Large Data Use Spikes

Forums › Spark New Zealand › Large Data Use Spikes

Roofrack

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 192085 26-Feb-2016 10:48

We have been getting cleaned out of data for some strange reason of late. This morning was 6Gb in 30 mins.

We are using Sparks Rural Broadband.

See attached but all are blocks of 499Mb used in 3 minute blocks. Does it eve work that fast?

No one is at home, I am checking remotely from the office online. No one is using any devices as there is no one there.

Is this has happened off an don for the last three months or so. We hit our data limit within 10 days at best.

All computers have been scanned with Malware bytes and run McAfee antivirus. No netflix being used and NAS box and sky are all unplugged.

Impossible to get through to spark to discuss so any have any ideas what is happening?

jnimmo

What does this tag do
942 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 192

Subscriber

Reply # 1499730 26-Feb-2016 11:44

No one is using any devices - are the devices turned off?

Can you log into your router to see if there is any more information on there about what might be using it? I assume there is no-one within wifi range who could be using it

Do you have any Windows 10 devices? If so check that the computer isn't set to get 'Updates from more than one place' with the 'PCs on my local network and PCs on the internet' option - you would want the first option only PCs on my local network

MikeB4

12123 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5663

Trusted

Reply # 1499733 26-Feb-2016 11:50

why a second thread ?

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=106&topicid=192075

Mike
Retired IT Manager.
The views stated in my posts are my personal views and not that of any other organisation.

It's our only home, lets clean it up then...

Take My Advice, Pull Down Your Pants And Slide On The Ice!

Try Wrike: fast, easy, and efficient project collaboration software

Roofrack

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1499734 26-Feb-2016 11:52

Because my initial thread was related to Sky connection which I have now eliminated.

Sorry. My bad.

ubergeeknz

Fully Operational
3343 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1088

Trusted

Vocus

Subscriber

Reply # 1499761 26-Feb-2016 12:08

There's a sticky for this situation : http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=139555

check it out, see if it helps.

andrewNZ

1828 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 980

Reply # 1499855 26-Feb-2016 13:48

Q. Does it work that fast?
A. That equates to approximately 2.8Mb/s (I think) so yes.

My phone just speed tested 20Mb/s so it'll do 500MB in about 25 seconds.

(I think my maths is correct)

Location: Dunedin

staticnz

145 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 29

Reply # 1499876 26-Feb-2016 14:13

andrewNZ: Q. Does it work that fast?
A. That equates to approximately 2.8Mb/s (I think) so yes.

My phone just speed tested 20Mb/s so it'll do 500MB in about 25 seconds.

(I think my maths is correct)

Close :) 20Mb/s is 2.5MB/s so it would take ~200seconds for 500MB, just over 3 minutes*

Mb/s = Megabits

MB/s = Megabytes (8 Megabits = 1 Megabyte)

*assuming full speed is acheived for the whole transfer

Nice and simple eh!

andrewNZ

1828 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 980

Reply # 1499962 26-Feb-2016 16:19

One person supports this post

staticnz:
andrewNZ: Q. Does it work that fast?
A. That equates to approximately 2.8Mb/s (I think) so yes.

My phone just speed tested 20Mb/s so it'll do 500MB in about 25 seconds.

(I think my maths is correct)

Close :) 20Mb/s is 2.5MB/s so it would take ~200seconds for 500MB, just over 3 minutes*

Mb/s = Megabits

MB/s = Megabytes (8 Megabits = 1 Megabyte)

*assuming full speed is acheived for the whole transfer

Nice and simple eh!

Ahhh balls, you're right. I know that stuff too, just didn't stop long enough to think.

Location: Dunedin

1101

1419 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 312

Reply # 1500010 26-Feb-2016 16:58

Your going to have to do some detective work yourself.... cant really expect Spark to tell you what device has gone rouge at your house

You'll need to narrow it down to wifi or network cable , turn off wifi for a few days .
You''l need to narrow it down to 1 pc/laptop/tablet etc , so same thing, leave one or more off for a few days
If nothing is connected or on when you arnt there , it may be an issue with the router (Clutching at straws now)
Do the usual change wifi pass & router admin pass. Check the DNS in the router & PC's

It could be someone using a music streaming service
I have seen 2 separate cases of Online Radio Stations causing a massive internet usage blow out.
Could even be zero day malware that isnt detected by scan programs
Could be someone has online backup installed, even if installed by accident (as can happen)
etc etc

Roofrack

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 1500084 26-Feb-2016 18:28

The thing is it's not a constant blowout. It will be chunks of data on mass for a short period of time. So even turning off all devices and then turning on one by one wont help unless I leave them off for perhaps a week at a time.

When this happened today there was no one at home using any devices and we have over 10+ devices to isolate. Is there any software out than can track data to a particular device like a monitor of sorts?

Thanks to all the responses so far.

There have been no further spikes since early today and max devices using the wi fi at present. Half of them apple devices.

Would be very unusual to have someone rock up to use our Wifi as we are rural and it wouldn't reach another residence without someone being physically on our property.

Any malware scanner suggestions other than malware bytes or Mc Afee.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
7743 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1565

Trusted

Spark

Subscriber

Reply # 1500089 26-Feb-2016 18:37

if you want to setup metering for your network, best bet is to meter at the router level rather than software on machines. Finding the correct app for ios, andriod then looking at things like media streaming, it always leaves holes.

personally my choice is to stick a pfsense box in there, but that is impractical for most people. a router running openWRT, Tomato etc would certainly fit the case.

as you mention idevices, ild check theres not an icloud sync stuck.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

1101

1419 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 312

Reply # 1501229 29-Feb-2016 09:52

data usage logging at the router level is the best way, but realistically, thats probably not an option you have.

See if theres anything in the router that can help a bit.
Usage Logs ,see what devices are connected to it(it should give that info)
perhaps router settings to limit internet use/or times available on some devices (via parental controls ) etc ,

Try & find out if the data is upload or download .
Find out what devices are on when you arnt home.

Look in PC & Macs scheduled tasks, that may give some idea.
Try & get everything turned OFF when not at home (OFF, not sleep, not powersave) & see if that helps.