When you activate the wifi receiver on your computer or mobile phone, you can see the networks available nearby. It is now the practice to activate the Wifi to search for free networks not only in the surroundings but at home wherever you go.
Even if you cannot find out the passwords for accessing protected networks, it is still possible to view a whole series of information to know what type of network it is, what type of router is used, on which radio channel it transmits and much more .
This information is very useful for diagnosing the functioning of your wifi network, but it is also useful for knowing details of the Wifi around, for doing a little business for others.
So let's see some simple, but powerful tools for Windows PC and for Android phones and tablets that can be used to know everything about the wifi found around us .
READ FIRST: Find nearby, unsecured and hidden wifi networks with wireless scanner programs
1) WifiInfoView is a free tool that can be downloaded from the NirSoft website.
WifiInfoView works on Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 but does not work in Windows XP because the API used to power the program did not exist until Vista.
Those with Windows XP can still use a similar and equivalent tool called WirelessNetView
The first time you open WifiInfoView, a network scan is performed and the list with the name is shown on the screen.
If you click on a wireless network, an information card appears with the data on the network.
The network properties are opened by right clicking on a wifi network.
Of course you can also find open networks that can be accessed without a password.
From the Options menu at the top you can sort the networks by the channel used, by the speed, by the type of router, by the signal quality.
For example, you can use this information to connect to the best wifi and use the least clogged channel.
READ ALSO: Sniff the PC network and intercept internet traffic and passwords
2) Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector is another tool for Windows PC to know all the details of the active WiFi networks nearby.
In this case it is a radar capable of finding out where the network signals come from and, therefore, where the routers are located.
Network connections with signals plus those in the center of the radar.
At the bottom of the window, there is a graph that represents the history of the signal, to see if it was stable over time.
Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector also says if the network signal is encrypted or not and if so, which encryption it uses, the signal strength, the router manufacturer, which channel and which frequency it uses.
The application also includes a polling feature which allows you to update, stop and start connection.
Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector is one of the most useful tools to improve the wifi signal and avoid frequent disconnections
You can know all about the wifi networks in the surrounding area even just using an Android mobile phone or tablet such as the Samsung Galaxy.
The main applications for scanning wifi networks, knowing where they come from, which channel they use and which router model is used are:
- Wifi analyzer;
- Wifi Analytics;
- Wifi Radar
- Wifi Overview
READ ALSO: Enter a secure wifi network to capture packets and spy on what you do on the internet
