The Best App To Monitor Websites Visited on Your WiFi

It can take some effort to figure out which app works best to monitor websites visited on your WiFi. There are a lot of options, but not all of them are equal.

OpenDNS is one of the best apps to monitor websites visited on your WiFi. It is easier to set up and use than other tools that have a similar purpose. It also works on the web and other platforms.

Read the rest of this article for more information about how OpenDNS works, including its pros and cons. I’ll also recommend another monitoring app along the way, give a couple of tips on how to choose monitoring software, and briefly discuss the legality of monitoring software in the United States.

How OpenDNS Works

OpenDNS operates with straightforward logic. When you attempt to connect to the Internet, your router routes all network traffic through your DNS service provider, which converts the domain name to the corresponding IP address.

Using OpenDNS’s control panel, you can easily track network traffic if you change your default DNS server (often provided by your ISP) to one of Open DNS. This way, you’ll get an idea of what sites are being browsed using your network

So how do you start using OpenDNS?

Ask your router to use its DNS servers with IP addresses 208.67.220.220 and 208.67.222.222.
Create an account on the OpenDNS website. That’s where you’ll need to link up with your ISP or network administrator before proceeding.
Log in with that new information, so they know where all their traffic is going

After this, you’ll be able to monitor your network using the OpenDNS control panel or dashboard.

OpenDNS Pros and Cons

Even the best apps aren’t perfect, and OpenDNS is no different.

Pros

On the plus side, OpenDNS works flawlessly and is simple to set up, even for those who aren’t computer savvy. Also, it allows you to block certain websites on its network since it provides customizable web filtering.

Unlike the default DNS systems used by ISPs, OpenDNS allows users to customize their online experience through various levels of web filtering.

OpenDNS categorizes websites into more than 50 categories, such as „adult,“ „games,“ etc. This allows, say, parents to block entire categories of a specific type of content to protect their kids.

Alternatively, you can choose a low, medium, or high filtering level. The low setting blocks just adult content, while the high setting blocks porn, social networking, and video-sharing sites.

Cons

Of course, OpenDNS has its limitations, such as the inability to view real-time traffic data. It also cannot determine which computer on your network has visited a specific website. As a result, you must make an educated guess based on the time and date you see on the screen.

But if you’re looking for an easy way to keep your children safe online without having to monitor them constantly, OpenDNS is definitely worth checking out.

Alternative to OpenDNS

If you’re interested in monitoring visited websites but also want a tool that can monitor the live screens of remote computers, I recommend Wolfeye Remote Screen. It offers essential features such as:

Monitor live screen. You can watch the screen activity of a live computer, including applications and documents, online. Additionally, it lets you save or archive recordings, so they’re available for you to check later.
Take regular screenshots. The software can take regular screenshots so you can see exactly what’s happening on the managed computers at all times.
Check visited websites and surfing behavior. This will guarantee that your child is seeing only age-appropriate sites.
Start at Windows Startup and run invisibly. The last thing you want is for someone to uninstall your monitoring software because it doesn’t work well with their computer (or they just don’t like having monitoring software at all), so it’s good that the tool runs invisibly and starts on Windows startup.

The app is free to download, and you’ll get a 3-day trial version. If you want to use it beyond the trial period, you’ll need to purchase a 12-month license for $97. That’s around $8 per month — a small price for such an incredible piece of software.

How To Choose Monitoring Software

I’ve given you a couple of recommendations for the best monitoring software you can find online. So how do you know which one is right for you?

Here are a couple of questions you should consider:

What is the specific purpose of the monitoring software? What exactly do you want to monitor? For example, if you’re a parent, do you want to filter out porn or other disturbing content, or do you also want to limit your child’s social media usage? If you know what exactly you want the software to do, you won’t be overwhelmed with features you may not need.
Will the other person/party consent to the installation of the software? Of course, privacy will inevitably become an issue when it comes to monitoring software. The important thing is whoever you’re monitoring understands why you’re using this software in the first place and that you’re clear about any boundaries you won’t cross.

Is Monitoring Network Activity Legal in the U.S.?

You might be surprised to learn that it’s perfectly legal for employers or parents to monitor activity on their shared WiFi network. They can even restrict the sites visited via network monitoring software.

It’s not as easy as it sounds, however. On the one hand, there are free options that are unreliable and difficult to use. Meanwhile, the good ones may require expensive subscriptions.

The trick is finding the right balance between ease of use and reliability. You want something that will give you all the information you need without requiring you to be an IT professional.

Conclusion

Ultimately, OpenDNS is an excellent app to have if you’d like a little control over what’s being accessed on your WiFi. It’s easy to see at a glance whether there are any undesirable websites users are viewing.

It’s not the be-all and end-all of monitoring apps, however: There are plenty of other options out there that can do more. But it does deliver some vital functionality for free. OpenDNS should get the job done if you just want to keep an eye out for certain sites.

Sources

Articles.

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