{"id":9306,"date":"2026-02-28T13:45:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T14:45:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hadess.io\/?p=9306"},"modified":"2026-04-06T18:29:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:29:30","slug":"network-forensics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hadess.io\/network-forensics\/","title":{"rendered":"Network Forensics: Traffic Analysis and Evidence Collection"},"content":{"rendered":"

Network Forensics: Traffic Analysis and Evidence Collection<\/h1>\n
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Part of the Cybersecurity Skills Guide<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 This article is one deep-dive in our complete guide series.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

By HADESS Team | February 28, 2026 | Updated: February 28, 2026 | 5 min read<\/em><\/p>\n

Network traffic does not lie. An attacker can wipe logs, timestomp files, and clear event records, but if you captured the packets, the evidence is there. Network forensics focuses on capturing, analyzing, and reconstructing network communications to understand what happened during a security incident.<\/p>\n

PCAP Analysis Fundamentals<\/h2>\n

Full packet capture (pcap) gives you the complete picture — every byte that crossed the wire. The challenge is storage: a 1 Gbps link generates roughly 450 GB of pcap data per hour. Most organizations use a combination of full capture for critical segments and metadata-only logging (NetFlow\/IPFIX) for broader visibility.<\/p>\n

When analyzing pcap files, start with the big picture. Look at conversation statistics to identify the top talkers, unusual protocols, or connections to known-bad IP ranges. Then drill into specific sessions.<\/p>\n

Key things to look for in pcap during an investigation:<\/p>\n