Wireshark

If you’re in doubt about your network security having been compromised, it’s a good idea to start collecting any information you can. Though the fear of having your suspicions validated is awful to have, being unaware of everything is worse. The same applies to general network problems as well: knowing it's your end that's not working properly can help you diagnose any potential problems.

Wireshark is a network packet capturer that can do a lot of things. Think of it as a solution that monitors the comings and goings for your connection: any request that is sent or received will be displayed on the program’s interface. This is an app whose value is most tangible to more experienced users, but the free and open-source nature of the software nevertheless makes it accessible to everyone.

Upon first boot, the program will ask you to specify the adapter you wish to monitor. If you’ve got multiple adapters, but are unsure which one is the main one, the program displays a small graph that shows the recent activity for each adapter.

Once the proper adapter is selected, the app will display all the relevant packets for that connection. Depending on your installed apps, it’s normal to have activity even when you’re not actively using anything.

Click on a packet to see information about it. Packet bytes can be toggled depending on your needs, but in short, you can expect to find details about the protocol that was used for the connection, as well as its destination.

As stated in the beginning, the program lends itself well to those who possess networking knowledge. The many available tools enable users to more easily monitor and analyze specific packets for various reasons.

You can apply filters for more precision, mark, follow, and analyze packet associations, and for those passionate about data collection, the Statistics menu should have plenty of graphs to keep you busy and gather all the information you need.

Wireshark is a solution that is very in-depth with its capturing and analysis functionalities, effectively providing users with a reliable piece of software that can help one monitor and troubleshoot any irregularities with their connection.

Wireshark is part of these download collections: Network Sniffers