In general, the invention relates to a method for classifying an application. The method includes receiving, at a kernel, a plurality of packets from the application, wherein the application is executing outside of the kernel, obtaining a first measurement from the plurality of packets associated with a first parameter using a first internal estimator in the kernel, applying a first statistical technique to the first measurement to generate a first estimate of the first parameter, and obtaining a classification of the application based on the first estimate. Further, the classification of the application is used to optimize a network connection associated with the application.