David Bombal is joined by Gerald Combs, the creator of Wireshark, and Chris Greer, a well-known Wireshark trainer, for a comprehensive discussion about the past, present, and future of the world’s most popular network protocol analyzer.
They explore how Wireshark was originally created as an open-source alternative to expensive packet sniffers, the evolution from its first release in 1998 (as Ethereal), and the community-driven development that led to over 2,300 contributors worldwide. The video also dives into the transition to the Wireshark Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the tool and educating users globally.
Topics covered include:
– The early days of Wireshark and why it was built
– The story behind the name change from Ethereal to Wireshark
– How Windows compatibility helped Wireshark go mainstream
– The launch of SharkFest and what makes it unique as a community-driven conference
– What attendees can expect from SharkFest in the US and Europe, including beginner-friendly tracks, expert sessions, and interactive challenges like
Packet Doctors
– How the Wireshark Foundation supports the community and ensures long-term sustainability
– The introduction of the Wireshark Certified Analyst (WCA) certification and what it means for networking and cybersecurity professionals
– Real-world use cases for Wireshark in ethical hacking, packet forensics, and cybersecurity training
– The announcement of StratoShark, a new open-source companion tool for analyzing system call data and cloud logs with a familiar Wireshark-like interface
Whether you’re a network engineer, a cybersecurity professional, a developer, or just curious about how network analysis tools are built and used, this video provides deep technical insights, inspiring backstory, and practical guidance on how to level up your skills.
// Website links REFERENCE //
https://wireshark.org/certifications
https://packetschool.teachable.com/?affcode=1343450_j1tjrduh
http://packetpioneer.com/courses
https://stratoshark.org/
https://sharkfest.wireshark.org/
// Chris’ SOCIAL //
X: https://x.com/packetpioneer
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisGreer/videos
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgreer/
// Gerald Combs SOCIAL //
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldcombs/
// David’s SOCIAL //
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/usKSyzb
X: https://www.twitter.com/davidbombal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbombal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@davidbombal
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@davidbombal
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gERfuriI96efWWLQQ
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/davidbombal
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/david-bombal/id1466865532
// MY STUFF //
https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal
// SPONSORS //
Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com
// Menu //
0:00 – Coming up
0:44 – Gerald Combs, the creator of Wireshark // History of Wireshark
08:13 – The Wireshark Foundation
10:42 – Keeping Wireshark alive
12:24 – Sharkfest
16:44 – Chris Greer at Sharkfest
21:02 – PCAP analysis at Sharkfest // Packet Doctors
24:31 – Meeting experts at Sharkfest
24:53 – Stratoshark
29:41 – Wireshark Certified Analyst
35:06 – Bridging the gap in the Networking community
39:48 – How to study for Wireshark Certified Analyst
41:03 – Comments on Wireshark Certified Analyst
42:26 – Chris Greer thanks Gerald Combs
44:19 – Conclusion
Please note that links listed may be affiliate links and provide me with a small percentage/kickback should you use them to purchase any of the items listed or recommended. Thank you for supporting me and this channel!
Disclaimer: This video is for educational purposes only.
#wireshark #packetanalysis #cybersecurity
