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

Use Cases

• Network troubleshooting and connectivity issues
• Security incident investigation
• Malware traffic analysis
• Performance monitoring and optimization
• Protocol learning and education

Outputs / Deliverables

Primary Outputs

• Filtered packet captures for specific traffic
• Reconstructed communication streams
• Traffic statistics and visualizations
• Evidence documentation for incidents

Core Workflow

Phase 1: Capturing Network Traffic

Start Live Capture

Begin capturing packets on network interface:

1. Launch Wireshark
2. Select network interface from main screen
3. Click shark fin icon or double-click interface
4. Capture begins immediately

Capture Controls

Action	Shortcut	Description
Start/Stop Capture	Ctrl+E	Toggle capture on/off
Restart Capture	Ctrl+R	Stop and start new capture
Open PCAP File	Ctrl+O	Load existing capture file
Save Capture	Ctrl+S	Save current capture

Capture Filters

Apply filters before capture to limit data collection:

# Capture only specific host
host 192.168.1.100

# Capture specific port
port 80