Know Your Networth: Data Flow & Security Basics

This workshop is designed to help participants visualize what really happens when data travels across the Internet and how attackers can intercept it. By combining foundational networking concepts with hands-on traffic analysis using Kali Linux, participants will gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills used in cybersecurity. Here are the three key takeaways:

Follow the Packet: Participants will understand how the Internet actually works—from typing a URL in a browser to data reaching a website’s server. They will learn the roles of IP addresses, DNS resolution, routers, ports, and protocols, as well as how packets move through networks using models like TCP/IP and OSI.

See the Invisible: Participants will capture and analyze real network traffic using professional tools such as Wireshark, tcpdump, and traceroute in Kali Linux. They will observe TCP handshakes, inspect DNS queries, compare HTTP vs HTTPS traffic, and understand how packet sniffing reveals network activity.

Think Like a Defender: By exploring common network-based attacks such as Man-in-the-Middle, DNS spoofing, ARP poisoning, and packet sniffing, participants will learn how attackers exploit insecure communications. Using this knowledge, they will be able to recommend defensive strategies such as HTTPS encryption, VPN tunneling, firewall configuration, and secure network practices.