Computer Experts???????????

For the last several months, our Internet usage has gone 'way up.

We get the 'Net through Verizon with a "Hotspot". I also have a "Jetpack" to take on the road to run my laptop. We're on a 6 gig per month plan, and this month we're over 8 gigs, which will result in $45 in overage fees.

This is the slow time of the year and I hardly use my laptop, so I think we can discount that.

Tracking usage, we need to average less than .2 gigs per day to stay under 6 per month, and our use is erratic. Some days we will be maybe .15 and the next day .3.

I switched our computers from the Hotspot to the Jetpack and that didn't make any difference. I parked my regular computer and revived an old one, and that didn't change anything. So I now parked my wife's computer and put her on my regular one to see if hers might be the problem.

Dunno if it's a virus, trojan, worm, or what. I've run anti-malware software on all of them and there are no critical objects. Before I spend money with a geek, I'd like to know at least which computer is causing the problem, if it is one of the three.

I've nothing against buying anti virus software, but I installed some a year ago and our usage went berzerk until I uninstalled it.

I called Verizon and they were no help, even though they're supposed to analyze your usage. If the objective is to avoid overage fees, they don't want to solve your problem.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

.2 Gig is just 200 Megabytes. Not much at all when you see websites delivering advertising pictures that are 100K per pop.

Is anyone watching videos on sites like YouTube, Hulu, or even a news site? You"re over the limit.

Do you have a wireless router? Is it password protected? Could be a neighbor enjoying free internet.

Hi Goose,
If you've got any Macs in the house you could use XRG which has a Net monitoring section.
Sorry, no windows version.
There's got to be similar Windows software?
XRG

None of the above.

And we haven't changed our habits since our usage was normal.

I'm having the exact same problem!

they do send me notices when I go over. $10 buys a lot of coverage, rather then go over!

Goose,
Is your wireless network protected by a password?

Could somebody be using your wifi without your permission?

If you do have it password-protected...I think I'd change the password.

Hit CTL-ALT-DEL while windows is running and start the task manager. In the processes tab, look for any services running that are like "google update", "Adobe update" or anything else that might be continually connected to the internet, monitoring your computer. Think about any programs you have installed recently, and if they might be doing something. Many of the running services can be ended there, and will restart later, but kill the wrong one and it will re-boot your computer. If you see a program you might think is responsible, consider uninstalling it for a time.

Take a look at the link below... I've used this for a couple of years and it blocks a lot of junk.

It won't allow suspect ads/sites to load. The guy that runs it does a pretty good job.
Alternate hosts file...

You might try one of these programs that monitor internet usage.
Internet Usage Monitor

i thought i would learn something here, lol but i dont even know what youall are talking about, im on my 3rd computer and im told by the wife, my last, i am not a computer person when i was in school the pc hadnt even been invented, and what computers there were took up a whole climate controled room, when they dont work, i fix them, i fixed the first one with a 30/30 rifle, and the 2nd with a 4 lb hammer, funny how my wife says im not to fix this one

When I was in an advanced avionics school in the Marine Corps in 1960, we had a computer in one class that covered a kitchen table. It wouldn't do 1/100th as much as a current credit card size pocket calculator.

That being said, I've been using computers on the job since 1990 when I entered Ford warranty claims into the Ford Motor Company's main data base. However, I'm a user, not a techie.

Check your automatic updates for Windows and other software you have installed. Some of the Windows updates get pretty big and might be loading without you knowing it. I'm on metered usage with the satellite internet, about 250 meg a day. But Hughes does supply a monitor to tell you where you are. I've gotten on sometime after not using it for several days and it shows I only have a fraction of 100%. Usually it's an automatic update has run. We don't get charged for over usage, it just slows down to dial up speed, essentially useless for about 24 hrs.

Not sure if any of this helped or not, but depending on if you have any close neighbors or not, I agree with Sweet Feet about people glomming onto your wifi signal.

I set up a wifi router one time in the front living room - and by the time I went to the back of the house to test it out - I was already the second user on my network!! The kids across the street had already found it and connected.

Windows updates DO use a lot of connection, but neighbors looking for free service will often take ALL of it!


Howard