How to see what others are doing on WiFi? Demystifying Network Surveillance and Privacy Protection
In recent years, with the popularization of WiFi technology, the topic of "monitoring other people's activities through WiFi" has frequently triggered heated discussions. Many people are curious about whether they can see what others are browsing, what applications they are using, and even steal private data through WiFi. This article will combine the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to analyze the truth, technical principles and preventive measures of WiFi monitoring for you.
1. Technical principles of WiFi monitoring

A WiFi network is essentially a data transmission channel. In theory, network administrators or users with advanced permissions can capture and analyze data packets through specific tools. The following are common monitoring methods:
| Monitoring method | Technical implementation | available information |
|---|---|---|
| Packet capture | Capture traffic using tools like Wireshark | Websites visited and some unencrypted content |
| DNS query records | Analyze DNS request logs | Domain name visited |
| Router logs | View router background data | Connected devices, online time |
2. Hot Topics and Controversies
In the past 10 days, the following topics have sparked widespread discussion on social media and technology forums:
| topic | heat index | core points of dispute |
|---|---|---|
| “Companies use WiFi to monitor employees” | ★★★★★ | The boundary between privacy rights and corporate management rights |
| "The Case of Hackers Invading Home WiFi" | ★★★★☆ | Ordinary users’ security awareness |
| "Children's Internet Monitoring Software" | ★★★☆☆ | Parental Control and Teen Privacy |
3. How to prevent WiFi monitoring?
Protecting privacy needs to start from both technical and behavioral aspects:
1.Technical protection:
2.behavioral habits:
4. Legal and Moral Boundaries
It is worth noting that monitoring other people’s online activities without authorization may be illegal. According to the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, the following behaviors are expressly prohibited:
| Illegal behavior | Legal terms | Punishment measures |
|---|---|---|
| Steal other people's account passwords | Criminal Law Article 285 | Fixed-term imprisonment of not more than 3 years |
| Unlawful control of computer systems | Criminal Law Article 286 | 3-7 years in prison |
5. Clarification of common misunderstandings
1.“WiFi master key can read other people’s mobile phones”: This type of APP can only share passwords and cannot directly view the content.
2.“You can watch WeChat chat in the background of the router”: The contents of encrypted communications (such as WeChat) cannot be read directly.
3."Mobile phone monitoring software can take screenshots remotely": Malicious programs need to be installed in advance and are not functions of WiFi itself.
Conclusion
It is indeed possible for WiFi networks to be monitored, but it requires professional technical means. Ordinary users do not need to panic too much. They can effectively protect their privacy through encryption tools and good Internet habits. At the same time, we call on network service providers to abide by the legal bottom line and jointly maintain a safe network environment.
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