Wi-Fi signals are constantly changing, and small changes in the network can have massive effects on the overall connection uptime. Using a Wi-Fi network analyzer can collect data and help you identify problems, or it can indicate potential solutions such as switching to another channel to reduce congestion. You can also use this type of tool to. A Mac, Windows, and Linux app predating market leader Wireshark. Although Tcpdump is not the newest packet sniffer available, it set the standard in the field. Tcpdump remains a favorite network sniffer with ongoing active development and fresh approach. The tool uses fewer system resources than competing options and opens little security risk.
Scan your wireless network automatically or by setting an IP range to detect all hosts connected to it and spot the ones unknown
What's new in WiFi Network Monitor 6.0:
- Mega 2019 edition with enhanced easy to use GUI version & HTML report
WiFi Network Monitor is a simple, yet efficient application whose main purpose is to conduct a discovery operation for your Wi-Fi connection(s). It is able to scan a given IP address range in order to detect all the hosts connected to a wireless network so that you can identify intruders.
Quickly perform a network scan
The scan process takes very little time and the results can be exported locally, for later reference. All audiences can make use of it, on account of its simplicity and user-oriented interface.
You are advised to pay attention during the installation process, as the setup may include third-party applications that are not related to the program’s functionality. The best course of action, in this case, is to decline these offers.
Automatic scanning or by setting an IP range
The program automatically detects the network you’re currently connected to and calculates its range, however, if you want to specify a different interval, this is also possible. The duration of the scan process depends on the size of the range, however, the operation is carried out within acceptable time limits.
Once a scan is finished, the program displays a popup that specifies the number of hosts connected to the current network. More information is made available in the main window, where details such as host name and corresponding MAC and IP address are listed. This report can be exported locally, to TXT, HTML, XML or CSV format.
Conclusion
To sum it up, WiFi Network Monitor conducts network scans and insofar as monitoring options are concerned, we couldn't find any. It does not automatically detect the presence of a new host inside your Wi-Fi network, nor does it provide notifications or the possibility to reject connections.
Filed under
WiFi Network Monitor was reviewed by Andreea Matei
This enables Disqus, Inc. to process some of your data. Disqus privacy policyWiFi Network Monitor 6.0
add to watchlistsend us an update- portable version
- This is the portable version of the application. An installable version is also available: WiFi Network Monitor
- runs on:
- Windows 10 32/64 bit
Windows 2008
Windows 2003
Windows 8 32/64 bit
Windows 7 32/64 bit
Windows Vista 32/64 bit
Windows XP - file size:
- 3.5 MB
- main category:
- Network Tools
- developer:
- visit homepage
top alternatives FREE
top alternatives PAID
Nearly everyone has used a WiFi network at some point in their life to connect to the Internet or send an email. You may take for granted that your data and privacy are secure when accessing wireless networks. Unfortunately, in many cases, nothing could be further from the truth.
WiFi networks are inherently more dangerous than a wired network where you need to directly connect with a cable. The ubiquitous nature of wireless networks adds additional security concerns which are not an issue with traditional wired implementations. We are going to investigate the various security problems that need to be addressed by users and owners of WiFi networks. We will also show you some of the ways you can thwart individuals who may attempt to compromise the wireless network and its users.
What is Meant by WiFi Security?
There are two general types of WiFi security that need to be considered in order for you to safely operate and use a wireless network. Let’s take a closer look at these two different, yet related, aspects of wireless security.
Personal WiFi Security
The first type of security to be concerned with if you are a WiFi user is that of your personal information and identity while accessing the network. There are many WiFi hotspots located in cafes, restaurants, airports, and libraries around the world. They are there as a convenience to the establishment’s customers and can be an indispensable resource if you need to access the Internet while on the go. The problem is that most of these networks are not secure.
Sending unencrypted data over an unsecured network is simply tempting fate. Anyone can be accessing the network with packet sniffers designed to steal your personal information. That nice gentleman sitting across from you at the coffee shop may be attempting to gain access to your device or be trying to capture sensitive information such as a password to a banking site. Individuals sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot may also be able to access the network if the range is sufficient.
For this reason, you should never use a public WiFi hotspot to conduct sensitive business related to your finances. Using a VPN with strong encryption can minimize the ability of thieves to steal your personal information. You need to take the risk of your personal information being stolen seriously. The bad guys certainly do.
