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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
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    664

    Default EXCESSIVE data usage

    I run my laptop on site through a Telstra 4G dongle as I have done for the past couple of years. We have started getting emails from Telstra saying that we have used up all of our monthly allowance in one day, and every 20 minutes we get an email to say we have used another GB of data.

    This only started on 1 March, and there was even some usage on Sunday afternoon when the dongle was in the site office and I was hundreds of KM away.

    If I turn the dongle off then the 20 minute email stop. The dongle only shows 2 connections, one being the laptop and the other the printer. Telstra are of no use at all.

    Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? The dongle is password protected but I don't know how secure that is, and as above it is not showing any stray connections. Is there a way to see what is being up/down loaded?

    Tools

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Hervey Bay
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    Default

    Hi Tools,

    Are windows updates enabled?
    Maybe it's downloading a large update.

    Jeff

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Thanks Jeff. Yes it does update automatically when it feels like it, but you know when it is doing it as you can't use the laptop for anything else. And it would be a damn big update to be a continuous GB every 20 minutes!

    Tools

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Hervey Bay
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    250

    Default

    Then as a starting point, turn windows updates off and see if that fixes it.

    It might not be that, but at least take it out of the equation.

    Cheers, Jeff

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Woodstock (Cowra)
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    74
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    3,372

    Default

    Open Task manager and have a look at what applications are running then have a look at processes being used.
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    RW, I did that this evening and there didn't seem to be anything with much CPU use at all. I did download a DWG viewer on the day that the emails started, but that wasn't presenting itself in the Task Manager list this evening.

    Tools

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
    Age
    66
    Posts
    12,881

    Default

    Get a copy of Malwarebytes from this link, install it & update it & then do a scan.
    Malwarebytes 3.0.6 Download for Windows / FileHorse.com
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    65
    Posts
    11,997

    Default

    Couple of things to try:
    • make sure the SSID and password are not showing in the display window of the dongle. The Telstra supplied Netgear dongle does this and anyone can steal the password.
    • check to see how many people are logged in to it.
    • if your phone is connected, be aware that the phone will do updates as it is connected wirelessly to a network, even though the network thereafter is 4G.
    • do you use Dropbox or similar? It can be synching folders, particularly if you just moved them or renamed them.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Kew, Vic
    Posts
    1,064

    Default

    Agree with Cliff on Malawarebytes - very good program for finding things that hijack your system. Also suggest download CCleaner (free) which will clear old junk files, tidy up the registry etc. i use both of these programs regularly.

    Haven't mentioned antivirus software which I assume you have checked is on and updated and that you've run a full scan after the update.

    Your online Telstra account app should show you both upload and download stats (separately) so you can check whether this is an inbound or outbound issue.

    If it is inbound, do you have any programs set to auto download movies or other large files?

    if it is outbound I'd definitely seek professional help as this sort of activity might (only might) suggest your PC has been hijacked as a server for spamming. If it were me I'd spend a few dollars for the local PC shop to run some diagnostics.

    good hunting!

    Brian

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193

    Default

    Open resource monitor from task manager and click the network tab you should see what is using the data in there.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    498

    Default

    If you have Windows 10 you have to set each Wi-Fi connection to -Metered Connection, pretty sure you right click the network and it's pretty simple from there.

    You may also be set to share your updates with other people, this is a sneaky way of saving MS money as it reduces their downloads. Win 10 is evil if you don't change all of the setting to where they should be, I still didn't like it so I went back to 8, which is still my favourite Windows since XP.

    As above it could be a virus.


    Oh, somewhere in the Control Panel is something like- Repair Windows Update, it get corrupted pretty easily and seems to keep trying the same DL over and over again until you repair. I have no idea why Update doesn't do some sort of diagnostic test before it starts but hey, it's Microsoft, I'm usually happy it works when I hit the on button.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Already did that yesterday and it found nothing

    Tools

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Groggy View Post
    Couple of things to try:
    • make sure the SSID and password are not showing in the display window of the dongle. The Telstra supplied Netgear dongle does this and anyone can steal the password.
    • check to see how many people are logged in to it.
    • if your phone is connected, be aware that the phone will do updates as it is connected wirelessly to a network, even though the network thereafter is 4G.
    • do you use Dropbox or similar? It can be synching folders, particularly if you just moved them or renamed them.
    The password is visible and I don't know how to change that. Dongle is hidden behind the printer so doubt anyone even knows it is there.

    After turning off the printer there was only one connection which was my laptop.

    Wifi on my phone is turned off.

    We do have a dropbox system and I don't know if it continually updates, but I have had it for some time and the problem only started last week.

    Tools

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by homey View Post
    Agree with Cliff on Malawarebytes - very good program for finding things that hijack your system. Also suggest download CCleaner (free) which will clear old junk files, tidy up the registry etc. i use both of these programs regularly.

    Haven't mentioned antivirus software which I assume you have checked is on and updated and that you've run a full scan after the update.

    Your online Telstra account app should show you both upload and download stats (separately) so you can check whether this is an inbound or outbound issue.

    If it is inbound, do you have any programs set to auto download movies or other large files?

    if it is outbound I'd definitely seek professional help as this sort of activity might (only might) suggest your PC has been hijacked as a server for spamming. If it were me I'd spend a few dollars for the local PC shop to run some diagnostics.

    good hunting!

    Brian

    Haven't checked anti virus but will.

    I also haven't had a windows update in the last month or so.

    Good idea about the upload/download stats. I will look at that. I have never downloaded any ,ovies on this laptop as it is for work only.

    Tools

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jms_8087 View Post
    Open resource monitor from task manager and click the network tab you should see what is using the data in there.

    OK, will do

    Tools

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