Introduction

In this tutorial, our focus will be on how to implement router traffic monitoring within your home network. With cyber threats consistently evolving, keeping an eye on your network activities has become paramount. Router traffic monitoring allows you to have a close look at the network traffic coming in and going out of your home network. Through this, you can spot unusual activities and take necessary actions quickly.

Step 1: Locate Your Router's IP Address

The first step is to locate your router's IP address which is usually written on the router. Otherwise, you can find it by accessing your computer's network settings. On a Windows machine, go to 'Network and Sharing Centre' and click on your connection. Under 'Details', you can see the 'Default Gateway' which is your router's IP address.

Step 2: Accessing Your Router's Interface

Once you've obtained your router's IP address, open a web browser and type the IP into the address bar. Then, press 'Enter' to access your router's interface. It will prompt for username and password. If you've not changed them, it will be the default ones provided by the manufacturer.

Step 3: Navigate to Traffic Statistics

Now that you're logged in, you can navigate to the traffic statistics. The terminology and location of it can vary depending on the router model, so you might need to look for terms like 'Traffic Monitor', 'Bandwidth usage', 'Internet Sessions' or any variant of these terms.

Step 4: Monitor Your Traffic

Once you reach the traffic statistics, you can monitor the traffic passing through your router. Look for any unusual activities like unexpected high traffic, connections originating from untrusted locations, unknown devices connecting to your network, etc. If anything unusual is detected, take the necessary steps like changing your password, blocking certain IP addresses, or contacting your ISP.

Step 5: Set Up Alerts

Some routers provide the option of setting up alerts for certain activities. This can range from receiving high traffic, detecting suspicious entries, to spotting connections from unknown devices. Setting this up can help you take swift actions to potential threats.