Wireshark-bugs: [Wireshark-bugs] [Bug 10406] New: Can't capture from wlan interface unless run a

Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 21:46:37 +0000
Bug ID 10406
Summary Can't capture from wlan interface unless run as root - but running as root gives warning
Product Wireshark
Version 1.10.6
Hardware x86-64
OS Ubuntu
Status UNCONFIRMED
Severity Major
Priority Low
Component Capture file support (libwiretap)
Assignee [email protected]
Reporter [email protected]

Build Information:
Paste the COMPLETE build information from "Help->About Wireshark", "wireshark
-v", or "tshark -v".
--
If I run Wireshark normally, None of the network interfaces are available for
capture.
If I run it as root (sudo wireshark), then I can capture from the wlan and
ethernet network interfaces.

But you are not supposed to run Wireshark as root, right? You even get a
warning when doing that, telling you that something is disabled because running
as root. Then, this should be fixed.

Why doesn't Wireshark simply ask for the sudo password in order to acquire the
necessary privileges when needed, just as any other program in Ubuntu does?

I see there's a link in the error message when you run Wireshark as root which
points to:
http://wiki.wireshark.org/CaptureSetup/CapturePrivileges

But why should one even have to bother figuring out all that stuff?
Usually, applications can be simply run as the normal user, and when they need
to do something with root privileges, they prompt you to enter the password.
Wireshark should do the same.


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