How to Use Wireshark to Hack Like a Pro
Learn how to use Wireshark to capture network packets, analyze traffic, and detect potential threats. This hands-on course gives beginners the skills to interpret packet data, troubleshoot network issues, and explore professional hacking techniques with Wireshark.
What You’ll Learn
This How to Use Wireshark to Hack Like a Pro will teach you:
- Install Wireshark: Set up Wireshark on your operating system and start capturing packets.
- Analyze network traffic: Use the packet list and details panes to review network problems.
- Examine packet data: Understand bytes, IP addresses, and individual packets.
- Practice professional hacking: Analyze capture files and simulate real-world intrusion steps.
- Capture network packets: Learn several ways to run Wireshark and capture traffic on any interface.
- Display filter creation: Create targeted filters to isolate specific traffic or protocols.
- Investigate protocols: Explore TCP, DNS, and other network protocols and implementations.
Included in the How to Use Wireshark
Suitable for the Following Careers
Course Content
Course Overview
Course Setup: First Steps of Protocol Analysis
Network Communication at the Packet Level
TCP/IP Foundation
Starting your First Capture
Working with Capture Files in Wireshark
Analyzing Packet Captures
Examining Protocol Communication
Bonus Capture Files
The Steps of Professional Hacking
Audio Version of the Training
OPEN FULL CURRICULUM
Requirements
Description of How to Use Wireshark to Hack Like a Pro
This course teaches you how to use Wireshark, the world’s most trusted packet sniffer, to analyze network traffic and discover vulnerabilities. Starting from installation and setup, you’ll learn to open Wireshark, configure the network interface, and capture packets live or from static files. Whether you’re on one computer or monitoring a wireless network, this course gives you practical, actionable skills for traffic analysis.
You’ll review real captured packets and dive deep into packet bytes, filters, and protocol behavior. Using display filters and analysis tools, you’ll learn to isolate abnormal packet data and identify suspicious activity. The course also explores professional hacking methodology, using Wireshark to support scanning, monitoring, and malware investigation workflows.
- Capture traffic from Ethernet and wireless interfaces
- Analyze DNS, TCP, and other protocol communication with display filters
- Recognize security problems and intrusion artifacts from packet capture files
- Work with measuring devices and tools for detailed traffic inspection
- Save and review capture files for additional information and long-term monitoring
- Understand packet details and how data appears at each layer of communication
- Troubleshoot network issues using Wireshark on both Windows and Linux systems
Instead of relying on many tutorials, you’ll gain real-world experience capturing traffic, filtering by port and destination, and analyzing packet data between users and servers. By the end of the course, you’ll be confident in using Wireshark to download, inspect, and troubleshoot complex network scenarios in security, forensics, and beyond.
Who Is This Course For
This course is perfect for beginners, aspiring ethical hackers, and anyone who wants to analyze network packets or understand protocol behavior. It’s also a strong foundation for those exploring cybersecurity, network security engineering, or Wireshark-based packet inspection.
Course Instructor
Kevin Cardwell led a highly successful DoD Red Team for six years, achieving a 100% success rate in compromising systems and networks. With over 500 security assessments worldwide, Kevin specializes in identifying weaknesses and mitigating their impact. During his 22-year U.S. Navy career, he played a key role in bringing Internet access to ships at sea and led the team that built a Network Operations and Security Center (NOSC).
Now a freelance consultant, Kevin works with global companies and advises government entities in the US, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the UK. He’s an instructor, technical editor, and author of advanced cybersecurity courses for the Center for Advanced Security and Training (CAST). Kevin has presented at major conferences, chaired cybersecurity summits, and written books on penetration testing and network security.
He holds a BS in Computer Science from National University and an MS in Software Engineering from Southern Methodist University (SMU). Kevin has developed top-rated CERT strategies and training plans and consults for banks, financial institutions, and commercial companies worldwide. He holds multiple certifications, including CEH, ECSA, and LPT.
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Testimonials
Jason M.
I had no idea how to start analyzing network traffic until I took this course. The instructor made it so easy to understand packet bytes, captured packets, and display filters. I now feel confident investigating network problems with Wireshark installed on my system.
Derek H.
I loved the real examples and live capture walkthroughs. Learning to open Wireshark, use display filters, and isolate malicious traffic helped me finally understand how to spot threats at the protocol level. Great balance between theory and practical use.
Amir S.
This was my first time using a packet sniffer, and the course walked me through everything—from installing Wireshark to examining protocol-level details. I especially liked the sections on configuring the network interface and troubleshooting security problems.
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