How To Spy on Other Computers on the Same Network
You might need to monitor what others do on your network if you’re an employer or a parent. Many employers need to track what their employees do with the company’s devices, while parents need to ensure their children are safe online. You might wonder if you can see what computers on your network are doing.
To spy on other computers on the same network, you’ll want to check your WiFi router history. Your router logs what others do on the web, which you can review at any time. Next, you’ll want to consider installing software for real-time monitoring.
This article has all the steps to check what other computers are doing on your network. You’ll learn how to review the router logs and use monitoring software. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s begin.
1. Check the WiFi Router History
Did you know that WiFi routers track all of the websites that devices connected to them visit? You can access this data and see what other computers are doing on your network. Every router is slightly different, but you should be able to log into it through your web browser.
Take the router’s IP address and enter it into your browser. If you don’t know the address, you can find it using these methods:
- Windows OS: Open a command prompt and type in „ipconfig“; the number next to „Default Gateway“ is the router’s IP.
- macOS: Open System Preferences, Network, then Advanced. The IP for the router will be next to TCP/IP.
After entering the IP address in your browser, you should be brought to a login page. If you never changed the password, you can Google the router model to find it. Next, you’ll want to find the router history logs. It can be under different menus, but most sites list it under System Log, Device History, or even Administration.
You’ll receive a long list of IP addresses, so you can’t tell what sites the other computers visited at a glance. Instead, you’ll need to run them through WHOIS, a public IP search tool. It’ll provide you with the name of the site and more information.
Please note that you should never try to access the logs of other peoples‘ networks! You should only use this method if the router belongs to you. Otherwise, you could get into serious legal trouble since only the network owner has permission to view them.
Can WiFi Owner See Incognito History?
WiFi owners can see a device’s incognito history as long as it connects to their network. The router logs what sites were visited even when the device is in incognito mode. All incognito mode does is stop devices from saving browsing data and cookies.
So, even if someone accesses your network while browsing incognito, you can still see what sites they visited. Incognito doesn’t mean anonymous browsing, which many people don’t realize; the network router still records everything.
2. Install a PC Monitoring Software
However, checking the logs can be a hassle, and you might not have enough time. You also won’t know what the person did on the site, only that they visited it. If you’re a parent or an employer, you may want to see what devices are doing on your network in real time instead, in case you need to intervene.
Suppose you don’t want to read through the router’s history logs. In that case, you’ll want to consider using quality PC monitoring software instead. Wolfeye Remote Screen is an excellent option because it allows you to view other computer screens on your own device. You’ll have a better idea of what people do on your network when you can check them in real time.
Before installing any software, you’ll need to check the features it offers. It should at least have real-time monitoring, invisible startup, and offer a list of visited websites. Then, make sure you’re installing it from the official website.
Software is the better option if you’re a parent or employer looking for more consistent network monitoring. You’ll want to consider the features you need it to have before purchasing since most software can vary.
Using PC Monitoring Software on Your Network
Once you have the software, you’ll need to understand how to use it on your network. Every option is a bit different, but they should all come with similar features. Wolfeye Remote Screen offers a free trial, so you can learn to use it before buying.
The software collects data from computers using your network and lets you view it from your device. You can access lists of devices connected to the network, plus what sites they visited and when. It’s a valuable feature when you need to monitor many people at once, like in an office building.
All of these options should be under different menu subheadings. Once you know what you want, you just need to find the button in your software. Most developers make it easy to determine where you should click and offer tutorials to learn to use the software. For example, Wolfeye Remote Screen also provides an easy-to-understand tutorial.
Using monitoring software can also track keystrokes and capture screenshots during the day. You’ll want to make sure you set up the screenshots to occur at regular intervals.
These features can let you know that the devices on your network aren’t accessing shady websites. It’s also much more convenient than checking the router logs since you won’t have to look up the IP addresses, allowing you to respond quickly if needed.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, you can check what people do on your network through the router logs. However, the records only capture IP addresses, making the process more complicated. While it’s a decent option to monitor others on your network when necessary, using a PC monitoring service is much more reliable.
Lastly, you should only do this on your own networks; monitoring other peoples‘ or businesses‘ networks can land you in legal trouble!
