+}
+
+// permissionErrorMsg returns a platform-specific privilege hint (D-05).
+func permissionErrorMsg(iface string) error {
+	bin, _ := os.Executable()
+	if bin == "" {
+		bin = "netsynth"
+	}
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "linux":
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"packet capture requires root or CAP_NET_RAW.\n"+
+				"Run as root:  sudo %s -i %s\n"+
+				"Or grant capability:  sudo setcap cap_net_raw+ep %s",
+			bin, iface, bin)
+	default: // darwin and others
+		return fmt.Errorf(
+			"packet capture requires root privileges.\n"+
+				"Run as root:  sudo %s -i %s", bin, iface)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index b3a0b78..285487d 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,3 +3,10 @@ module github.com/netsynth/netsynth
 go 1.24.1
 
 require github.com/gopacket/gopacket v1.5.0
+
+require (
+	github.com/packetcap/go-pcap v0.0.0-20251215121130-f2cf9f991e7c // indirect
+	github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.3 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/net v0.39.0 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.32.0 // indirect
+)
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index a0e66be..c411b12 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,2 +1,18 @@
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
+github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/gopacket/gopacket v1.5.0 h1:9s9fcSUVKFlRV97B77Bq9XNV3ly2gvvsneFMQUGjc+M=
 github.com/gopacket/gopacket v1.5.0/go.mod h1:i3NaGaqfoWKAr1+g7qxEdWsmfT+MXuWkAe9+THv8LME=
+github.com/packetcap/go-pcap v0.0.0-20251215121130-f2cf9f991e7c h1:B5gWB1LB6OxpoXz+FsLUhQEcCAtMpajhBZ2K0X9KjfE=
+github.com/packetcap/go-pcap v0.0.0-20251215121130-f2cf9f991e7c/go.mod h1:1jryUz9E2ndKwZBNHzVhLMzS3WHO0fOKydYi9XWWu9w=
+github.com/pmezard/go-difflib v1.0.0/go.mod h1:iKH77koFhYxTK1pcRnkKkqfTogsbg7gZNVY4sRDYZ/4=
+github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.3 h1:dueUQJ1C2q9oE3F7wvmSGAaVtTmUizReu6fjN8uqzbQ=
+github.com/sirupsen/logrus v1.9.3/go.mod h1:naHLuLoDiP4jHNo9R0sCBMtWGeIprob74mVsIT4qYEQ=
+github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
+golang.org/x/net v0.39.0 h1:ZCu7HMWDxpXpaiKdhzIfaltL9Lp31x/3fCP11bc6/fY=
+golang.org/x/net v0.39.0/go.mod h1:X7NRbYVEA+ewNkCNyJ513WmMdQ3BineSwVtN2zD/d+E=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220715151400-c0bba94af5f8/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.32.0 h1:s77OFDvIQeibCmezSnk/q6iAfkdiQaJi4VzroCFrN20=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.32.0/go.mod h1:BJP2sWEmIv4KK5OTEluFJCKSidICx8ciO85XgH3Ak8k=
+gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=