Lab 2 Encryption Names

Lab 2 Encryptionnames

Any data that is sensitive or critical for business or military purposes should be encrypted. But what does it mean to be encrypted. What does encrypted data look like? In this lab we will look at data which is unencrypted and data that is encrypted. We will use a tool called GNS3 to simulate two routers that are connected via a point-to-point link.

We will run data through this link while looking at the packets going through it. The tool we will use to view the data is Wireshark, which is probably the most important tool we as network engineers have in our toolbelt. Let’s answer the following questions as we go through the lab:

• 1. What is the cleartext data that is being sent in the ping between the two PCs? _____________________
• 2. What is the protocol used for the ping utility? ____________________
• 3. How many ping messages do you see? _____________________ Why? _________________________________________________________
• 4. Is this data encrypted or unencrypted? _____________________________
• 5. Now let’s make a change in the router. What types of messages do you see now? Does it look the same as the messages we saw before we made the change to the router? ______________________
• 6. What protocol do you see now? ____________________
• 7. Are you still able to see the source and destination MAC address? __________What layer is this you are looking at the MAC address in? _____________
• 8. Are you still able to see the source and destination IP address? __________What layer is this you are looking at the IP address in? _____________
• 9. Can you see the cleartext data you saw before? ____________________________
• 10. Explain the ESP protocol. Does what we see in Wireshark make sense? Write a paragraph answering these two questions.

End of Procedure

Paper For Above instruction

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of data encryption, focusing on practical observation through network tools like Wireshark and GNS3. The primary aim is to differentiate between encrypted and unencrypted data transfers, understand the protocols involved, and evaluate how encryption impacts the visibility of packet information such as MAC and IP addresses. Additionally, the paper examines the ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) protocol and articulates its role within network security frameworks.

Initially, the examination begins with unencrypted data exchange, exemplified through ICMP ping packets. These packets, sent between two virtual PCs connected via routers, are visible in Wireshark with their payloads in plain text—showing the data, source, and destination details in clear form. The protocol predominantly used for ping is ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol). The number of ping messages observed correlates with the parameters set in the ping command, typically four or more, which allows network diagnostics. Because these packets are not encrypted, their payloads are fully accessible in Wireshark, revealing the simplicity of unencrypted communication.

When a router's configuration is altered to implement encryption, the behavior of packet transmission changes visibly in Wireshark. The packets exhibiting unencrypted payloads are replaced by encrypted data units, which do not reveal the original ping data. The protocol then shifts to ESP, which encapsulates the original payload in an encrypted format. ESP is a component of IPsec, used to provide confidentiality, data integrity, and authentication. It encrypts the payload, making it unintelligible to eavesdroppers, although the packet headers may still reveal header information such as source and destination addresses.

In examining the layers, MAC addresses are visible at Layer 2 (Data Link Layer), evident in the Ethernet frames captured by Wireshark, where source and destination MAC addresses are clearly identifiable. IP addresses are located at Layer 3 (Network Layer), visible within the IP headers. When encryption via ESP is active, payload data that previously was visible as plain text becomes encrypted; however, MAC and IP headers remain accessible, facilitating network routing and addressing. The encrypted payload itself appears as a series of garbled data, which maintains the confidentiality of the data content.

The ESP protocol’s primary function is to secure IP packets by encrypting the payload and optionally authenticating the data. It stands for Encapsulating Security Payload and is integral to IPsec suites used in VPNs and other secure communications. As seen in Wireshark, ESP packets have distinctive fields like Security Parameters Index (SPI), sequence number, and the encrypted payload segment. Its operation involves encapsulation, where the original IP packet is encrypted and wrapped within an ESP packet, thus preserving data confidentiality while allowing necessary network routing to occur at lower layers. The visual representation of ESP in Wireshark confirms its role in securing data and maintaining privacy over the network.

In conclusion, encryption significantly alters the visibility of network data, transitioning from plain ICMP messages to encrypted packets that conceal payloads through protocols like ESP. While header information such as MAC and IP addresses remains accessible, the actual data payload becomes unintelligible without proper decryption keys. The ESP protocol plays a crucial role in modern network security, providing robust encryption to safeguard data in transit. The practical observations from Wireshark enhance understanding of these concepts, demonstrating how encryption impacts network monitoring and security management.

References

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• Whitman, M. E., & Mattord, H. J. (2018). Principles of information security. Cengage Learning.
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• Nash, R., & Green, B. (2021). Wireshark for Security Professionals. Packt Publishing.
• Rescorla, E. (2001). The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol. RFC 2246.
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