SoftPerfect WiFi Guard is a networking detection program that allows you to see what devices are connected to your WiFi. It’s always good to be aware of anyone using your internet connection, after all—whether you’re sharing it or not—and this program lets you know just that so you can take the necessary actions.

A Digital Watchdog

Despite how secure a network looks, it’s easy for most people to gloss over complicated-looking configurations. You might not realize it, but your WiFi Access Point may actually be vulnerable right now. There are apps out there that test network security, but SoftPerfect WiFi Guard acts more as a vigilant lookout. With this program, you can check out what devices are connected to your network. They’ll be displayed as their IP and Mac addresses first and you’ll have to configure their names later once you’ve figured out who owns them. However, their colors will indicate whether they’re welcome or not. Green means they’re safe—and you’ll have to recognize safe devices so WiFi Guard won’t bother you about them—while red means they’re intruding. Even with a built-in firewall, it’s easy to hack into networks if one knows how to and this can affect you in a number of ways—from the seemingly-harmless leeching off your connection strength to the illegal spying of your personal information. That’s why SoftPerfect WiFi Guard will periodically do a computer scan and alert you of unfamiliar connected devices. You can program this yourself and there’s no need to constantly check the app. It will minimize on the system tray and just give you pop-up alerts.

Not Really a Guard

However, while WiFi Guard definitely watches out for you, it won’t save you from those pesky intruders. This app isn’t a full-fledged security program so it doesn’t do things like block the unauthorized user or even ban them. You need actual heavy security programs or even apps specialized in that to actually get rid of the unsafe connections. This is such a hassle if you ran this app and didn’t have the right tool to finish the job. There are also instances when WiFi Guard doesn’t display devices other than you and your router, which can be anxiety-inducing since you can’t know for sure if you’re actually alone. It’s a bit of a letdown considering that while it’s free for Windows and Linux, you have to pay for the Mac version. When you look at it, this app is far too basic in its function and other programs may seem like better alternatives.

Only Half the Protection

If you’re going to use SoftPerfect WiFi Guard, it’s recommended to have other security tools installed on your device. In the event that your network is vulnerable, you can easily see if there are any unwanted guests leeching on you, and with another program, you can get them out. However, WiFi Guard is still a nice app for when you’d like to monitor those safe devices on your network.