During an investigation of suspected data exfiltration, a security analyst connects a laptop running Wireshark to a SPAN port on a switch and records all traffic for a ten-minute window. What is the primary purpose of this packet capture?
To provide network users with a secure method of file transfer
To increase available bandwidth by optimizing network performance
To collect and analyze network traffic for security monitoring and investigative purposes
To restrict access to network resources based on IP addresses
Capturing packets allows security teams to record the raw network frames crossing a link. By replaying and decoding this data in tools such as Wireshark, investigators can view header and payload information, correlate conversations, spot policy violations, and confirm indicators of compromise. Access-control lists, bandwidth tuning, or file-transfer protocols do not rely on packet captures; they are separate technologies.
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What is the difference between packet capture and network monitoring tools like IDS/IPS?
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How do tools like Wireshark help with packet capture?
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What are some common use cases for packet capture in cybersecurity?