Upload usage/download usage: Help!

Top_Banana_2

I have been going over my 10GB limit for a few months in a row now with BT. I had never gone over my limit before April.

I contacted BT for assistance and this is the breakdown they've given me regarding my usage for the last few months:

-

For the month of July up to 3/7/2011 at 23:59 hours is 1.34 GB (Upload usage is 1.22 GB and the download usage is 0.13 GB).

- In the month of June you have used 14.39 GB (Uploads-13.35 and downloads-1.04 GB)

- In the month of April you have used 11.69 GB (Uploads-10.93 GB and downloads-0.77 GB).

What is the difference between 'upload usage' and 'download usage'? I have not uploaded any files or photos or peer-to-peer stuff, so can't understand why my upload usage is that high.

What could be causing the high upload usage? It is puzzling me.

Surely normal surfing would have a higher download usage than upload usage?

Owain_Moneysaver

I think there must be some file-sharing software on your computer you don't know about.

This might include thinks like skype, spotif, some of the TV players, etc. Run an up to date virus and malware checker.

Have a look in Task Manager - Processes and Services.

somersethillbilly

Top_Banana wrote: »

Surely normal surfing would have a higher download usage than upload usage?

Looking at those figures, I'd ask them to check that they have n't got download/ upload around the wrong way? Your download figs (on what they say) are very low for a months use. If they have then it looks like you have just gone over your 10GB limit.

Top_Banana_2

Thanks guys.

I'll contact BT and ask them to clarify the figures and I'll run the malware bytes and AV programs and get back to you.

spannerzone

Funnily enough there's another poor sod with identical issues over on the Digitalspy forum

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1499397

Mark_In_Hampshire

Agree with the other posters - you do need to look into this. You're uploading the equivalent of about 12 movies every month. Something is far from normal.

One obvious legitimate sort of activity that would cause this is if you ran a webcam (e.g. continuous streaming of images from your cam up to a remote server, or computers connecting to yours to see it)

Now assuming that BT have their figures the right way around (by no means certain!):

One tool you could use is downloadable from www.thinkbroadband.com called "TBBMeter" - if you have that running, you can keep an eye on the upstream and downstream traffic. The occasional brief uptick in download activity even when you're not doing anything is normal. But keep an eye on the upstream and I believe this tool might enable you to identify what - specifically - is causing the upload activity.

Top_Banana_2

Thanks- I'll get the TBBMeter and report back.