#503: He CREATED Wireshark - And It Changed Cybersecurity FOREVER

Jul 16, 2025

Gerald Combs, the original creator of Wireshark, and Chris Greer, a renowned trainer, dive into the revolutionary journey of this beloved network protocol analyzer. They discuss its humble beginnings, the vital name change from Ethereal, and how it achieved mainstream success thanks to Windows compatibility. The pair highlights SharkFest's unique community-driven approach and the introduction of StratoShark, a powerful companion tool. They also introduce the Wireshark Certified Analyst certification, emphasizing the importance of skills in cybersecurity and networking.

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ANECDOTE

Origin of Wireshark

Gerald Combs created Wireshark because expensive sniffers were unaffordable for his ISP clients.
He named it Ethereal initially and released it open source, gaining worldwide developer contributions rapidly.

ANECDOTE

Early Hosting Challenges

Gerald had to hide and move his original hosting server under the cover of darkness to avoid detection with ISP acquisitions.
Early hosting was a manual effort with no GitHub, relying on traded consulting time and personal equipment.

INSIGHT

Windows Port Boosted Wireshark

Porting Wireshark to Windows was key to its widespread adoption and growth of the user community.
The name changed from Ethereal to Wireshark due to trademark issues and new branding by his wife.

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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/?a... http://packetpioneer.com/courses https://stratoshark.org/ https://sharkfest.wireshark.org/ // Chris’ SOCIAL // X: https://x.com/packetpioneer YouTube: / @chrisgreer LinkedIn: / cgreer // Gerald Combs SOCIAL // LinkedIn: / geraldcombs // David's SOCIAL // Discord: discord.com/invite/usKSyzb Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbombal Instagram: www.instagram.com/davidbombal LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidbombal Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidbombal.co TikTok: tiktok.com/@davidbombal YouTube: / @davidbombal Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3f6k6gE... SoundCloud: / davidbombal Apple Podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... // MY STUFF // https://www.amazon.com/shop/davidbombal // SPONSORS // Interested in sponsoring my videos? Reach out to my team here: sponsors@davidbombal.com 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.