Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is Wireshark primarily used for?

1. Data encryption

2. Network troubleshooting and analysis

3. Password cracking

4. Web application mapping

The correct answer is: Network troubleshooting and analysis

Wireshark is primarily used for network troubleshooting and analysis because it allows users to capture and inspect data packets traversing a network in real time. This powerful tool provides deep insights into various network protocols and traffic patterns, making it invaluable for diagnosing issues, optimizing performance, and understanding network behavior. Through its graphical interface and detailed statistics, users can analyze the contents of network packets, monitor data flows, and pinpoint problems like latency, packet loss, and other anomalies that may affect network performance. The other options do not accurately convey Wireshark's main function. Data encryption involves encoding information to protect it from unauthorized access, which is outside the scope of Wireshark’s capabilities. Password cracking is the process of recovering passwords from data stored in or transmitted by a computer system, which also does not relate to Wireshark’s functionality. Web application mapping typically refers to the assessment of web applications for vulnerabilities, a task better addressed with different tools designed for penetration testing rather than packet analysis.