WiFi Network Security
The second type of security related to WiFi networks concerns the measures taken to protect the network itself. Minimizing or eliminating unauthorized access is the prime goal in securing your WiFi network. Public WiFi hotspots generally do not implement security measures as it makes accessing the network more complicated by requiring a password in order to connect. You should not make the same mistake with your home or office WiFi installation.
In addition to requiring a password to access your network, you need to ensure that the data is encrypted if you want to be sure it is not being misappropriated. Since someone can access your network from outside your building, you may not even know that the network is under attack. We will discuss how you can achieve better WiFi security in the next section of this article.
What You Can Do To Improve Your Wireless Security
Increasing the security of your data when accessing WiFi networks is mostly a matter of using common sense and being aware of the potential dangers that exist. Any network that you can attach to without using a password is not secure. It’s up to you to limit the information that you transmit over this type of open network. As previously mentioned, you should never perform banking or other tasks that might allow unscrupulous individuals to gain access to your accounts or passwords.
That is really all you can do when using open and unsecured WiFi networks. There is no way for you to control who is on the network, nor to know their intentions. It is your responsibility to keep your data and personal info safe.
Securing Your Own WiFi Network
You have much more control over how your own home or business WiFi network handles security. Limiting access to your network and ensuring that the data it transmits is protected by strong encryption techniques can be accomplished by performing a few fairly simple tasks. The first thing you need to do is access your WiFi router and make sure that you have encryption turned on. You should also change the default credentials on all of your WiFi peripheral equipment.
There are various types of encryption protocols that are available on most WiFi routers. They offer different levels of encryption that make them increasingly more difficult to crack. Here is an overview of the encryption methods you can use to protect your WiFi network.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) – When WiFi was first introduced in the late 1990s this was your only encryption option. It is easy to crack and difficult to configure. While it is better than no security at all, you should avoid using WEP unless you have no other option.
WiFi Protected Access (WPA) – Using stronger algorithms improves the strength of WPA encryption and makes it harder to hack than a network protected by WEP.
WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) – Significant improvement in the level of security is afforded by employing WPA2 encryption on your network router. Data integrity and encryption are based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This is currently the highest level of security available on the majority of today’s routers. This should be your first choice when selecting the type of encryption you use to protect your WiFi network.
WiFi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) – This is the next step in the evolution of WiFi security and is set to become available beginning in late 2018. It enables more complex encryption and makes it possible to encrypt public network connections.
In addition to enabling encryption, your network should be secured by requiring a strong passphrase or password for access. A combination of password length and complexity is your best bet, according to resources.infosecinstitute.com. The password should only be shared with authorized users and if you think it has been compromised, you should change it immediately.
Some of the Best WiFi Security Tools
WiFi security is currently one of the top issues facing cybersecurity experts. There are tools that can be used to monitor and scan your network to determine if unauthorized users are attacking it or attempting to gain access. These come in the form of WiFi scanners and analyzers which can alert you to issues with your network. Let’s take a look at a few that will run on your Mac.
KisMAC
Wifi Inspection Tool For Mac Download
KisMAC is a freeware application that was intended to be used by network security professionals. It does not offer the most intuitive interface but will allow you to scan and monitor your WiFi network. Using this tool you can display exactly who is on your WiFi network. You can see the Mac and IP addresses as well as the signal strength for all connected clients. This information assists in identifying security breaches of your network so you can make improvements if needed.
NetSpot
Wifi Inspection Tool For Mac Windows 10
NetSpot is a WiFi tool which can be used to survey and secure your network. It features an intuitive interface that makes it easy to monitor your wireless network. Performing a survey of your WiFi can help you to identify rogue access points that might permit an attack on your network. Find leaks in your WiFi network that pose potential security issues.
Homedale
This tool will also let you survey your network to locate unintended access points and to monitor the devices that are connected. It’s available as a free download and can be a great tool to help secure your WiFi from intruders.
Who’s On My WiFi
This software tool allows you to display any devices that have connected to your network over a period of time. Analyzing this information will tell you if access is being gained by unauthorized users so you can take action to increase network security.
Using any of these tools will enable you to determine if your signal is accessible in undesirable locations and if there are devices connected to your network that just don’t belong there. If you value the security of your home or office WiFi network, using a scanner or analyzer can help you find gaps in the protection that you are providing. It’s in your best interest to address this potential security lapse as soon as possible.