Network monitoring, network firewall… 🔥🧱🛡️
Most of us interpret these terms like this is something only users with technical skills can do.
At least, that’s how I reacted to it initially. Moreover, I used to think: I’m at my home, with no potential threats nearby, I do not need to monitor my network. Why should I invest more time in these things? It is just a waste of time.
To be honest, it sounds like extra work for most of us. But, with the right tools, it does not feel like a burden. And, you can achieve the following:
- Block unwanted network connections on your device (like Microsoft Edge browser making DNS requests, even if you did not launch the app).
- Block incoming network requests (potential attackers trying to access your network)
- Check if an app makes shady network requests (and if you should block that app)
- Save data bandwidth for metered connections
- Keep your device and network secure
Now that you know some benefits, let me tell you about two incredibly effective tools (for mobile and desktop) that you can use to monitor your network activity comfortably.
1. GlassWire
GlassWire is a solid network firewall application known to offer a beautiful user experience, available for Android and Windows platform.
You might have heard about it in sponsored segments on YouTube videos, they were pretty aggressive with it at one point. But, they’re good at what they advertise.
The application lets you do the following:
- Network connections on your computer by applications with their IP addresses
- Monitor other PCs on your network
- Bandwidth usage monitoring
- Block/Allow network connections
- Ability to set custom firewall rules
- Data usage alert
GlassWire is free to get started, and offers premium subscriptions (for Windows) for some of its features like unlimited network history, file monitoring, device monitoring, export usage data, interactive world map, and more.
For Android, GlassWire is completely free. So, if you want something sleek on your mobile phone to help you know about network activity, GlassWire is a nice option to have.
I realized the CRED payment app uses a lot of data in the background without any reason, and I decided to block it using GlassWire. So far so good for me.
2. Portmaster
Portmaster is an awesome free and open-source app available for Linux, and Windows. It is not available for mobile devices. I have it setup on my laptop and PC for both Ubuntu and Windows 10. And, it works great!
It goes a step beyond by automatically blocking certain types of connections, without user intervention. And, lets you configure a secure DNS through it.
When you set up Portmaster, it also allows you to block various trackers, enhancing your web privacy and security in one go. The user interface may not be as elegant as GlassWire, but it is still an excellent experience.
For a premium, you can use its SPN network (a VPN-like tech but different) and unlock features like unlimited network activity history. If you are looking for a complete solution for your desktop, this should not disappoint.
Wrapping Up
There are many other tools available to monitor the network on your PC and Android.
However, I find these the most convenient, and an easy recommendation for most people.
