Applications to scan a wifi network, see all the details of the connected devices and solve problems
These are applications necessary to work as professional network administrators, which can also be useful for amateur/geek use for enthusiasts.READ ALSO: Simulate hacker attacks on the wifi network
App to scan Wi-Fi network
These apps do not allow you to check the signal strength or to choose which channel to place our network on but scan the network to which we are already connected, thus showing useful information for a network administrator (for example obtaining the IP address router) or to check if there are any devices not connected.
Fing
The first app we recommend you try to scan your wireless network is Fing.
This app is among the most popular programs for scanning a network and offers one of the fastest ways to find out which devices are connected to the wireless network. There are no limitations and you can easily find the IP address, name, and MAC address of each connected device. On these, it is also possible to run direct tools such as ping, traceroute, DNS searches, and even use Wake on LAN.
Net Scan
Net Scan is another network mapping and port scanning tool that we can use to scan the wireless network.
Using this app we will be able to find out the IP address, the MAC address and the manufacturer of all the devices displayed (if available). Once a network is discovered, we can also check, on the various devices, which ports are open for remote operations and connectivity tests. Net Scan does not include other integrated tools, but it is free and very fast.
Network Scanner
Another app that we can use to analyze the Wi-Fi network is the Network Scanner.
The app shows all devices in an easy-to-use screen, also showing all ranges of IP addresses. Also with this app, you will be able to see IP address, hostname, device manufacturer, MAC address, and open port control for each device. The division into icons is really convenient, so you know immediately which device we are viewing.
IP Tools
Among the most complete apps that we can use to scan our Wi-Fi network, IP Tools certainly stands out.
This app includes several network analysis tools with which to obtain detailed information on connected devices, including the discovery of IP addresses and ports but also ping, traceroute, Whois, Wake on LAN, and DNS lookup. the app you can quickly access the web pages of devices (such as those of routers and servers) with a touch of the menu button, so you can configure them without having to know all IP addresses by heart.
Network Analyzer
Another very useful tool to analyze the wireless networks to which we are connected is Network Analyzer.
Within this app we will find both a valid tool to analyze nearby Wi-Fi networks (always very useful) and various scan tools for networks, so you can view the connected devices and perform a ping test both towards mentioned both to an Internet server.
Who is on my WiFi
If we want to use one of these apps to find an unknown device connected to the network, you should download Who is on my WiFi now.
By starting the network scan and immediately indicating what our devices are (we can recognize them by the IP and the assigned name), in subsequent scans we will be able to recognize in a blink of an eye the “intruders”, ie devices never have seen before and that they connect to our network without our permission.
Network Manager
If we are looking for a professional tool to analyze Wi-Fi networks we can rely on Network Manager.
This app boasts an impressive set of network analysis tools, with which we can see the connected devices, know every detail of the same (name, IP, brand, MAC, etc.) and also check the open doors, using an advanced tool of port scanning.
Network Utilities
Still, on the subject of advanced tools for network analysis, we recommend the Network utility app.
The app shows various options based on the presence or absence of active root permissions on our Android smartphone; in addition to the functions seen so far also on other apps, we can use the packet network sniffer (to intercept traffic) and the packet analyzer so that we can also spy on connected devices.
PortDroid
Want to find out which ports are used by devices connected to our network? Then it is better to bet on an app like PortDroid.
Once open to the app we will immediately have a summary of all connected devices and, by clicking on each of them, we will start scanning the open ports, so we can check where the traffic generated by a device ends. In the menu we can of the app, we can also find a multi-port scanner, a traceroute and a ping test, so as to always have all the information necessary to scan network traffic.
PingTools
Do we want to ping all connected devices or ping the Internet connection? The best app designed for the purpose is PingTools.
By starting the app we can ping a remote IP (to check if it is on and working) or test the other devices on the network so that we can immediately discover the connected and reachable devices via local network or via the Internet.
Conclusions
Although most of the tools indicated can only be used by computer network experts, it can be a good thing to know that there are apps so advanced that they immediately show you the IP address of the router or any other device connected to our wireless network, so that we can also identify intruders.
If instead, we are looking for an app to scan the Wi-Fi signal strength, we can read our guide to the Android app to find wifi networks with the best wireless reception.
To carry out this type of scan also from the PC, just use one of the programs indicated in our guide Programs for network analysis between PCs and diagnostics of connectivity problems.