Wireshark in Two Days: My Hands-On Journey into Packet Analysis & Network Security

While Sunday is usually a rest day for many, for me, it was another step forward in my cybersecurity journey. Over the last two days (Sunday and Monday), I dedicated my focus to understanding one of the most powerful tools in network analysis — Wireshark.

Thanks to Cybrary’s “Wireshark Basics” course, I now feel confident navigating packet captures, filtering traffic, and identifying potential security threats at the network level.

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What I Learned in These Two Days

This wasn’t just passive learning — it was hands-on, focused, and insightful. Here's a breakdown of the key skills I developed:

1. Getting Started with Wireshark

• Learned the Wireshark interface, navigation, and how to begin capturing traffic

• Explored different types of capture filters and display filters

2. Packet Analysis Essentials

• Analyzed packets for protocols like TCP, UDP, HTTP, DNS, and ARP

• Understood how to trace communication flows between devices

3. Filtering Techniques

• Learned how to use filters to find specific conversations, protocols, or suspicious activity

• Practiced building both simple and complex filter expressions

4. Security-Focused Traffic Analysis

• Identified signs of malicious activity such as scanning or suspicious payloads

• Reviewed how attackers might attempt to hide in network traffic

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Why This Learning Matters

Wireshark is more than just a packet sniffer — it’s a window into what's really happening on a network. As someone building a career in cybersecurity, mastering this tool is essential for:

• Troubleshooting real-time network issues

• Investigating potential security breaches

• Understanding the details of how data moves across systems

And this course gave me the right foundation to go from beginner to confident user.

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What’s Next?

Now that I’ve completed the basics, I’m moving on to advanced Wireshark techniques, including:

• Protocol dissector customization

• Detecting encrypted malware traffic

• Reconstructing files from packet captures

I’ll also be combining my Wireshark skills with broader network defense practices to simulate real-world SOC scenarios.

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Final Thoughts

I believe growth comes from consistent effort. For me, Sunday wasn’t a break — it was a breakthrough. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new, and these last two days with Wireshark have been incredibly rewarding.

If you're also learning cybersecurity or looking to improve your packet analysis skills, I’d love to hear your experience or exchange tips!

Let’s connect and keep learning.

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