Practical Packet Analysis

Chapter 1. PACKET ANALYSIS AND NETWORK BASICS

A million different things can go wrong with a computer network on any given day—from a simple spyware infection to a complex router configuration error—and it is impossible to solve every problem immediately. The best we can hope to do is be fully prepared with the knowledge and the tools it takes to respond to these types of issues. All network problems stem from the packet level, where even the prettiest-looking applications can reveal their horrible implementations and seemingly trustworthy protocols can prove malicious. To better understand and solve network problems, we go to the packet level where nothing is hidden from us, where nothing is obscured by misleading menu structures, eye-catching ...