Best tips for using the Fing App

VioletChepil · August 20, 2019

We've got the getting started guide on Fing App, but I'm wondering if our members can share their best tips for using the Fing App.
You can share any tips that help make using the Fing App better, easier, faster etc.
Let me know in the comments below.

kltaylor · August 20, 2019

I'm doing my best to think of something unique to add to an already user-friendly and self-explanatory application. The only thing that immediately comes to mind is 'don't use the information for nefarious purposes'.

The app can provide you with a lot of information of a private or public wireless network. Don't abuse the information that's provided, use it for educational purposes.

I'll try to think of something better as soon as I can.

Hronos · August 21, 2019

@VioletChepil I think we can point out than the Alert functionality is useful to "know" when "people" (devices) comes and goes from the network (home). The article only notate "new devices".
For me, as I already point out in another discussion, this is the best way to know when the rest of my family is at home or not

.
That's a VERY useful functionality!

VioletChepil · August 22, 2019

Thanks @Hronos for sharing that one and yes I can add that to the article too. I'm also imagining this can be a working list we all add to as well!

kltaylor · August 22, 2019

Hronos said:

@VioletChepil I think we can point out than the Alert functionality is useful to "know" when "people" (devices) comes and goes from the network (home). The article only notate "new devices".
For me, as I already point out in another discussion, this is the best way to know when the rest of my family is at home or not .
That's a VERY useful functionality!

Actually, I second that request. Maybe an area where you can select which devices send a notice of connection so that we can designate the mobile devices to have a dynamic alert associated with it, and desktops remain static.

Hronos · August 23, 2019

@kltaylor you mean a change in the App layout or a new section in the article? (both will be interesting)

kltaylor · August 23, 2019

Hronos said:

@kltaylor you mean a change in the App layout or a new section in the article? (both will be interesting)

I was thinking of an option for each device, after you confirm that you 'recognize' it and provide a friendly name, maybe something as simple as a checkbox for 'dynamic notifications'. The option would not remove the device from the 'known good' list but would send a push notification when it leaves the network or arrives (geofence).

Not sure how hard that would be to program in, but its usefulness would be ideal.

Marc · August 27, 2019

I occasionally use Fings port scanning capabilities to access a devices web server for management or configuration. Its also a nice way to determine if web functionality even exists. I wish it was not buried under more and was top level but I suppose that because its not used by many people?

Calebjoshua · August 27, 2019

I use my fing app to check the wifi configuration

Especially I found the DNS server and the Gateway

These IP values I used for configuring the Smart tv vía ethernet cable . I could manually configure the Tv, it supposed to autoconfigure by itself but I has to use the manual configuration menu. Thanks to Fing

Alderete · August 27, 2019

I use Fing's monitoring features to keep track of "interesting" devices.

Critical "infrastructure" devices, like my Wi-Fi access points, are always monitored, and send me alerts if something goes down.
"Suspicious" devices, like my new TV, get monitored for a few months to see if they are waking up to phone home, or otherwise doing unexpected things.

It's not perfect, I can't capture traffic or even monitor destination IP addresses with Fing. (Not really a feature request, but if you're listening... ;-) But it's a pretty simple way to check out devices that could be telling a story about you. If the TV's not on the network, it's not returning tracking information. (It probably saves that up until I'm actually watching TV, but still...)

allen · August 28, 2019

Where I live there are several other LANs close enough to easily access my own LAN. I use Fing to keep track of those specific routers and devices. I think this could be made somewhat easier to do. I occasionally get notifications that "unknown" has come within range, but it's not clear what that means -- is "unknown" trying to access my LAN? And which device is the message referring to? There is no device listed in the app's report that is called "unknown". It would be more helpful if an unknown were identified in SOME way, with a temporary arbitrary ID (e.g., Unknown01), or by its IP address, or its router, or its MAC address, if that's accessible. But at least it should correspond to something that is listed, so I can examine it further.

Pooh · August 28, 2019

In range means just that, a device has entered close enough for the Fingbox to pick up on it. If that device is a newer iOS device or Google smartphone, then it'll probably employ MAC address randomization so the Fingbix may not be able to identify what sort of device it is.

Parker36 · August 29, 2019

I like using the fing app with IFTTT and I have assigned phone ip addresses to family members which helps out with my Mom who babysits for us every day of the week. I can be alerted when she is there and let her know if anything needs to be done that day instead of trying to text her at 6 am when I am leaving.

Hronos · August 30, 2019

kltaylor said:
I was thinking of an option for each device, after you confirm that you 'recognize' it and provide a friendly name, maybe something as simple as a checkbox for 'dynamic notifications'. The option would not remove the device from the 'known good' list but would send a push notification when it leaves the network or arrives (geofence).
Not sure how hard that would be to program in, but its usefulness would be ideal.

