Identifying what programs are using your computer's network connection should be pretty simple. You can check your taskbar and see if you have any download managers, web browsers and other applications or games that may depend on the Internet. But keeping your system connected to the Internet without a firewall or virus scanner can pose some security risks especially if your operating system isn't updated. What makes things worse is that you won't be able to detect there are network problems unless you use one or more network monitoring tools. There are a few reasons as to why it is important to perform some network monitoring on your system every now and then.
On a security perspective, network monitoring tools can identify any hidden programs that may be sending or receiving data. This can be bad in both ways since some malware are capable of sending your personal details while other malware can retrieve the necessary commands issued by a hacker to cause more damage to your system. By discovering which programs are doing these things, you can take action immediately. Network monitoring solutions without antivirus capabilities may not be able to tell the difference between bad programs and good programs but you can still try to halt the network activity once you spot it. Network monitors may also uncover programs that are using the network that virus scanners were unable to detect.
Network monitors can also be useful tools in determining why your network or Internet connection is so slow. There could be a single application running in the background that is trying to use all of the available bandwidth to update something or possibly acquire a malware. If the program is experiencing heavy loads, other applications such as web browsers may have difficulty in accessing the Internet. Once again, monitoring it can forcibly close those applications to restore bandwidth. Other network monitors may even allow you to set a bandwidth cap so the bandwidth distribution is more balanced.
Monitoring your network is also important in making sure that nobody accesses your wireless router. Thanks to the latest encryptions, it should be impossible to break into a secure wireless network with a lengthy security key. But hackers are persistent in finding holes and some will take advantage without you knowing it. But if you have a network monitor actively running, you can figure out immediately if someone bypasses the security. Some virus scanners and security suites may even show you a notification if there is something wrong with your network.
Monitoring your network is all about making sure that the most important applications are using the Internet right now. It is also about keeping your network secure at all costs just in case. When security measures fail and intrusions occur you can take action immediately using the data obtained from consistent monitoring.
On a security perspective, network monitoring tools can identify any hidden programs that may be sending or receiving data. This can be bad in both ways since some malware are capable of sending your personal details while other malware can retrieve the necessary commands issued by a hacker to cause more damage to your system. By discovering which programs are doing these things, you can take action immediately. Network monitoring solutions without antivirus capabilities may not be able to tell the difference between bad programs and good programs but you can still try to halt the network activity once you spot it. Network monitors may also uncover programs that are using the network that virus scanners were unable to detect.
Network monitors can also be useful tools in determining why your network or Internet connection is so slow. There could be a single application running in the background that is trying to use all of the available bandwidth to update something or possibly acquire a malware. If the program is experiencing heavy loads, other applications such as web browsers may have difficulty in accessing the Internet. Once again, monitoring it can forcibly close those applications to restore bandwidth. Other network monitors may even allow you to set a bandwidth cap so the bandwidth distribution is more balanced.
Monitoring your network is also important in making sure that nobody accesses your wireless router. Thanks to the latest encryptions, it should be impossible to break into a secure wireless network with a lengthy security key. But hackers are persistent in finding holes and some will take advantage without you knowing it. But if you have a network monitor actively running, you can figure out immediately if someone bypasses the security. Some virus scanners and security suites may even show you a notification if there is something wrong with your network.
Monitoring your network is all about making sure that the most important applications are using the Internet right now. It is also about keeping your network secure at all costs just in case. When security measures fail and intrusions occur you can take action immediately using the data obtained from consistent monitoring.
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