Excessive net data usage

[ozinoz]

Hoping somebody with some tech skills can point me in the right direction here.

I have an average, in fact very average, net connection for the pc at home. I am on a marginal 2-3 bar signal strength 4G plug in USB wireless dongle. Data costs me $140 for 16Gig of data. The problem is of late I have really started chewing through the data allowance, at rates I didnt think possible with my connection. (I initially noticed it when I chewed though 4G in an hour - that's $40). Searching the net (which I cant do at home, because it just chews up too much data in teh time it takes), there was a suggestion to turn off the Background Intelligent Transfer Service via Services, which I do before I net connect, but it seems to be having no impact again now after what looked liek initial success. Yesterday in the space of checking the RWA forums, reading 2 emails and replying to one, I had gone through another 2 G of data. It is not as though it comes to anything; it just looks like data being downloaded for the sake of it. I have an anti-virus running and I have downloaded and installed both Spybot Search & Destroy and Maleware Bytes, which have indicated nothing. Monitoring seems to indicate it is something within the Host32 Services

Hoping somebody can help - I am pretty much a prisoner here. I have a net connection I just can not use and I just dont use it enough at home to try and organise a fixed permanent connection and the issues that brings to security alarms etc.

(I have been connected 3 mins now and am already at 900+ meg. )

[buzz456]

If you are looking at pictures that's using a bunch of your data allowance.

[wacampbell]

Make sure Steam is offline. It can burn a lot of bandwidth downloading updates in the background.

[Ericmopar]

You may be a victim of a malware attack.
Whatever you do, do not turn off the "Background Intelligent Transfer Service", that is part of your Windows Update Services and they want you to turn it off to disable the PC's ability to do checks and downloads of Windows updates.
The other one that should also be set to "Automatic Delayed Start" is "Windows Update" near the bottom of the services list.
If they have been turned off, you may want to start them manually using the link in the upper left corner of the services window, then do your updates in Windows.

It sounds like someone may have turned your PC into a netbot.

I used to recommend MSE because it was free and very good, but it's real garbage now. Even Microsoft is telling people to get something else now.
AVG
Kaspersky Anti Virus (Don't be tempted by Kaspersky's high end suites)
Avira
Those are very good this year.

[trev123]

I use Malwarebytes and Spybot2 for scanning for Malware.

[Ericmopar]

Malwarebytes isn't bad but it didn't detect a trojan that installed itself to MSE on my system a few months ago.
I still like to use Malwarebytes in it's basic free form to do a manual scan once in awhile, but when my PC got infected by that trojan, it was AVG free that found it.
I recommend the three I listed for realtime protection and don't rely on Malwarebytes.
Having a second program that only runs manually is a good idea these days. They don't all detect the same things. (A person doesn't want two or more security programs running at the same time though)
Kaspersky was the only one that got a %100 percent detection rate this year, in preventing something from getting on the PC in the first place.

I haven't tried a recent version of Norton, but I've heard it's better than in past years.

[peterhayes]

Ozinoz
This is a problem that you may not be able to solve on your own.
You MUST contact your ISP and get them to run diagnostic tests, etc.
Get them to reset the connection.
There has been a similar problem here in OZ especially when using TELSTRA/BigPond services.
I can't see why or how Malware would increase your data usage - seems odd.
Surely that would go on whether you were using the Internet or not? (Unless the you disconnect the modem/router when not using the Internet?)
Ask your ISP about 'shaping' as that can be an issue.
Your ISP is your first call!
Regards
pH alsoinoz

[ozinoz]

HI Peter,

Funny you should mention Telstra

I initially spoke to one of their stores, because I just cant understand how a marginal 2 bar 4G wireless connection could possibly download so much data in so little time. I can barely watch a Youtube vid without buffering, yet in 4 mins I can rip through 1 gig of data. Watching the meter, it ticks over in 40-50 meg chunks at at time. Have you tried actually talking to the tech people - its the Philipines

I will try and lodge another complaint and see what develops, but I am sure they will say it is my issue (being my pc) and I am at a loss to know where to turn. I cant use the net to try and diagnose or research for obvious reasons

[peterhayes]

Sorry to hear that.
Do you have a mobile phone? have you tried that - are charges still excessive?
You may want to contact the Telecommunications ombudsman - as you do that Telstra put a website asking you to give them 'one more chance' and that usually brings results.
You get this if you google TC ombudsman

Got A Telstra Complaint? - We're Sorry For Your Experience‎
Adwww.telstra.com.au/Priority-Service‎
Let Us Solve Your Issue Right Now.

Worth a try?
Some posts:
https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/ ... d-p/156182
From: https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/ ... d-p/156182

There are a couple of things you can do, the safest (but perhaps not most convenient) would be to perform isolation tests. Take all devices off the home internet and then only allow once device to use the internet for a couple of days before adding another. This should help you to identify which is causing the usage, however I appreciate this may be impractical.
If you do decide to do the above I strongly suggest attempting to isolate any new devices first, like your son's as he just moved in, or other computers/devices that are using new programs or apps.
Another option is to install usage monitoring software that allows you to breakdown the outgoing traffic by program, which should help identify the source. I cannot recommend a particular one here but I do suggest that you ensure that it is sourced from a reputable site or business to ensure no issues arise from its use.
Finally, most computer techs are able to help you go through and identify possible causes of usage but likely you will need to pay a fee for this kind of service.

As you say there are no real solutions - is it worth getting another ISP - some good deals on TV at present?
Regards
pH

[ozinoz]

Hi mate...

have just come back from seeing Optus and organising a connection from them. They just about fell over when I mentioned having chewed through a gig in 4 mins - it is not possible on that connection, but Telstra don't believe you, cos if the meter says you have, then you have!.



Grant

[peterhayes]

Ace & Brill
pH