How to Install Wireshark Package in Kali Linux 2020.1

The most famous network protocol analyzer is Wireshark. The purpose of this tool is to see what is happening around your network. Wireshark provides all the details about the packets in movement in your network. This is a standard tool in many educational institutes and industries.

Features

Wireshark contains several features; the main features are stated below:

Inspection of thousands of protocols
New features added with every update
Live capturing of protocols
Offline analysis
Three-way handshake
Maximum portability: Solaris, Linux, Windows, MAC OS X, FreeBSD, and other OS
Graphical interface and Terminal mode “tshark utility”
Analyzes VoIP protocols.
Multi-platform data reading: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDLC, ATM, USB, Bluetooth, Frame Relay, Token Ring, and more
Save results in CSV, XML, PostScript, and plain text documents
Read and write a wide variety of captured file formats

Figure 1 Wireshark

Wireshark in Kali

By default, Wireshark is included in full images of Kali Linux. However, in minor images, Wireshark must be installed manually. In this tutorial, we will show you a step-by-step method for installing Wireshark in Kali Linux.

Step 1: Update APT

Always update your APT before installing; make it a habit. The term “sudo” stands for root privileges, so the system will ask for the root password. Enter the password, and the update will start.

$ sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Wireshark

$ sudo apt-get install wireshark

Here, you will be asked whether you wish to install Wireshark. Type “y” and hit enter, and the installation will begin.

Step 3: Check Command

Type in the following two commands to check the Wireshark utility in the system.

$ wireshark -h
$ tshark -h

Figure 2 wireshark -h terminal command

Figure 3 tshark -h terminal command

Wireshark GUI

You can also check the graphical interface of Wireshark. Click on the Kali Whisker menu and, in the search bar, type Wireshark and hit enter. You will then be asked for the root password. Enter the password, and the Wireshark window will open. The following snapshots depict this process.

Figure 4 Wireshark GUI in Kali Whisker Menu

Figure 5 Kali GUI interface

Conclusion

I hope you found this an easy and simple tutorial for installing Wireshark. Wireshark is the best tool for network analysis and packet investigation. It is an open-source and freely available network analyzing tool.