Ubuntu
wireshark package

  1. Bug #471046
  2. Comment #1

Comment 1 for bug 471046

Revision history for this message
Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox) wrote :

Indeed, it is no longer there is the package, so this is "expected" behavior, upgrade or otherwise...

Apparently, this was done in the Debian packaging in version 1.2.1-2:

wireshark (1.2.1-2) unstable; urgency=low

  * added option to install dumpcap with setuid root
  * removed wireshark-root.desktop to discourage running Wireshark as root
  * dropped umask patch

 -- Balint Reczey <email address hidden> Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:30:03 +0200

This is because running Wireshark as root potentially puts you at risk, as it could compromise your computer in the event that a malicious packet was intercepted or willingly sent to the capture device.

I'm converting this to a question, in order to provide the information on how to deal with this special case.