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Help please - Sudden change in amount of data being used by my PC

ME14addickME14addick
edited September 2016 in Troubleshooting
As there is no landline at the property we live in, we use a mobile wi-fi device from Three. I pay £15.98 a month for 15Gb of data and in the 2 years we've been using it, have never once gone over the limit or anywhere near it.

Last Thursday I logged on and got a message to say I had run out of data and was being charged £22 for going over my allowance. After many phone calls and after threatening Three with Offcom and cancelling my contract they agreed to refund the charge as this was not typical of our usage. I was put through to Three's technical support yesterday who took control of my PC to stop the Windows Updates.

My new allowance of data started last Saturday and this morning logged on and had over 10GB of data. Used the PC for about 2 hours this morning, mainly catching up with the Post Match comments on Charlton Life! Have been out all day and the device was switched off and now I only have 7.1 GB of data left.

I sometimes connect my phone to the same wi-fi but haven't done so today. As 3Gb of data has gone today I telephoned Three's technical department again today and they said their technician went through it all yesterday and stopped my windows updates and there was nothing else they can do and that I need to get my PC checked by an expert.

As half my month's allowance has gone since Saturday I need to sort something out so can anyone suggest what I should do please.

Thanks.


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Comments

  • vffvff
    Have you checked for virus or software on your device ?
  • ME14addickME14addick
    vff said:

    Have you checked for virus or software on your device ?

    I ran a Malwarebytes scan yesterday and nothing came up and my AVG is saying that it is up to date.
  • cabblescabbles
    DaveMehmet said:

    Stop watching porn

    certainly wasn't last night's highlights, you could've run them on a spectrum
  • AddicktedAddickted
    Have you tried turning it off then on again?
  • DRAddickDRAddick
    edited September 2016
    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?
  • swords_aliveswords_alive
    edited September 2016
    Have had similar issues before. Torrent programmes will do this- basically any programme set to download files through swapping. These are legitimate programme and won't be declared as viruses by anti-virus software. Something else that's caught me out before is lots of use of street view or similar programme where a lot of graphics/ maps are downloading. I think that would include Skype too or other video conferencing software.
    You also might want to consider switching to a 3 all you can eat data package- i suspect they've suggested that already!
  • moutuakillamoutuakilla
    Have you changed your default WiFi passwords, maybe someone is piggybacking your connection?
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  • Clem_SnideClem_Snide
    Assuming it is a Windows Laptop can you start Task Manager, do a screen grab of the processes and applications tabs and post up here - might be able to spot something there.
  • DRAddickDRAddick
    swords_alive said:

    Have had similar issues before. Torrent programmes will do this- basically any programme set to download files through swapping. These are legitimate programme and won't be declared as viruses by anti-virus software. Something else that's caught me out before is lots of use of street view or similar programme where a lot of graphics/ maps are downloading. I think that would include Skype too or other video conferencing software.
    If all else fails you might want to switch to a 3 all you can eat data package- i suspect they've suggested that already!

    Good point about the torrent programmes.
  • CallumcafcCallumcafc
    3gb is a fair chunk to use in a day for most households. Would suggest a decent amount of downloading or content streaming.

    This is a fairly common problem when I assist people in the Three store that I work in. You can request a cap on your data so you never get stung with extra charges in future.

    But it's difficult for us to know what's been chewing through your data without personally shadowing you and your internet habits over an extended period. Even steps such as disabling automatic Windows updates is educated guesswork on a representative's part.
  • CallumcafcCallumcafc
    PS if you're out of contract you can get 20GB for the price of 5GB on 12 and 24 month wifi contracts atm.

    Off the top of my head, it's extra data for a lower monthly cost than the deal you have running currently.

    If you're not out of contract, sorry for rubbing salt into the wounds...
  • LuckyRedsLuckyReds
    edited September 2016
    Jesus Christ, all Three have done is prevent Windows Update and washed their hands? O_o

    If you have anything nasty on your PC that is using your data, then blocking windows update is a bit stupid because it will prevent any updates that close the hole they're using.

