How ON EARTH can we jump from 28GB to 92?

Cameo1

Our BT bill/ email says that we have exceeded our limit of 40GB (I chose that "Option 2" because of an average of 28GB per month).
I am flummoxed how we have jumped to such a massive usage - especially as the email came through on the 14th Dec.
Last month it was 69GB.
This is a complete mystery - I have quizzed my two children and no films, two Iplayer programmes, two albums, no gaming and not much YouTube. I work from home but am often out working as well - and my work doesn't involve the internet bar emails and a bit of browsing.
According to BT's website - an HD film is 4GB - so how on earth can we be using 92!
I live a a tiny village so can't see there can be any piggy-backing...
Any ideas?
Its cost me an extra £50 this month.
I rang BT but their automated system said it would ring me back - it hasn't yet - over one hour later...
I have managed after a good search, to find Your Broadband Usage Checker on BT's website - and this month it says we have used 27 GB so far!!!

bod1467

What router do you use? (BT Homehub?)

Is wifi enabled? If yes, what type of encryption is set? (You want at least WPA, WPA2 is better and WPA2-PKS better still).

Is it possible that someone has compromised your wifi password and gained access to your network? (Noticed any unknown people or cars nearby?).

That said - it's also possible that the BT usage meter is borked. The TalkTalk usage meter is also currently borked.

Are you able to post any statistics from your router that includes bandwidth details? (Would need to see Uptime info too, so the details can be cross-correlated).

Cameo1

Router is BT HOmehub2
Wifi is enabled at WPA2 - possibly PKS
I doubt anyone has compromised our password - our village really is minuscule and my neighbours on one side probabaly hardly even use the internet (they are retired and not internet -savvy) and the other side wouldn't be able to access it - distance-wise. We would really notice any strangers lurking...
HOw do you mean "borked"?
I rang BT - they were terribly nice but could give me no information whatsoever other than I already had ("its cost you an extra £50 and you have used 92 GB last month", apart form saying that is was probably by downloading emails (!!!!!!!!).

In April we were using averaging 30 GB so I switched from BT's Option 1 (10GB) to their Option 2 (40GB). However, there has been a seemingly massive jump these past two months - Previous month it was 69GB and last month 92GB.
Before that we were staying within our 40GB limit.

What details exactly do you need and how do I access them please?
Our speed round here is titchy! 1.08Mb/S download speed.
I went to our BT Homehub page and have this from the Internet Connection Configuration:

Connection time 1 day, 15:05:55
Data transmitted/received (MB) 427.17 / 2045.18

Is that any use?
Many thanks for taking the time to reply :-)

iniltous

Is your PC security OK, it could be that your PC is infected and part of botnet and is sending out thousands of spam emails in the background, using up your allowance, if you get onto your hub stats page, very rough guide is to divide the usage ( up and download combined ) by the number of days connected..or power cycle (turn off and on ) your router and then check the usage 24 hours later (if the 24hrs are typical of your everyday usage) and x 30 to get a months usage
http://192.168.1.254/,
just noticed your post showing usage...thats a hell of a lot for 1 day uptime for someone who only send emails and surfs..not unusual for watching TV on line though..your stat (0.5Gb up and 2Gb down) is going to have 40Gb used up about half way through the month

JJ_Egan

That sort of downloads points more to videos than anything size wise that is .


Data transmitted/received (MB) 427.17 / 2045.18

2 GB in one day x 30 days = 60GB down + whatever the upload figure is .


Torrents Video Streaming BBC IPlayer ??
jje

Cameo1

Aha - "torrents" have just been mentioned to me by a friend - and my son has done a search and came up with torrent as being Bandwidth-hungry. It seems he had a bit-torrent thing going which he has just now deleted...this would make sense?
So if I check tomorrow - then hopefully the usage might change?

If it doesn't then do you have any idea to whom I might shout?
BT on the phone seem quite useless (though the lady was very nice, I really didn't think that downloading my emails was going to come to 92 GB - just HOW DO they train the operators...?)

It would be really useful if the providers could detail users as to what exactly their usage was - even if it was "Emails/ Films/ Music/ Gaming/ Browsing - just to help people work out their usage.
It would be even better if providers could train their staff to have proper answers to not that unusual questions!

(My bank is brilliant like that - they will point me to all sorts of useful internet help etc - at no extra cost nor to their products. That's why I have stayed with them for years and years...)

Thank you for your help - the comments have given more more clues as to what to look for !

Cameo1

It definitely isn't Iplayer - and my daughter doesn't watch THAT much YouTube - and only on not HD as our broadband speed is so slow. Torrent?
It is the change that is surprising - it hasn't been a gradual increase - but a sudden one.

Ady87

working for BT, i see this day in day out. And 99 times out of 100 it is Torrents.

If you check your usage you will see like 30GB down and 40Gb upload. Basically, if you do not already know, you are contributing your upload to other downloaders around the world. It's a big sharing network and that is how it all works. This isn't a problem if you are on Unlimited usage.

So many people get Bit/uTorrent and just leave it up and running or in the tray after they have finished downloading. That means you are Seeding. Seeding means every passing second is spent "uploading".

Pause/Delete Torrents that have finished or you no longer need. The Pause function i use personally.

Ady87

If you have removed the torrent program (which seems a shame, as when used properly can be veru fun and useful) you will see an immediate change in your usage.

Check where you are at in your term and see if you can get an upgrade and pay less for it.

Cameo1

I'll check my usage tomorrow then. MANY thanks!
(how do we use torrent "properly" then? If you don't mind!)

neilwoods

Quite a few films or programs for about 75gb download.

Most torrent users use it to share copyrighted films and programs, so is worth pointing out, that by sharing copyrighted material, it is breaking copyright law.