Monitor Network Activity

Hi all , Does anyone know of a free program to monitor network activity? E.g see what PC's are accessing your network and internet connection? My wireless is unsecured and i have spotted a PC with a funny hostname appearing on my router. Hopefully i could find out a bit more info with a program which specializes in this, and then take the steps to filter my internet connection by MAC Address. Thanks P.S I dont want to secure my wireless, as it's easilly decrypted if someone really wanted to get on it. 'Bob

Hi Bob, Just a few thoughts on the idea of not encrypting your wireless signal (from your Router) If you use WPA encryption with a strong password/phrase, then it will stop all but the most persistent, experts from using your bandwidth. The strongest types of WPA are pretty secure against more or less anything (apart from perhaps those nice chaps in 6 or FSB, Mossad, or CIA etc) however to interest them you must have something earth shattering to warrant them spending several years ( Yes that's the sort of time_frame it would take) and quite few millions on trying to break into your system via electronic means, (That is the situation today…..heavens knows what it will be tomorrow or even next week!) If you were only able to use WEP encryption, YES…there are many more folks who could break it, as the degree of security with WEP is only minute compared with WPA……. using MAC filtering provides no real protection at all……….and neither does "hiding" the SSID and neither of these should not be regarded as any form of "security at all" To sum up, if you: 1 change the default password on your router login (and user name if possible) 2 Use WPA 2 encryption with a strong password 3 Disable Remote management of your router 3 Ensure that no one has physical access to your machinery then you avoid rascals, scallywags and knaves sitting in the road outside your home connecting to your unencrypted wireless broadband through their laptops and downloading illegal material…………..it's your ISP who will have your details on file, and if the "boys in blue" call round to see you ………you will have a lot of explaining to do…. Hope this helps Regards paws

thanks Paws, i think i'll look into WPA in that case. That's what im worried about, people camping outside and using my internet but i didn't know WPA was more secure than WEP. Thanks again. 'Bob