wireshark.software
Trust, Security & Ethics
Wireshark is trusted by millions because it is transparent, open source, and built for legitimate network diagnostics. This page defines responsible use and what you can expect from official software.
Legal Usage Policy
Wireshark is a dual-use tool: essential for defense and operations, dangerous when misused for unauthorized surveillance. You must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations in your jurisdiction.
- Capture only on networks you own or where you have explicit written authorization.
- Honor workplace acceptable-use policies and data protection rules (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.) when handling packet contents.
- Do not intercept communications to which you are not a party without legal authority.
- Retain captures only as long as policy requires; secure files containing credentials or personal data.
Ethical Usage Statement
The Wireshark community promotes ethical analysis: fix outages, improve performance, teach protocols, and defend systems. Using Wireshark to spy on users, steal credentials, or bypass access controls without authorization is inconsistent with project values and may be criminal.
When sharing captures, minimize sensitive data. Use anonymization tools and display filters before exporting traces outside your team.
Open-Source Transparency
Source code is publicly available under GPL v2. Security researchers, vendors, and users audit dissectors and core engine behavior. Releases are built from tagged versions with published checksums.
The Wireshark Foundation governs project direction as a non-profit funded by community donations and sponsors who depend on reliable protocol analysis.
No Malware Clarification
Official Wireshark and Npcap installers distributed through verified release channels are not bundled with viruses, trojans, cryptominers, or spyware. Heuristic antivirus detections relate to packet capture capabilities, not malicious intent.
Protect yourself by verifying SHA256 hashes, checking code signatures, and avoiding unofficial repacks from unknown publishers.
Checksum verification guide →User Responsibility Disclaimer
Wireshark is provided as-is without warranty under the GNU GPL. Developers and the Wireshark Foundation are not liable for damages arising from use or misuse of the software.
You are solely responsible for how you deploy captures, store trace files, and comply with law. wireshark.software provides informational resources about the Wireshark product; it does not operate the upstream project build infrastructure.
Wireshark is a registered trademark of Gerald Combs. This website is an independent authority resource at wireshark.software.
Download with confidence
Verify checksums, install from official builds, and capture responsibly.