Mobile broadband

Supatramp

Does anyone have experience of mobile broadband suddenly running away with bandwidth?

I have a 2GB monthy allowance which is usually only used for 2 weeks in a month. Daily/nightly use usually runs at between 70 and 100mb, but suddenly gone through 1300mb in 5 nights.

I don't know whether it makes sense, but I thought there was a problem with my mifi unit and my dongle was using less, but now the dongle appears to be the same.

I'm using a 3 SIM, which has been the case for a good number of years now.

Any constructive comments would be appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Possible causes include:-

Automatic download of updates, possibly Windows 10.

Someone has gained access to your WiFi.

However, if it's happening on a USB Dongle, as well as the MiFi modem, it's not going to be the latter.

jrtfan

That's a huge leap. I use mobile broadband all the time (first 3, then ee) and there do seem to be times when I get through the allowance much more quickly than others. Just clutching at straws really, but are you browsing the same pages/sites each time? Are any of them especially heavy on images/advertisements, anything like this? Have you tried changing your wifi key just in case somebody else has managed to get hold of it?

Afterthought: Can you go into your mobile broadband settings and specify the MAC address of devices allowed to connect? I did this once to stop my son from helping himself to my data, after he'd discovered the wifi key. Just specified the MAC addy of my own laptop, it prevented him from being able to connect!

PlutoinCapricorn

I started using 3 mobile BB in 2008. At the time, 1gb per month was enough so the 12gb sim that lasts for 12 months max. was ideal. Now, a 12gb sim lasts for only 2 or 3 months. Windows updates, security suite updates, sites getting more and more complex with Flash etc.. all help to increase the usage. I wonder whether connection problems use up a lot of the allowance.

Nodding_Donkey

If you are connecting a Windows laptop then it has probably downloaded W10 to be 'helpful'

[Deleted User]

jrtfan wrote: »

I did this once to stop my son from helping himself to my data, after he'd discovered the wifi key.

You could've just changed the WiFi key.

jrtfan

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

I started using 3 mobile BB in 2008. At the time, 1gb per month was enough so the 12gb sim that lasts for 12 months max. was ideal. Now, a 12gb sim lasts for only 2 or 3 months. Windows updates, security suite updates, sites getting more and more complex with Flash etc.. all help to increase the usage. I wonder whether connection problems use up a lot of the allowance.

I did away with McAfee because it seemed to be updating almost permanently in the end and slowing everything down to a crawl.

I think you are right about sites becoming more complex and therefore swallowing larger amounts of data.

Supatramp

Thanks for your comments folks.

Re others having the password/key, the only ones are on the other side of the Irish Sea from my present location! lol

I'm browsing the usual sites, which do involve some pictures, but as I say, no difference from the usual. And I seldom view any video clips as I know this runs away with the bandwidth.

All the main updates aren't on automatic. There's a Firefox one but it'll wait till I get back home. Windows 10 invite is there but it hasn't dowloaded.

Could it be anything to do with the SIM?

PlutoinCapricorn

jrtfan, I have Bullguard. It seems to update quite frequently. I think that websites in general are using more and more resources. I don't watch films or anything like that, but the allowance does not go far these days. Worse yet, the price of prepaid sims has increased a lot.

I have Adblock Plus: I wonder whether that uses a lot?

AndyPix

Couple of points :

1 - locking the router down to mac auth pointless, as this can be easily spoofed.
2 - Any idiot with half a brain and a copy of kali Linux can crack your wifi password, so it could indeed be someone else on your wifi - To negate this, change it to something looooong and complex. And if your router has WPS enabled, disable it, immediately.

I would place money that your machine has downloaded windows 10 in the background and that's where your allowance has gone.. But if it continues, then malware is the next most likely culprit
(you could be an unwilling spambot)

Run malwarebytes from here :https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/

Let us know how you go.
Andy

NiftyDigits

How much do you pay for your 2GB per month? Perhaps you can get a better deal for less....therefore gaining a higher data allowance for the same that you are spending now.

For instance, if you are paying £10 per month for a 2GB allowance, you would be better off with a EE data SIM(reception permitting). EE Data SIM on EE Prepay 6GB Data for up to 90 days £14.99

So £5 per month for 2GB per month or effectively 4GB for the £10 that you might be paying now.