Hi @kltaylor! I believe there is such an option for "users" (persons), you assign a device to be "Presence" and activate the notification for that user, when the device leaves the network it push you a notification saying "User's leave" (or arrive). I don't know if that's what you mean.

kltaylor · August 31, 2019

Hronos said:

kltaylor said:
I was thinking of an option for each device, after you confirm that you 'recognize' it and provide a friendly name, maybe something as simple as a checkbox for 'dynamic notifications'. The option would not remove the device from the 'known good' list but would send a push notification when it leaves the network or arrives (geofence).
Not sure how hard that would be to program in, but its usefulness would be ideal.

Hi @kltaylor! I believe there is such an option for "users" (persons), you assign a device to be "Presence" and activate the notification for that user, when the device leaves the network it push you a notification saying "User's leave" (or arrive). I don't know if that's what you mean.

Thanks for clarifying that for me! I'm still waiting to purchase my Fingbox, have only used the application and have extensive experience with Domotz Pro.

The more that I dig deeper into Fingbox though, the more I want to switch to that for my home network, and use Domotz Pro for the business.

Stratt3000 · September 10, 2019

Alderete said:

I use Fing's monitoring features to keep track of "interesting" devices.
Critical "infrastructure" devices, like my Wi-Fi access points, are always monitored, and send me alerts if something goes down.
"Suspicious" devices, like my new TV, get monitored for a few months to see if they are waking up to phone home, or otherwise doing unexpected things.
It's not perfect, I can't capture traffic or even monitor destination IP addresses with Fing. (Not really a feature request, but if you're listening... ;-) But it's a pretty simple way to check out devices that could be telling a story about you. If the TV's not on the network, it's not returning tracking information. (It probably saves that up until I'm actually watching TV, but still...)

Hi @Alderete - Do you have any experience in working with API's? Fing's coolness might be able to be packaged with another of your fav tools to get you what you're looking for perhaps..? Reach out if you ever want to extrapolate/collaborate on a solution for you. Also if you're a Linux user (even a tiny bit). I'd be happy to help you customize something. This type of tracrting/monitoring/pcap'ing happens to be a forté of mine and something I too am very interested in further education through peers ;-)

Long_John_Sliver · September 11, 2019

I am puzzled when fing (used in conjunction w/fingbox) tells me a device has multiple IP addresses. It doesn't tell me why or whether this is a problem (though it smells like a problem). Sometimes I'm alerted that a device is "trying to join" the LAN and assigns an IP address of 0.0.0.0; this seems useless information, as I don't know what to do with it, even if I recognize the device and know it's an ok device. I don't seem able to force the LAN to allow the device in.

VioletChepil · September 12, 2019

@Long_John_Sliver -please check out this thread. This is usually your WiFi extender causing this:
https://community.fing.com/discussion/380/fingapp-box-show-0-0-0-0-for-some-devices
I believe the reason for 0.0.0.0 is due to repeater creating a separate gateway than main access point where the Fingbox is connected. In Range refers to multiple features on Fingbox, It can be for your own device which is under different network or the device which are not under your network(different network) but nearby (Digital Fence). Online refers to the device is under the same network and is connected. In your case, In Range is referred to the device is in the complete signal range of the network.
To solve this, you need to add your repeater as an access point and then Fingbox will be able to monitor that access point as well.
With Mesh System, almost all the features of the Fingbox will work except for Bandwidth Analysis, Internet Speed Test and Vulnerability test for open ports. Fingbox is compatible with both a single node Mesh Wi-Fi network. It also works with two Wi-Fi mesh networks. With three or more than three Wifi Network, there might be some errors in using the above-mentioned features.

Long_John_Sliver · September 12, 2019

Thank you, Violet, I have studied that other thread and commented there.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6031733/uploads/editor/n7/z1nlbd0agtux.jpg

VioletChepil · September 12, 2019

No problem and welcome here @Long_John_Sliver

VioletChepil · September 16, 2019

Thanks for sharing @MaggieL!
In range is the WiFi antenna proximity to the Fingbox within 15m. However you can also adjust this to get only devices really close in the Digital Fence. You can hone in on this too - to find out what devices are closest. Let me know if this needs any clarification - we can also start up another thread on this topic if more information is required too! Cheers

MaggieL · September 16, 2019

No, I didn't mean the RF range had expanded. I meant the *meaning* of "in range" had expanded to include devices with no WiFi radios at all.
My Win 10 desktop has no WiFi at all, and yet I'm getting "in range" notifications for it.

VioletChepil · September 16, 2019

@MaggieLDo you have multiple access points? In range will show for devices which are on different access points of same network. If device1 is connected to A network and Fingbox is activated on B network, the Fingbox will show device1 as In Range. Let me know if that could be causing this.

Best tips for using the Fing App

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