How to know how many devices are connected to a WiFi network

More and more devices – bracelets, watches, cell phones, televisions, household appliances – are connecting to the home Internet network. The problem is that several times, in the meantime, an intruder has been able to infiltrate the network. How to know if an unknown person is using the Wi-Fi network without authorization.

The first clue may be a slight decrease in the usual network connection. If this decline continues or deepens, some apps monitor connected devices and block access to those that weren’t authorized.

The problem can be solved, with some technical complexity, if we change the access key of the router. But since it takes too many steps and the whole network will have to be reconnected, the path is shorter.

To find out if a stranger is stealing the Wi-Fi signal, you will need to do a complete network analysis and check which devices are connected, which are on the trusted list and which are covert.

For this task there are several tools, both for computers and mobiles. One of the best known is Fing, it’s a free app for Android, Apple iOS and PC – with a few extra features that are billed separately – that lets you know quickly all computers connected to a network.

The name of the product (Fing) comes from the combination of the English voices Find and Ping. For network enthusiasts, Fing offers a complete set of tools for very precise diagnostics.

Although the information provided by Fing can be quite technical in some sections, the it’s easy to understand by almost any user: name and / or manufacturer of the connected device, IP address and MAC address.

This data is enough to determine at a glance if there is an unintentional guest on the network.

Look for intruders

In a few moments, the app will automatically detect which WiFi network it is connecting to. Sign up at the top left the number of connected devices to the network at this time and below your information.

The advantage that it offers is to be able to seize each one to know the technical specifications of each one. In addition, a history will also appear with the times you connected to the Wi-Fi network.

In this way, it will be easier to distinguish betweenthose that are more frequent and that they belong to one of the gadgets, or to those strangers who come in for the first time.

Another alternative, for those looking for something more complex and complete, is Nmap (Network Mapper), a free and open source utility for the network analysis or security audit.

Many system and network administrators also find it useful for tasks such as network inventory, managing service update schedules, and monitoring host or service availability.

To manage from the mobile, the application Who is on my Wi-Fi?, In a few steps, lets you know if there is a strange element connected to the wireless network of the house. Offers the possibility of a dark mode and its operation is very simple: it scans all devices connected to the Wi-Fi network.

To improve the data you have collected, you can activate the “Recognize the manufacturer of the device ” or if it still doesn’t register it, add it manually by checking everyone’s Mac or assigned IP.

With information from La Vanguardia.

SL