Unexplained ISP usage

G_M

Sony Laptop Vaio
Windows 7
Explorer 8

So I suddenly get a huge amount of data downloaded according to my ISP. This has happened a few times, so this time I queried it, and they sent me an hour by hour breakdown of up/downloads.

0.0xxMB each hour till 15.00 (2.72MB download) and 16.00(199.70MB).

Now I know I switched on the laptop around 4.00 (16.00) and checked a few emails, and then checked my usage and noted the huge amount for the day.

I have a number of anti-virus/anti-spyware programmes, but have set them all to 'manual update' ( I do them after midnight when the ISP usage is free/discounted against monthly allowance). Same with Windows updates.

So either my ISP is erroneously recording my usage - is this possible?

Or my computer is updating something I know nothing about - like... what?

Or it's a virus?

Any ideas?

Avoriaz

Do you have a wireless router or modem?

How secure is it?

Someone nearby could be using your broadband.

Trinitrotoluene

It is highly unlikely that the ISP usage is wrong.

More than likely someone is connecting to your broadband on your wireless or you have a device connected to it that is using the internet (Iphone/Ipad/Tablet/Smart TV/Sky Box/Nintend Wii/Xbox/Playstation) as a few examples.

kwikbreaks

How huge is "huge"? Is upload mentioned as well?

Lifeforms

200 MB isn't a huge amount, unless it's a regular occurrence and you have a low limit for day time use (10GB a month say) As a heavy user, I'd notice say a 2GB download in the time period or prolly more likely 20GB, but not a 200MB one.

How often have you noticed it happening? Is it only periods when you are on the computer, or it's switched on?

Could it be windows updates? Could it be a program you use updating, or components updating, like adobe (flash etc) or Java?
Have you updated your virus checked and scanned completely? Have you run a malwaerbytes scan too?
Is the wireless on, and secure with a good password? (if not change it and see if it continues)
Did you look at any picture heavy sites (ie ones that display loads of them) or browse any videos? Did you download anything from your email, like something someone's sent you to check out?

Nilrem

As has been said 200mb isn't that large.

IIRC there was a largish update for Windows 7 not long ago, I think for .net or internet explorer, as I remember thinking it was bigger than normal.

pledgeX

Yep, I'd go with a windows update too. 200MB seems too large for any individual apps to be updating (like Java or Adobe reader for example).

Nilrem

For some reason I'm thinking it was a .net (v4?) framework or IE update but can't find information.

G_M

Thanks everyone. To answer:

* No, not a wireless router. Wired.
* No other devices connected to the router
* Yes, 10GB monthly allowance ( I usually use 4 - 6 GB)
* Windows is set to manual updates (precisely to avoid using up allowance. Done manually overnight)
* Frequency - haven't really monitored this but I guess every few months there's an unexpected 'spike'
* Uploads: 15.00 was 0.65MB; 16.00 was 7.31 17.00 back below 0 as I switched off laptop again
* virus and Malwarebytes (+ spybot, superantispyware; spyblaster all run normally - updated manually)
* Adobe, Java - have to check... cheers. Any others I might have missed?
* .net V4 ....???

-TangleFoot-

G_M wrote: »

Any others I might have missed?

Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features should give you some idea of what's there.

You can also view your update history thus.

G_M wrote: »

.net V4 ....???

It's a Windows component.

G_M

Thanks Tanglefoot.

Re update history. The history shows no updates for 7/1/13 (the date in question) though interestingly it shows multiple updates today:
* Update for microsoft.net Famework blah blah
* Security update microsoft.net Framework blah...
* repeated about 12 times!

Since I've set microsoft to manual upfates, I don't understand this.

Re Programmes & Features - there are a number of programmes I've no idea what they are:
* Roxio easy media centre
* Realtek (semi conductor Corp)
* PMB Viao edition plug-ins
* Evernote

Also
* Adobe Reader is set to no automatic updates
* Adobe Shockwave - cannot find/open though it appears on the Programmes & Features list,so can't check for auto updates
* Adobe Flash - as shockwave
* Java as above