Automated email saying 58% cap used in only 2days

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Automated email saying 58% cap used in only 2days

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#89491 3-Sep-2011 09:15

I got an automatic email from my ISP on the second day of the month to say I'd used 58% of my monthly broadband cap! I hadn't been using my computer much those two days, but they are now "monitoring my connection" because they think my PC is at fault. :( How do I find out? (Not a geek, so simple terms please).

[edit mod rc: fixed title from 'help please' ]

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#516045 3-Sep-2011 09:24

Are you sure that your usage period is the 1st to 31st? It may well be , for example, 8th to 7th, in which case there is no issue.

Mighty Ape

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Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516047 3-Sep-2011 09:30

I rechecked and it starts on the 20th, though the bills come at the end of the month. However, it doesn't explain why it's suddenly jumped so high! Usually I get a warning in the last week of the month. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary and there haven't been any major downloads.

rscole86

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#516048 3-Sep-2011 09:32

How about some more information?

Who is your ISP, do you have a wireless router? How many PC's are connected, do you torrent? Do you have any form of security, eg antivirus/anitmalware?

A topic more fitting might also help, you can not going to get many responses to a 'help please'.

I would also double check your billing. For example, I get billed on the 17th for the period 24th to the 23rd.
But my data allowance expires on the 8th of the month. So the dates do not align exactly.

johnr

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#516049 3-Sep-2011 09:34

Why the poor thread title?

Scan your PC with malwarebytes http://malwarebytes.org/

John

tdgeek

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#516050 3-Sep-2011 09:35

ok.

Can you get a detailed report from the ISP, as in hourly sessions, that will tell you when the usage occured.

Is wifi encrypted?

What other users are there?

Do you use P2P, and if so, has it been left running, and been uploading?

Have you had email send issues on a POP client, which may mean it keeps resending and failing, then resending as per the "how often will it automatically check email" settings ?

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516054 3-Sep-2011 09:39

I've already run Emisoft Malaware, Malaware Bytes and Microsoft Security Essentials. All came up clean.

My isp is Thinair.net.nz.

johnr

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#516056 3-Sep-2011 09:41

Are you using a wireless router?

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516058 3-Sep-2011 09:43

I'm not on a network and I'm the only user. No router. My computer plugs into the aerial. I don't use P2P.

johnr

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#516059 3-Sep-2011 09:45

Meez: I'm not on a network and I'm the only user. No router. My computer plugs into the aerial.

Must be magic

Have you spoken to your ISP?

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516064 3-Sep-2011 09:57

I meant they took the router away when I gave up the VOIP phone. They are now monitoring my PC but I want to know if there is something I can check at this end.

Ragnor

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#516312 4-Sep-2011 03:02

Networx is a good data/traffic monitor for a single PC situation, might give you a better idea of how much and when you PC is using data.
http://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516366 4-Sep-2011 10:36

Many thanks! The problem is at their end because when they cut someone back to dial up speeds, they start at the beginning of the next month, not the 20th. There is no way I used 58% of my data cap in two days, especially as I was hardly home at the time!

AnApple

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#516703 5-Sep-2011 10:03

Slightly off topic.

But for the past 2 months, i have also noticed an increase in my broadband usage.

I was on the 15GB plan, and for the past 2 years, the highest usage is only 11.5GB/month. Mostly does not go over 10GB/month.

But for the past 2 months, i have managed to receive the "you have used 75% of your allowance" email after 3 weeks into the data renew cycle.

I have not been using the internet more so than usual, i do not play online game nor share music using P2P.

I do not download music/movies on the internet but i do visit youtube randomly.

Anyway, in the end i have switched to a bigger plan. I will monitor my usage closely this month.

DonGould

3892 posts

Uber Geek

#516707 5-Sep-2011 10:08

AnApple:
Slightly off topic.

But for the past 2 months, i have also noticed an increase in my broadband usage.

I was on the 15GB plan, and for the past 2 years, the highest usage is only 11.5GB/month. Mostly does not go over 10GB/month.

But for the past 2 months, i have managed to receive the "you have used 75% of your allowance" email after 3 weeks into the data renew cycle.

I have not been using the internet more so than usual, i do not play online game nor share music using P2P.

I do not download music/movies on the internet but i do visit youtube randomly.

Anyway, in the end i have switched to a bigger plan. I will monitor my usage closely this month.

Yes I'm sure I'll get slapped for being ot as well... but you make a very valid point.

I reconfigured my email systems a while back, but I think it's driven my data usage up quite a bit, so I'm going to change it again.

But I'm also wondering about OS and other application updates. Firefox, Thunderbird, Apple (stuff), Windows, the number of updates my systems are downloading is getting OT. I'm wondering how to monitor this stuff.

Promote New Zealand - Get yourself a .kiwi.nz domain name!!!

Check out mine - i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz - don@i.am.a.can.do.kiwi.nz

Meez

111 posts

Master Geek

#516730 5-Sep-2011 10:40

Definitely tell them. I was hoping it wasn't just me with the problem.

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