[TelstraClear] Apparently I've used 70.39gb this month...

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [TelstraClear] Apparently I've used 70.39gb this month...

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843 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#302685 27-Feb-2010 12:34

I use the Traffic Usage Checker from http://www.tuc.co.nz/ it updates your usage every 2 hours on the toolbar of your PC. It can be set to check every hour. You can tell each hour (or two) if you have suddenly gone over your limit.

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302697 27-Feb-2010 13:44

fraseyboy: I've only had my computer on for 20 minutes or so and I've apparently used around 1gb, with almost half of that being upstream. Data only gets used when I have my computer on so I don't think its likely to be someone using my wifi. I did a virus scan. Found nothing.

I'll give TCL a call today and see if they can see anything.

Do you have windows 7?

If not, go into processes ctrl-alt-delete -> task manager -> processes and look for anything with the same name as your bittorrent client.

If you have windows 7 there a far bettery way to check usage, ill expand later once you reply (if you have windows 7).

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302698 27-Feb-2010 13:46

I do indeed have Windows 7.

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302701 27-Feb-2010 13:53

Ok then do this:

Right click on your task bar -> Start task manager
Select Performance -> Resource monitor
Select the network tab and expand network connectivity (if it is not already)

Sort your view by "Send" / "Receive" / "Total" in B/s. This is basically your network cards activity.

Make it so the highest amount goes to the top and look at what program is using the majority of your network connection. If you are unsure what a process is Google it, some one will put 2 and 2 together.

It will also show you your current rate up the top.

Bear in mind that it measures all network card activity including local (off your internet).

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302702 27-Feb-2010 14:02

Aha. I was wondering if there was a tool like this. Good to see its included in 7.

However, whatever it was that was causing such usage to be logged appears to have stopped and the data being used has returned to normal. So I don't think there's really any way of knowing what caused it.

What are my rights in regards to paying the bill? If it was some sort of malware or DOS'ing happening on my computer which I was not aware of, do I still have to pay the $162.25?

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302715 27-Feb-2010 14:57

fraseyboy: Aha. I was wondering if there was a tool like this. Good to see its included in 7.

However, whatever it was that was causing such usage to be logged appears to have stopped and the data being used has returned to normal. So I don't think there's really any way of knowing what caused it.

What are my rights in regards to paying the bill? If it was some sort of malware or DOS'ing happening on my computer which I was not aware of, do I still have to pay the $162.25?

Yes you would still have to pay it.

Ultimately your PC is your responsability, your ISP should not have to pay if you let a virus in/leave some download client open.

It wont be DOS because that would most probibly not of gone past your router (unless you forwarded some ports).

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302716 27-Feb-2010 15:04

ArcticSilver:
fraseyboy: Aha. I was wondering if there was a tool like this. Good to see its included in 7.

However, whatever it was that was causing such usage to be logged appears to have stopped and the data being used has returned to normal. So I don't think there's really any way of knowing what caused it.

What are my rights in regards to paying the bill? If it was some sort of malware or DOS'ing happening on my computer which I was not aware of, do I still have to pay the $162.25?

Yes you would still have to pay it.

Ultimately your PC is your responsability, your ISP should not have to pay if you let a virus in/leave some download client open.

It wont be DOS because that would most probibly not of gone past your router (unless you forwarded some ports).

I'm pretty positive it wasn't a virus, unless Microsoft Security Essentials is completely useless.

I do have some ports forwarded for stuff like Borderlands and uTorrent. Is there any way to tell if it was DOS?

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ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302717 27-Feb-2010 15:10

fraseyboy:
ArcticSilver:
fraseyboy: Aha. I was wondering if there was a tool like this. Good to see its included in 7.

However, whatever it was that was causing such usage to be logged appears to have stopped and the data being used has returned to normal. So I don't think there's really any way of knowing what caused it.

What are my rights in regards to paying the bill? If it was some sort of malware or DOS'ing happening on my computer which I was not aware of, do I still have to pay the $162.25?

Yes you would still have to pay it.

Ultimately your PC is your responsability, your ISP should not have to pay if you let a virus in/leave some download client open.

It wont be DOS because that would most probibly not of gone past your router (unless you forwarded some ports).

I'm pretty positive it wasn't a virus, unless Microsoft Security Essentials is completely useless.

I do have some ports forwarded for stuff like Borderlands and uTorrent. Is there any way to tell if it was DOS?

Not easily, unless it is happening.

