20 Wireshark Interview Questions and Answers

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that can be used to troubleshoot network issues and monitor traffic. When interviewing for a position that will involve using Wireshark, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and knowledge of the program. This article discusses some of the most common Wireshark interview questions and provides tips on how to answer them.

Wireshark Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Wireshark interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is Wireshark?

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer. It can be used to troubleshoot network problems and to examine network traffic.

2. Can you explain how Wireshark works?

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that can be used to capture and analyze network traffic. It works by capturing packets of data that are sent and received on a network, and then decoding the data to reveal the contents of the packets. This can be used to troubleshoot network problems, or to simply see what data is being sent and received on a network.

3. Why do you think Wireshark is a good choice for network troubleshooting?

Wireshark is a great choice for network troubleshooting because it is a free and open source tool that can be used to capture and analyze network traffic. It is also very user-friendly, so even if you are not a network expert, you should be able to use it to identify and solve network problems.

4. How can you save the current capture in Wireshark?

In Wireshark, go to File > Save As. This will open a Save Capture File window. Choose the location where you want to save the file and click Save.

5. Is it possible to find out if any packet was lost while capturing data with Wireshark? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to find out if any packets were lost while capturing data with Wireshark. To do this, you will need to go to the Statistics > Summary menu and look at the “Packets Received” and “Packets Dropped” counters. If the “Packets Dropped” counter is non-zero, then that means that some packets were lost during capture.

6. How do you go about removing all packets that were captured before and after a specific time range?

In the display filter field, you would type in “frame.time > [start time] && frame.time < [end time]".

7. How do you use Wireshark to filter traffic by IP address?

You can use the “ip.addr” filter in Wireshark to filter traffic by IP address.

8. How do you inspect the contents of an HTTP response using Wireshark?

You can inspect the contents of an HTTP response by selecting the HTTP response packet in the Wireshark interface and then selecting the “Inspect Packet” option. This will open up a new window that will display the contents of the HTTP response packet.

9. Can you explain what the “stats” menu does in Wireshark?

The “stats” menu in Wireshark provides a variety of statistical information about the current capture file. This can include things like the number of packets captured, the size of the capture file, the average packet size, and more. This information can be helpful in understanding the data that has been captured, and can also be used to troubleshoot problems with the capture file.

10. Can you show me some examples of applications where Wireshark can be used?

Wireshark can be used in a number of different ways depending on what you are trying to achieve. For example, if you are trying to debug a network issue, then you can use Wireshark to capture and analyze traffic to see where the problem is occurring. Alternatively, if you are trying to monitor network activity for security purposes, then Wireshark can be used to detect suspicious activity and investigate further.

11. Can you explain the difference between TCP and UDP? Which one would you prefer for real-time chat applications? Why?

TCP is a connection-oriented protocol, which means that it requires a connection to be established between two devices before any data can be transferred. UDP is a connectionless protocol, which means that data can be sent without first establishing a connection. For real-time chat applications, UDP would be the preferred protocol because it is faster and has less overhead than TCP.

12. Can you give me some examples of common domains names that are blocked by default in wireshark?

Some common domain names that are blocked by default in Wireshark include:

– www.google-analytics.com
– www.googletagmanager.com
– ssl.google-analytics.com
– www.facebook.com
– graph.facebook.com

13. Can you explain what a cookie is and how it works?

A cookie is a small piece of data that is sent from a website and stored on the user’s computer. Cookies are used to remember information about the user, such as their preferences or login information. When the user visits the website again, the website will read the cookie and use the information to customize the user’s experience.

14. Can you explain how SSL connections work on networks?

SSL connections work by encrypting data that is sent between two devices on a network. This encryption makes it difficult for anyone who is intercepting the data to read it. In order to set up an SSL connection, both devices need to have an SSL certificate. The certificate contains a public key that is used to encrypt the data, and a private key that is used to decrypt it.

15. What is your understanding of DNS resolution? Do you know how to test it manually?

DNS resolution is the process of translating a domain name into an IP address. This is necessary because computers communicate with each other using IP addresses, but humans find it much easier to remember and use domain names. In order to test DNS resolution manually, you can use the “nslookup” command.

16. Can you explain what a traceroute is and how it’s useful?

A traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that allows you to see the path that a packet of data takes from its source to its destination. This can be useful in troubleshooting network problems, as you can see where along the route the data is being lost or delayed.

17. Why do you think it’s important to monitor network traffic on enterprise systems?

There are a few reasons why monitoring network traffic is important on enterprise systems. First, it can help identify potential security threats. If there is suspicious activity going on, it can be caught and dealt with before it causes any damage. Second, it can help with troubleshooting. If there is a problem with the network, seeing the traffic can help identify where the issue is. Finally, it can be used for performance monitoring. By seeing how the network is being used, you can make sure that it is running optimally.

18. What are some issues you might face with using encryption keys for authentication?

One potential issue with using encryption keys for authentication is that if the keys are lost or stolen, then the authentication process can be compromised. Another issue is that if the keys are not properly managed, then it is possible for them to be used in a way that is not authorized, which could lead to security issues.

19. What are some ways to avoid security threats posed by man-in-the-middle attacks?

Some ways to avoid security threats posed by man-in-the-middle attacks include encrypting all communication using SSL/TLS, using public key infrastructure to authenticate devices and users, and using IPsec to encrypt all communication at the network layer.

20. What is the significance of countermeasures like TKIP or AES on WiFi networks?

TKIP and AES are two of the most common encryption methods used on WiFi networks. TKIP is an older method that is not as secure as AES, so if you are setting up a new WiFi network, you should use AES. However, if you have an older device that does not support AES, you can still use TKIP.