Wireshark Basics: Unraveling Network Traffic and Malware Detection

When it comes to understanding network traffic, vulnerability scanners, and malware detection, Wireshark is an essential tool that every network engineer, security professional, and system administrator should be familiar with. In this article, we will explore the basics of Wireshark and its capabilities in detecting and analyzing network traffic.

Understanding Network Traffic

Wireshark allows you to capture and analyze network traffic, giving you a deeper understanding of what's happening on your network. This includes understanding what vulnerability scanners are sending, extracting large DNS responses, and identifying oddness that may indicate malware. By filtering out the normal and focusing on the unusual, Wireshark helps you detect potential security threats.

Malware Detection

One of Wireshark's most powerful features is its ability to detect malware. By analyzing network traffic, Wireshark can identify regular connections (beacons) to command and control servers, which may indicate the presence of malware. Additionally, searching for unusual domains or IP address endpoints can help you detect anomalies that could be indicative of malware.

Capturing and Analyzing Network Traffic

Wireshark offers a range of features that make it an invaluable tool for network analysis. These include:

* Capturing and analyzing HTTP traffic, including extracting files transferred over SMB

* Exporting objects from HTTP, such as JavaScript, images, or executables

* Acknowledging server responses to requests

* Troubleshooting DHCP issues with packet-level data

Wireshark also allows you to view SMTP or POP3 traffic, reading emails off the wire. This feature is particularly useful when troubleshooting email-related issues.

Viewing Session Data

Wireshark's ability to view full HTTP sessions, including headers and data for both requests and responses, provides valuable insights into network communication. Similarly, viewing Telnet sessions can help you see passwords, commands entered, and responses received.

Example Use Cases

Wireshark is a versatile tool that can be used in various scenarios, such as:

* Troubleshooting network connectivity issues

* Examining application-layer sessions (even when encrypted by SSL/TLS)

* Detecting malware and identifying potential security threats

In conclusion, Wireshark is an essential tool for anyone involved in network engineering, security, or system administration. By understanding its capabilities and features, you can effectively analyze and troubleshoot network traffic, detect malware, and improve overall network security.

Wireshark basics