Understanding Cyber Security part 2 – The power of Wireshark

This is the second course in a six-part series on network communication, which includes the following modules: Networks Fundamentals, The power of Wireshark, TCP/IP Protocols, Network Communication Programming with Python, Web Protocols in Action, and Cyber Attack Analysis. Together, these courses provide a comprehensive foundation in networking, combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on skills for analyzing, building, and defending networked systems. This series is designed for students who wish to develop a deep and practical understanding of how modern networks operate, how data flows across systems, and how vulnerabilities in these networks can be detected and mitigated.

This second course focuses on building a solid understanding of the local area networks (LANs) and its local transmission. Special emphasis is placed on Wireshark, an industry-standard network protocol analyzer, which students will use throughout the course to visualize and interpret packet flows in real-time. Students will also explore foundational network protocols including Ethernet and ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), and will learn how these protocols contribute to successful communication at the data link and network layers.

By the end of this module, students will understand the basic principles of packet-based communication, the structure and behavior of LAN protocols, and the process of network frame encapsulation and decapsulation. They will gain confidence in using Wireshark to capture, filter, and analyze network traffic, distinguish between normal and suspicious activity, and identify protocol-specific attack indicators. This foundational knowledge will support advanced topics in later courses, such as intrusion detection, spoofing mitigation, and secure communication protocol implementation.