Also if it was a DoS attack they would need your ip and by restarting your router it would of stopped unless you have some sort of dynamic hostname.

Its not likely that it is a DoS attack, its most like that you had some rogue process/a program running that you were not aware of.

It is your fault, you control your PC not your ISP, you need to pay the bill.

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302718 27-Feb-2010 15:16

Restarting the router doesn't renew the IP on cable. I've had the same IP for years.

Well this is rather irritating then. I thought I kept my PC pretty safe.

Screeb

698 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302738 27-Feb-2010 17:52

One of my father's friends had a similar problem - he had huge unexplained usage that only occurred when his PC was on, but he found no viruses. The problem, IIRC, was Skype - it had become a "supernode". So it could be that?

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302741 27-Feb-2010 18:10

I don't use Skype so it seems pretty unlikely.

uktuatara

149 posts

Master Geek

#302765 27-Feb-2010 19:43

You can run several tools to test what portsa are open, and I suggest you fire up your PC and run something to see what apps are running and what ports are open.

Run some thing like Shields up to see what ports are open https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Do you have the latest firmware on your router / modem?

What firewall are you using? Work out how to log incoming and outgoing traffic and see whats being passing through. This is the only sure fire way of seeing what is going out of your PC.

Maybe your torrent client is set to autostart? So it's seeding something that you didnt know about?

As far as paying the bill, its all your equipment, its your OS, its your PC, if it gets compromised, and yes sometimes this happens no matter what you do to prevent it, then it is your responsibility to foot the bill. As heartbreaking as that can be sometimes.

fraseyboy

134 posts

Master Geek

#302770 27-Feb-2010 19:57

uktuatara: You can run several tools to test what portsa are open, and I suggest you fire up your PC and run something to see what apps are running and what ports are open.

Run some thing like Shields up to see what ports are open https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Do you have the latest firmware on your router / modem?

What firewall are you using? Work out how to log incoming and outgoing traffic and see whats being passing through. This is the only sure fire way of seeing what is going out of your PC.

Maybe your torrent client is set to autostart? So it's seeding something that you didnt know about?

As far as paying the bill, its all your equipment, its your OS, its your PC, if it gets compromised, and yes sometimes this happens no matter what you do to prevent it, then it is your responsibility to foot the bill. As heartbreaking as that can be sometimes.

Turns out I have WAN ping enabled on my router which probably isn't good, so I disabled that. Apart from that though, ShieldsUp tells me that I'm secure. Yes, I have the latest firmware on my router and the modem doesn't appear to have self-upgradeable firmware.

My torrent client is NOT set to autostart. And I close once torrents are complete.

I still think it could be an error on their side. It all appears like what my usage normally is, just multiplied by five or so.

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#302778 27-Feb-2010 20:27

fraseyboy:
uktuatara: You can run several tools to test what portsa are open, and I suggest you fire up your PC and run something to see what apps are running and what ports are open.

Run some thing like Shields up to see what ports are open https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

Do you have the latest firmware on your router / modem?

What firewall are you using? Work out how to log incoming and outgoing traffic and see whats being passing through. This is the only sure fire way of seeing what is going out of your PC.

Maybe your torrent client is set to autostart? So it's seeding something that you didnt know about?

As far as paying the bill, its all your equipment, its your OS, its your PC, if it gets compromised, and yes sometimes this happens no matter what you do to prevent it, then it is your responsibility to foot the bill. As heartbreaking as that can be sometimes.

Turns out I have WAN ping enabled on my router which probably isn't good, so I disabled that. Apart from that though, ShieldsUp tells me that I'm secure. Yes, I have the latest firmware on my router and the modem doesn't appear to have self-upgradeable firmware.

My torrent client is NOT set to autostart. And I close once torrents are complete.

I still think it could be an error on their side. It all appears like what my usage normally is, just multiplied by five or so.

Sorry didnt realise you were on cable.

On another node, it is very unlikely to be at their end since it only happened when your PC was on. You might be able to ask them to check but personally id have some one look at your PC and pay the bill.

As some one said above, its your equipment, your responsability.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#302779 27-Feb-2010 20:33

The WAN ping option doesn't change anything - it just tells your router to answer or not to a PING request. The request itself would still go to your router and be counted. However this would be independent of your PC being active, so it's not likely the problem.

Flagging WAN ping as a problem is alarmist at best - the only result is someone pinging your IP getting a confirmation there's an equipement on your side. But that's all.

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