Settings
The Settings window provides configuration options for PingStalker's appearance, alerts, monitoring behavior, privacy, and license management.
Opening Settings
Access Settings in three ways:
- Toolbar Button - Click the Settings button in the toolbar
- Menu Bar - Select PingStalker → Settings...
- Keyboard Shortcut - Press ⌘O
Settings Tabs
The Settings window is organized into tabs for different configuration categories:
Appearance
Configure PingStalker's visual appearance.
Theme Selection
Choose how PingStalker appears:
System (Recommended) - Follows macOS appearance settings - Automatically switches between light and dark - Changes with System Preferences → General → Appearance
Light - Always use light mode - Overrides system preference - Better for bright environments
Dark - Always use dark mode - Overrides system preference - Better for low-light environments or OLED displays
Effect: - Takes effect immediately - No restart required - Applies to all PingStalker windows
Alerts
Configure notifications for network events.
Ping Host Up/Down
When Enabled: - macOS notifications when Ping Monitor hosts change status - Notification when host goes down: "Host [IP/Label] is down" - Notification when host comes up: "Host [IP/Label] is up"
Use Cases: - Monitor critical servers - Alert when internet connectivity lost - Track VPN endpoint availability
Default: Enabled
See: Ping Monitor for host monitoring
Access Point Change
When Enabled: - Notification when Wi-Fi roams to a different access point - Shows: "Connected to new AP: [BSSID] ([Vendor])"
Use Cases: - Monitor Wi-Fi roaming in mesh/enterprise networks - Detect when device moves between access points - Troubleshoot roaming issues
When It Triggers: - BSSID changes while SSID stays the same - Typical in multi-AP environments (offices, large homes)
Default: Enabled
See: Interface Details → Wireless Details
IP Address Change
When Enabled: - Notification when your IP address changes - Covers both internal and external IP changes
Internal IP Change: - "Internal IP changed from 192.168.1.50 to 192.168.1.100" - Triggers: DHCP renewal with new IP, switching networks
External IP Change: - "Public IP changed from 203.0.113.50 to 203.0.113.51" - Triggers: ISP changes your IP, reconnect modem/router
Use Cases: - Know when DHCP assigns different IP - Track public IP changes (for remote access) - Monitor for ISP-side changes
Default: Enabled
Detection: - Internal: Monitored continuously via system events - External: Checked every 2 minutes (10 seconds for 60s after network change)
See: Interface Details → IP Change Detection
Monitoring
Configure background monitoring services.
DNS Monitoring
When Enabled: - Queries all configured DNS servers every 60 seconds - Logs slow responses (> 500ms) to Network Logs - Logs failed queries to Network Logs
What It Monitors: - Response time for each DNS server - Query success/failure - All DNS servers from current interface
Logged Events: - "DNS: Slow response from 8.8.8.8 (1250ms)" - "DNS: Query failed - 192.168.1.1 timeout" - "DNS: Response from 1.1.1.1 (15ms)" (if verbose)
Use Cases: - Identify slow or failing DNS servers - Troubleshoot name resolution issues - Monitor DNS performance over time
Performance Impact: - Minimal: Single DNS query per server per minute - Negligible network traffic - No CPU impact
Default: Disabled (enable if troubleshooting DNS)
See: Network Logs → DNS Events
Privacy
Configure data obfuscation for screenshots and sharing.
Obfuscate Data
When Enabled: - Partially masks sensitive information throughout PingStalker - Allows safe screenshots and screen sharing - No data is hidden—just displayed differently
What Gets Obfuscated:
IP Addresses: - Private: 192.168.1. (last octet masked) - Public: 203.0..*** (middle two octets masked) - IPv6: Partial prefix masking
MAC Addresses: - Shows OUI (first 3 bytes) + :: - Example: 00:11:22::: - Vendor identification still works
Hostnames: - Full obfuscation
Where It Applies: - Interface Details pane - Network Logs - Network Scan results table - Speed Test results - Internet Sharing details - Wireless Details - All export/copy operations
What Stays Visible: - Network structure (you can still see patterns) - Vendor information (MAC OUI remains visible) - General configuration
Use Cases: - Taking screenshots for documentation - Screen sharing during support calls - Sharing network info in public forums - Demonstrating PingStalker features without exposing network
Default: Disabled
Toggle: Takes effect immediately, no restart required (except for existing log entries)
See: Privacy for detailed examples
License
Manage your PingStalker license and view activation status.
License Status Display
Shows current licensing state:
Unlicensed - No trial or license active - Limited or no access to features
Trial - Free trial active - Shows expiration date - Shows remaining days - Fully functional during trial period
Licensed - Valid license activated - Shows license key (partial) - Shows instance ID - Shows activation count / limit - Shows hardware fingerprint
Expired - Trial or license period ended - Requires license purchase or renewal
Disabled - License disabled by vendor - Contact support
Deactivated - License manually deactivated - Can reactivate on this or different device
License Key Entry
Input Field: Enter your license key from purchase email
Format: Typically alphanumeric key with hyphens
Example: ABCD-1234-EFGH-5678-IJKL
Recommendation: Copy/paste to avoid typos
Activate Button
Click to activate your license key on this Mac.
Process: 1. Validates key format 2. Contacts LemonSqueezy licensing server 3. Verifies key is valid and not expired 4. Checks activation limit not exceeded 5. Binds to hardware fingerprint 6. Activates instantly
Success: License status updates to "Licensed"
Failure: Error message explains issue (invalid key, activation limit reached, etc.)
Deactivate License
Button: "Deactivate License"
Purpose: Free up an activation slot
When to Use: - Moving PingStalker to a new Mac - Reinstalling macOS - No longer using this Mac
Process: 1. Contacts licensing server 2. Removes this device's activation 3. Frees slot for use on another device 4. License becomes "Deactivated" on this Mac
Important: You'll lose access on this Mac until reactivated
Note: Can reactivate on same Mac later (uses another activation slot)
License Details
Instance ID: - Unique identifier for this activation - Used for support and troubleshooting
Activation Count / Limit: - Example: "2 / 3" = 2 devices activated out of 3 allowed - Tracks how many Macs use this license - Deactivate unused devices to free slots
Hardware Fingerprint: - Unique identifier for this Mac - Ties license to specific device - Survives macOS updates and minor hardware changes - Used to prevent unauthorized license sharing
Trial Management
Start Trial Button: - Begins free trial period (if available) - Shown on first launch or when unlicensed
Trial Reminder: - Shown on each application launch during trial - Click "Purchase" to buy license - Click "Continue Trial" to dismiss
See: Registration for complete licensing documentation
Purchase License
Button: "Purchase License" or link
Action: Opens web browser to LemonSqueezy checkout
Process: 1. Complete purchase on LemonSqueezy 2. Receive license key via email 3. Enter key in Settings → License 4. Click Activate
Settings Persistence
All settings are saved automatically:
When Changed: - Immediate effect (no Apply button needed) - Saved to preferences file - Persists between application launches
The Settings window provides essential configuration for customizing PingStalker to your needs. Review each tab and configure alerts, monitoring, and privacy to match your usage patterns. See Registration for detailed licensing information.