Abstract: An apparatus (1) for monitoring a page (7) maintained on a communications network (2). In order to detect changes, the apparatus includes: a download unit configured to receive the page to be monitored via the communications network, to produce a graphic presentation of the received page, and to select from the graphic presentation a desired picture area (8) for comparison, a memory for storing a reference picture which indicates what the selected picture area of the graphic presentation of the page (7) to be monitored looked like previously, and a comparison unit which compares the selected picture area (13) with the reference picture stored in the memory and which, in response to detection of a difference, indicates a change.