Wireshark Network Traffic Analysis

Purpose

Execute comprehensive network traffic analysis using Wireshark to capture, filter, and examine network packets for security investigations, performance optimization, and troubleshooting. This skill enables systematic analysis of network protocols, detection of anomalies, and reconstruction of network conversations from PCAP files.

Inputs / Prerequisites

Required Tools

• Wireshark installed (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Network interface with capture permissions
• PCAP/PCAPNG files for offline analysis
• Administrator/root privileges for live capture

Technical Requirements

• Understanding of network protocols (TCP, UDP, HTTP, DNS)
• Familiarity with IP addressing and ports
• Knowledge of OSI model layers
• Understanding of common attack patterns