Question Notification of New WIFI Device

[tperk100]

I would like to find a free or cheap PC utility that will simply notify me whenever a new MAC connects to my home network. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

I would like to find a free or cheap PC utility that will simply notify me whenever a new MAC connects to my home network. Any suggestions?

Thanks

A new system can only connect to your WiFi if you give them the password.

And such a utility would be part of the router, not any of the PCs.

 

[tperk100]

Just replaced Router. Set up same SSID PWs because I over FIFTY devices, including 3 access points, on WIFI. PW or no PW I get unknowns trying to connect once in a while. It will be easier for me to just block unknowns vice changing PW.

There IS software that will do this. I use one called FING, which does exactly what I want plus a LOT more that I don’t need or understand, however it is a $69 per yr. POS, constantly causing serious WIFI and Inet degradation, so I am looking for something else.

I might just decide to set up WIFI MAC authentication . Fifty some devices but once its done it is done. No software required.

 

[USAFRet]

Just replaced Router. Set up same SSID PWs because I over FIFTY devices, including 3 access points, on WIFI. PW or no PW I get unknowns trying to connect once in a while. It will be easier for me to just block unknowns vice changing PW.

There IS software that will do this. I use one called FING, which does exactly what I want plus a LOT more that I don’t need or understand, however it is a $69 per yr. POS, constantly causing serious WIFI and Inet degradation, so I am looking for something else.

I might just decide to set up WIFI MAC authentication . Fifty some devices but once its done it is done. No software required.

If the unknowns don't know the pwd, they don't connect.
The router rejects them.

Or am I missing something?

 

[dwd999]

Most routers have an Access Control option listed in the Security section. You just turn it on and indicate that only your currently known devices that you have (Whitelist) are allowed to connect. No new devices can connect once Access Control is turned on.

 

[Zerk2012]

I'm at my brother's house he has Asus modem and router.
He has a app on his phone that dings when someone logs on.

But as above you still need the password.

 

[faalin]

On top of a full Ubiquiti network, i also run Eset Internet Security on my desktop. If anything new connects to the network WiFi or direct cable it will pop up on my computer screen that something has connected. It also has a full network inspector and can tell you everything that is connected to the network.


I do have an access point outside on the side of our chimney to get full WiFi in the yard, but i have that AP locked down to only accept devices that are mac address verified, it broadcasts its own SSID, its setup as a guest network so it can only see the internet and nothing internal, and has a 50 character password. But it is crazy as it has around a .5 mile range and cans see a crap ton of networks in our neighborhood, which sadly there are a hand full that aren't even locked.

 

[bill001g]

Mac addresses are easily changed and it is also easy to see which mac addresses are actually allowed to be used since the mac address is not encrypted. So someone who has bad intentions can just monitor to see what mac is valid and change theirs to match.

The second issue big issue you have with using mac addresses for any kind of security is many/most phones now change the mac address on every connection. This was done because of people using the mac address to track movement of people phones. So all the strange devices you see connecting could just be the same device changing its mac address.

They really should just remove or hide the mac address filters stuff on routers it has almost no value for most people.

Actual security on a router is all about having a good password and keeping it secure. The largest "hack" of any network or machine is the humans running them. Be very careful who you tell your passwords to.

There is one major security exposure on consumer routers. There is a feature called WPS that many times is ON by default. This feature can be hacked with a simple cell phone. It has been broken since it was first implemented but because we have so many lazy and stupid people in this world the router manufacture continue to ship with the feature turned on. The only issue with turning it off depends on how many "smart" devices you have in your house. Things like those silly wifi lightbulbs do not have the ability to manually set the SSID and password. They need WPS to connect and will if you are not careful connect to any open network they can find.