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+--- Thread: Is there an (Mac) app for that? (/showthread.php?tid=134173)
Is there an (Mac) app for that? - Jerry® - 03-30-2012
Is there some simple no brainer app that simply tells me if there's someone "else" connected to my wifi?
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - JPK - 03-30-2012
Great question! Has this been asked before. I know there is a protracted technical way of finding this out, but a simple app that does the work would be great to audit what really is on the network!
JPK
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - ztirffritz - 03-30-2012
Open the router's web app and look at DHCP and see what IPs have been issued.
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - onthedownlow - 03-30-2012
Yes...a web browser (for most all Routers, sans Apple Extreme).
Unless you are using your own computer to create the WiFi/Shared connection, an App would have to pull this information from your network hardware (e.g. router), which wouldn't be impossible, but various things like admin username/password and IP address would need to be saved into the App (but something like that could be configured by the user), as well as the App needing to have knowledge of the many flavors of routers out there to know 'where to look' and what to look for specifically once it did get access inside.
I would just go to the DHCP table/client list of my router, like you probably have before and then just bookmark that address (or drop it on your Desktop or Dock), as most routers do have specific URLS to each of its menu items.
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - gabester - 03-30-2012
It's going to partially depend on how any additional connected devices are configured. Some OSes now block out of the box or allow you to block response to ping; otherwise I'd say your best quick and dirty bet would be to ping the broadcast address and see if you get any responses besides those you expect. E.g. if your network is behind a standard NAT with a private IP like 192.168.1.43, you could ping 192.168.1.255 and see if anything unexpected responds. Obviously your computers and router should respond.
Since some things might not respond to ping, esp. an "infiltrator" you'll likely have to resort to other methods. A wifi router's interface should be able to provide you both MAC addresses issued DHCP addresses and connected devices overall if they're manually assigning themselves an IP address.
g=
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - Jerry® - 03-30-2012
Ah ok I found it in my router's settings - there's a list of DCHP connections and it lists my Mac, TiVo, Android Phone, and my disabled neighbor's DELL. COol - guess I don't need an app for that.
Thanks all!
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - Article Accelerator - 03-30-2012
Jerry® wrote:
Is there some simple no brainer app that simply tells me if there's someone "else" connected to my wifi?
Yes, if you're using an Airport base station, you can find that information--complete with live updating--in Airport Utility. You already have it.
Select your base station on the left side, click the Manual Setup button, hover over the Wireless Clients line then click the disclosure arrow. You'll see something like this:
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - silvarios - 03-30-2012
The DHCP list won't show any devices connected with a static IP address. A list showing all wireless clients, such as AA's Airport Utility example is much more helpful.
Re: Is there an (Mac) app for that? - RAMd®d - 03-30-2012
guess I don't need an app for that.
No, an "app" isn't needed for that.
But it would be way cool and probably sell well. As "simple" as AirPort Utility is for some, as is a browser, an app for the 90% user segment would be appreciated.
My version (if I had the slightest idea of what I was doing) would automatically take the MAC (no, not Mac) addresses of every device on my network as I added authorized said device, then patrol the network for non-white listed MACs or duplicate MACs in the event of spoofing. Maybe it would also use some other identifying metric of my gear and watch for anomalies and issue a warning.
I don't know what I'm talking about, to be sure.
Bottom line, the dream app would pop up a customizable intruder alert when ever someone joined my network. The alerts would give IFF readings- authorized devices would be green, intruders would be red, of course.
Optionally, there would be the de rigueur sirens and "INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" announcement. The dwelling would automatically be rigged for red, and the system would ready a ping to be sent to destroy the ne'er do well's iron. Ok, that last part was a little too-TV.
But getting that info without having to launch a app and go looking, would be tres cool.