    If you don't have anything nasty on your PC that is using your data, then blocking windows update is a good way of getting something; as you won't be receiving security updates.

    Not to mention, when you do finally update your computer - you'll be downloading a huge batch of updates, in contrast to a constant - albeit steady - trickle. I'd complain about that to be entirely honest.
  • ME14addickME14addick
    DRAddick said:

    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?

    One of the first Three technicians told me it is impossible for someone else to use the data and that it wasn't necessary to change the password.
  • iamdaniamdan
    DaveMehmet said:

    Stop watching porn


    Back in the day, watching Debs does Dallas via dial up was a mare, even worse - got cramp in both hamstrings.
  • CallumcafcCallumcafc
    It's possible but only if they've got the password.
  • EastStandEastStand
    ME14addick said:

    DRAddick said:

    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?

    One of the first Three technicians told me it is impossible for someone else to use the data and that it wasn't necessary to change the password.
    First thing I'd do is change all the passwords ME14.
  • ME14addickME14addick
    EastStand said:

    ME14addick said:

    DRAddick said:

    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?

    One of the first Three technicians told me it is impossible for someone else to use the data and that it wasn't necessary to change the password.
    First thing I'd do is change all the passwords ME14.
    When you say change the passwords - is that the sequence of letters I had to input when I first connected to the Three network?
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  • DRAddickDRAddick
    ME14addick said:

    EastStand said:

    ME14addick said:

    DRAddick said:

    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?

    One of the first Three technicians told me it is impossible for someone else to use the data and that it wasn't necessary to change the password.
    First thing I'd do is change all the passwords ME14.
    When you say change the passwords - is that the sequence of letters I had to input when I first connected to the Three network?
    Assuming your computer, phone etc connect to the 3 device by means of a password? If so change that password.
  • ME14addickME14addick
    @Clem_Snide - I've tried to attach a screen shot. It isn't a Windows laptop but a PC. As you've probably guessed I'm not terribly tech savvy so not sure if this will upload!image
  • EastStandEastStand
    ME14addick said:

    EastStand said:

    ME14addick said:

    DRAddick said:

    Depending on what system you have.............Is there a way someone else could be using your wifi? Have you changed the password for your mobile wifi device incase someone has got hold of it and is using your wifi?

    One of the first Three technicians told me it is impossible for someone else to use the data and that it wasn't necessary to change the password.
    First thing I'd do is change all the passwords ME14.
    When you say change the passwords - is that the sequence of letters I had to input when I first connected to the Three network?
    Yes, those are the ones.
  • Clem_SnideClem_Snide
    edited September 2016
    ME14addick said:

    @Clem_Snide - I've tried to attach a screen shot. It isn't a Windows laptop but a PC. As you've probably guessed I'm not terribly tech savvy so not sure if this will upload!image

    Can't see anything there. No network activity. Background processes says 69 items, can you post up the rest of them?

    To be honest Malware Bytes will find almost anything nasty so I'd be surprised if it is a virus.
  • Clem_SnideClem_Snide
    If you are on Windows 10 this link tells you how to check what has been using your data.

    http://www.howtogeek.com/249254/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-using-so-much-data/
  • JohnhumphreyJohnhumphrey
    ME14addick said:

    DaveMehmet said:

    Stop watching porn

    My husband insists he hasn't watched any!!!
    We all say that.
  • AlwaysneilAlwaysneil
    Is there pronography available on the Internet?

    I am going to have to consider dumping my back issues of Razzle (some pages stuck together fm don't know how that happened) and move into the new age.
  • ME14addickME14addick
    Do I have to get Three to change the password - I don't know how to do it myself
  • ME14addickME14addick
    @Clem_Snide - just tried to do another screenshot and now Excel won't open so can't do that at the moment.
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