Analyzing Real-Time Network Traffic Through Packet Sniffing: A Wireshark-Based Case Study

In the modern digital age, the security and performance of computer networks have become critical concerns. This paper investigates the application of packet sniffing as a technique for network traffic analysis, focusing specifically on the use of Wireshark, an open-source protocol analyzer. We analyze various types of network packets, monitor traffic behavior, identify potential security vulnerabilities, and evaluate performance bottlenecks. The study demonstrates the power and limitations of Wireshark in both academic and professional environments and proposes best practices for ethical and efficient network analysis.