Bandwidth question-where does it go?

Orionaut · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:30

I have a friend who is on a 12Gig BT contract (She is retired and is on a limited income, which has been hammered by the collapse of interest rates so she really is counting every penny and cannot afford to go unlimited.

)

Over the last month she has managed to use up her entire 12 gig limit.

She doesn't watch video.

She doesn't "Surf" (Do people still use that expression?

)

All she does is a bit of on line banking etc, Rainforest and e-mails.

She doesn't even connect automatically, so almost all of this must have happened in the background while she was connected for other reasons.

Is this really just windows updates?

Is there a Log (or some other way of finding out) of what has been downloaded and from where?

Where has it all gone?

diamount · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:33

Wi-fi leecher? Have you checked if the connection is protected with a password?

neil_g · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:34

Time for a malware scan and to change the WiFi password.

Hitman_Leon · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:34

If it's an android phone, settings>data usage, each app listed with data used.

Brizzles · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:35

Phone or PC broadband ?

12 gig is way too much just for general browsing and stuff.

Is her router / wi-fi password protected ?

Hitman_Leon · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:35

Land connection, check router log?

!bluetonic! · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:37

Windows Update?

The OCUK Animated GIF Thread?

Steam / Games / Anti Virus updates / YouTube

cainer · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:39

its only £4pm for unlimited BB with BT

Semple · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:40

Windows Update could really kill the download quota here. You can check the windows update history and see which patches have been downloaded recently, plus their size.

Also if you're happy to look, you could look at performance monitor and monitor the network traffic for any processes consuming lots when the PC is on.

Additionally, even though some object, you could set up adblock on a browser, ads will also saturate bandwidth.

cyber69 · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:49

She's a secret Usenet user. Ssshh don't mention Usenet.

adolf hamster · 31 Oct 2016 at 08:52

Semple said:
Additionally, even though some object, you could set up adblock on a browser, ads will also saturate bandwidth.

This man speaketh the truth, why pay to download ads your going to ignore anyway?

I'm cool with advertising at acceptable levels, but the industry has shot itself in the foot, if advertising was reasonably sized and not ott then you wouldnt need adblock (perfect example imo is youtube, advertising on it is less than even on tv).

Orionaut · 31 Oct 2016 at 09:00

Ok, to answer,

We have decided to not connect for 48 hours and check previous days usage in order to test for wi-fi hacking.

She does not have a smart-phone.

She does have an I-pad, but she does her updates at her sisters or mine.

I have checked the "Distributed updates" thing in windows updates and confirmed that it was switched off.

I have scanned with Malwarebytes, full scan with defender and Spybot S&D with nothing showing up. (Any other suggestions?)

How does one check the router log on a BT hub 3?

its only £4pm for unlimited BB with BT

Is that for a rolling contract or just new ones (Link please)

She is currently paying £11 and reckons that upgrading will cost £20

As for Adblocks, I am not sure if she has an adblock, but she really doesn't surf that much. I would be surprised if even an ad storm would account for it :confused:

She's a secret Usenet user. Ssshh don't mention Usenet.

Ah well, I am a firm believer that everybody has a secret dark side, Everybody!, so I wouldnt discount the possibility! (Even for her!)

Thank you for your help and advise. :cool:

cainer · 31 Oct 2016 at 09:06

Orionaut said:
Is that for a rolling contract or just new ones (Link please)

She is currently paying £11 and reckons that upgrading will cost £20

its up to £6 now, its was being advertised on TV a few weeks ago for £4, so its £24.99 inc line rental
https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/providers/bt/

you get a £100 prepaid mastercard as well

Semple · 31 Oct 2016 at 09:45

You should try out NetBalancer.

It'll track bandwidth consumption at an application level.

Let it run whilst she's using the PC for a few weeks, and then have a look at which application is consuming the most bandwidth. At least this should help rule out the PC being the main culprit.

An article on usage/set up here: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/43713/how-to-monitor-the-bandwidth-consumption-of-individual-applications/

Glanza · 31 Oct 2016 at 09:57

Windows updates?

joeyjojo · 31 Oct 2016 at 10:10

Orionaut said:
We have decided to not connect for 48 hours and check previous days usage in order to test for wi-fi hacking.

You don't need to do this. Just make sure it's using WPA2 (Advanced settings -> Wireless -> Security: WPA2 only (recommended), for both bands if applicable) and change the password.

Edit: make the password strong and NOT made of dictionary words (unless using several long dictionary words, that can be pretty effective).

Orionaut · 31 Oct 2016 at 11:01

cainer said:
its up to £6 now, its was being advertised on TV a few weeks ago for £4, so its £24.99 inc line rental
https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/providers/bt/

you get a £100 prepaid mastercard as well

That would appear to be for new customers, She is an established customer :/?

It is not clear from that link what the full price is going to be once the introductory year is up.

You don't need to do this. Just make sure it's using WPA2 (Advanced settings -> Wireless -> Security: WPA2 only (recommended), for both bands if applicable) and change the password.

Edit: make the password strong and NOT made of dictionary words (unless using several long dictionary words, that can be pretty effective).

I shall check this next time I am round there.

Again, thank you all.

bledd · 31 Oct 2016 at 11:17

Windows update
Phone store updates

12gb is nothing.

Upgrade to unlimited

Change isp to Plusnet or something, then juggle around each year to keep it cheap.

cainer · 31 Oct 2016 at 11:35

Orionaut said:
That would appear to be for new customers, She is an established customer :/?

It is not clear from that link what the full price is going to be once the introductory year is up..

i got it and im an established customer, i was halfway through my previous contract when i got this deal,
just phone them up and tell them you want this deal

parityboy · 31 Oct 2016 at 12:35

@thread

Don't BT Hubs have this thing where other BT users can connect and use your BT hub for Internet access?

@OP

Does your friend watch iPlayer using her smart tv (if she has one)?