Blocking Downloads.....

Bailey101

Afternoon All

I was wondering if anyone could help me block someone from downloading while using my broadband connection. I've recently got a new lodger and in the last 3 weeks have gone from barely using 10gb a month, to being nearly at my 40gb limit. Not only am I not amused at the huge jump in usage (and almost inevitable extra charges to come at the end of the month) but I'm also concerned about what he's downloading and if he's using illegal torrents - I work in a sector that are very strict about any sort of court cases, financial issues etc and getting done for illegal downloading could see me getting kicked out of trade association.

I've asked him to knock it off, but I don't think he's taken me seriously (another 1 gb used in the last day or so) so I want to just completely stop him from downloading, while still being able to use the internet.

Can this be done via my BT Home Hub?

I've tried talking to BT's 'technical support' and the numptie I spoke to didn't even know what I meant and thought I wanted to block all internet usage (I was told that I should just cancel my broadband and solve it that way :wall:).

Any help would be much appreciated.

Bailey xxx

redcard

You should be able to log into your router and set it to record all activity on the connection. BT may also be able to supply this information.

You could always change the network password so he has no access.

Linbox

No need to cancel your broad band - just change the password. This would of course stop him using the broadband.

Thinking... maybe you could change to fixed adresses and throttle his download speed this would be done using the router.

Bailey101

redcard wrote: »

You should be able to log into your router and set it to record all activity on the connection. BT may also be able to supply this information.

You could always change the network password so he has no access.

I'll try this to see exactly what's going on - do you have any tips on how to do this as BT are saying it can't be done due to Data Protection or some pish like that.

Linbox wrote: »

No need to cancel your broad band - just change the password. This would of course stop him using the broadband.

Thinking... maybe you could change to fixed adresses and throttle his download speed this would be done using the router.

Do you have any tips on how do this as well? I'm not too savvy when it comes to stuff like this

As for changing the password, I would love to but a condition of the rental was a broadband connection. I've only got to dela with him till end of January though and then he's GONE :j

TakeThis

BT Home Hub doesn't do it, only their Business Hub. So you would need another router.

daveys_2

TBH although this seems like a lot, in the whole scheme of things this isn't a vast amount. If your lodger spends a lot of time in their room watching iPlayer or YouTube you'd be suprised how quickly the downloads rack up...If they're gaming online you can expect it to be a lot higher.

I have two lodgers (and a 100Gb download cap). We generally download around 60Gb per month (and I normally spend half the week at my GF's house), and I'm confident there's nothing unreasonable or illegal being done, we just all prefer to stream our TV through the internet.

I have written into my lodger's agreement about internet use, and request that any large downloads be done overnight (when there's no limit on my usage)

Off the top of my head I can't remember what I put in my agreement, but if you're interested, PM me and I'll let you have a copy of the relevant paragraph.

If you are genuinly concerned, have a word with your ISP, and ask what is being downloaded *and* uploaded. If your lodger is filesharing then the upload figures will be quite high.

As already you're close to your download limits, have a look a how much it will cost to get a less restrictive package, and have think about how you're going to pay for this and whether you want to up your lodger's rent to cover this.

larkim

Switch off the router when you're not using it? If you annoy him enough, he'll stop! Or tell him to get a second line installed? I would have suggested configuring the router to use opendns and use the filtering that that offers, but it doesn't appear to be possible to get a BT HH to use that service.

Matt

patman99

You can always buy a cheap router/modem to replace the BT unit.

Qwiksilver

Streaming like i player , 4OD , SKY go use a large amount of bandwidth so he may be watching these rather than torrenting. Contrary to poular belief gaming will not use a lot of your download limit (unless he is downloading new games). Is he approachable enough to explain your predicament with the download limits? This may the best approach.

londonTiger

you an accountant?

paddyrg

Can you throttle the bandwidth selectively - make his connection too slow for streaming and crushing for p2p. You still are fulfilling any offer of 'free internet access', just doing a bit of crude traffic shaping...