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Wireshark

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

Wireshark

Wireshark Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Wireshark is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Wireshark Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-11

Features & Specs

  1. Comprehensive Protocol Support

    Wireshark supports a vast number of protocols out of the box, allowing for detailed inspection and analysis of network traffic.

  2. Free and Open-Source

    Wireshark is free to use and its source code is openly available, enabling customization and community-driven improvements.

  3. Cross-Platform Compatibility

    Wireshark runs on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide audience.

  4. Rich Feature Set

    It offers features like live capture, offline analysis, deep inspection of hundreds of protocols, and powerful display filters for granular traffic analysis.

  5. Strong Community Support

    A large and active community provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums, making it easier for users to troubleshoot and learn.

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Videos

Wireshark Tutorial for Beginners

Monitor Network Traffic with Wireshark - Review

Wireshark 101: CloudShark Review - HakTip 144

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Wireshark and what they use it for.
  • Ask HN: What Are You Working On? (February 2026)
    I recently retired after 37 years of working in tech so of course I am working on open source. My retirement treat was to spend three months learning OpenGL and 3D game programming by porting a classic Java RTS game, Tribal Trouble, to more modern OpenGL and Java. I learn much better working with real code and this was a great experience. It was certainly a different experience than it would have been without an... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Wifi problematic, wired connections seem okay. Help?
    Https://wireshark.org, opening that, go to edit preferences and enable "IP network" in the name resolution area, to show website names instead of only IP addresses. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Eeros in bridge mode with wired home
    To prove this, download wireshark Https://wireshark.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Lose internet when downloading large files
    Give that a try and I'll re-recommend for a second time, to run and watch Wireshark: Https://wireshark.org. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Performance scores for Google Lighthouse/Insights seem to be very inaccurate
    Https://www.gap.com/ returned a performance score of 10/100, with a time to interactive score of 36.1 seconds! Https://www.patreon.com/ returned a score of 18 Https://wireshark.org/ returned a score of 28, with "unused javascript" taking 14.9 seconds to load. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is there a way to programatically turn off Downtime on a child device?
    I tried using Wireshark to figure out which URL is being called but my knowledge here is VERY limited and I couldn’t figure it out. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Mouse.move sometimes does not do anything
    I'd use wireshark or a beagle to debug the host - it's entirely possible that the host just isn't bothering to send an endpoint query in time for whatever reason, and the Arduino probably doesn't have much of an event queue. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Ethernet on PC sending and receiving 16 kbps CONSISTETLY!!
    In order to check for this you will need to open wireshark during one of these entries and let us know what you see. Source: over 4 years ago
  • How do you see all http requests made in real time?
    Wireshark is best if you don't know how to dump specific traffic. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Wireshark - Quick Tour for Beginners
    It's free to download from wireshark.org and you can run it in a VM. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: Should it be legal to switch privacy policies after purchase?
    You could use Wireshark[1] which is a pretty powerful network packet sniffing application. If you capture using monitor mode, you'll likely see a bunch of 802.11 requests - take a look at [2]. 1: https://wireshark.org. - Source: Hacker News / about 5 years ago
  • IP spoofing: Theory and implementation
    In order to verify traffic is being sent by our device, Wireshark can be used to capture and analyze outgoing packets. If all is well, wireshark should look like this, a blue UDP protocol packet with the source being our spoofed address. - Source: dev.to / over 5 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Wireshark

Wireshark, a prominent network protocol analyzer, continues to enjoy widespread acclaim among professionals engaged in network monitoring and troubleshooting. Known for its granular capture capabilities, Wireshark allows users to dissect network packet traffic with precision. The tool is particularly favored for its ability to specify detailed filters and its robust color coding system, making the otherwise overwhelming task of parsing through a deluge of packets more manageable. In professional circles, this aspect of Wireshark garners positive feedback for improving user navigation through complex network data.

One of the most cited advantages of Wireshark is its depth of features. It provides users with the ability to conduct intricate investigations into network communication, which is instrumental in identifying issues related to network latency, loss, or breaches. This level of detail is not matched by many of its competitors, which often make Wireshark the go-to choice for network analysts.

However, despite its comprehensive features, Wireshark is not without limitations. One notable drawback is its absence of an Android application, which limits its utility for professionals who are reliant on mobile devices for network analysis. This absence results in professionals needing to seek alternative solutions for mobile environments. Additionally, while Wireshark’s interface is full-featured and offers a high level of information, it can be daunting for beginners unfamiliar with network protocols. This is particularly evident when compared to competitors like Charles Proxy, which provides a more user-friendly interface.

Another shortcoming frequently noted is Wireshark's capability, or lack thereof, to transmit packets, which limits its application solely to monitoring rather than acting upon the network activity detected. This contrasts with some competitors that offer functionality allowing for more dynamic network management, including packet injection or switching capabilities.

Despite these limitations, Wireshark remains a vital tool in the network analysis arsenal because of its unmatched depth of protocol support and open-source nature. It is praised for being accessible both in terms of cost—being free—and in terms of community support, which offers a trove of knowledge for both novice and expert users alike.

In summary, Wireshark continues to maintain its standing as a leading network protocol analyzer due to its powerful feature set capable of catering to granular and extensive network traffic analysis. Its principal limitation lies primarily in its complexity and lack of platform ubiquity. However, for those seeking an in-depth understanding of network communications, Wireshark remains an indispensable tool, especially for environments that require a detailed inspection of network packets on non-mobile platforms. The diverse user community further enriches the Wireshark experience, cementing its status as a keystone tool in network diagnostics and cybersecurity.

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