Getting Started with Wireshark: The Ultimate Hands-On Course Syllabus

Overview (80-120 words) describing structure and time commitment. This hands-on course guides beginners through the essentials of Wireshark for network analysis and security. With over 7 hours of practical content, learners will progress from installation to advanced packet analysis through structured modules. Each section combines theory with real-world labs, enabling students to capture, filter, and interpret network traffic across key protocols. Ideal for aspiring network and security professionals, the course emphasizes practical skills used in troubleshooting, forensics, and ethical hacking. Lifetime access ensures ongoing reference, and a certificate of completion validates your proficiency. No prior Wireshark experience is required, though basic networking knowledge is recommended to fully benefit from the material.

Module 1: Getting Started with Wireshark

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Install and configure Wireshark on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Familiarize with interface panes, toolbars, and preferences
• Understand basic network capture concepts
• Explore capture file formats and saving options

Module 2: Capturing Traffic & Basic Filters

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Select capture interfaces for wired and wireless networks
• Set capture options and limit data using BPF filters
• Start and stop live packet captures
• Read from saved capture files and compare sources

Module 3: Display Filters & Packet Navigation

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Master display filter syntax for precise data isolation
• Navigate packet list, details, and byte views effectively
• Save and reuse complex filter expressions
• Apply filtering to isolate specific conversations and protocols

Module 4: Protocol Analysis Essentials

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Decode and inspect Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6, and ARP headers
• Identify Layer 2 and Layer 3 anomalies and performance issues
• Analyze traffic patterns using protocol hierarchy statistics
• Interpret MAC and IP addressing in packet flows

Module 5: Deep Dive into TCP, HTTP, and DNS

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Follow TCP streams and reassemble fragmented sessions
• Analyze HTTP requests, responses, and header fields
• Inspect DNS queries, responses, and caching behavior
• Extract payloads and interpret application-layer data

Module 6: Advanced Features & Customization

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Create coloring rules to highlight traffic patterns and threats
• Build custom columns for efficient packet inspection
• Enable name resolution and expert info settings
• Configure protocol-specific preferences in Wireshark

Module 7: Network Troubleshooting Techniques

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Diagnose latency, retransmissions, and packet loss
• Troubleshoot DHCP and ARP conflicts
• Analyze VLAN and inter-VLAN routing issues
• Identify common wireless network problems

Module 8: Security & Ethical Hacking with Wireshark

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Identify signs of port scanning, spoofing, and DoS attacks
• Extract files and credentials from packet captures
• Perform packet forensics for incident response
• Support vulnerability assessments using capture data

Module 9: Hands-On Labs & Real-World Scenarios

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Practice with enterprise, cloud, and IoT traffic captures
• Work through guided case studies in network analysis
• Review lab solutions and best-practice workflows

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of networking concepts (IP addressing, OSI model)
• Familiarity with command-line interfaces (helpful but not required)
• Access to a computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Capture and inspect network traffic across various protocols
• Apply advanced capture and display filters to isolate relevant data
• Decode and analyze key protocols including TCP, HTTP, DNS, and IP
• Use Wireshark’s expert tools for customization and threat detection
• Perform network troubleshooting and basic security forensics