What Is Using My Internet?

John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 16:25
Last edited 22/05/2022 - 21:35

Hi All,

Hoping for some tech help, does anyone know how I can monitor or setup an alert if my downloads on my home network exceed a certain limit in a time frame? Or have any idea what is going on with my internet?

I have the 1st gen Google WiFi using Aussie Broadband HFC 25/10, and just in the last month the ABB app is saying we've downloaded over 175GB on 3 separate days (1st, 10th and 18th May). As per below this is extremely unusual. The only thing we usually do is streaming.

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/190487/95896/sketch-16…

If I check my device list via Google Home I cannot see anything that comes close to downloading that much on those days.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
DJK

EDIT: Contacted ABB and they responded that they've recently had issues with incorrect data usage readings and refunded me the upgrade fee.

Computing Broadband nbn

Comments

  • moar bargains on 21/05/2022 - 16:39

    What devices do you have on your network? I'm not familiar with Google Wifi, but routers often have a page to tell you what's connected.

    Possible OS updates for several devices?

    • John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 16:42
      -1

      Not much, work laptops, phones, tablets, chromecasts, smart speakers, IP cameras, smart lights/plugs…

      • chcse on 21/05/2022 - 16:46

        Does your work laptop automatically update and sync? Mine does, as it doesn't save anything locally to the laptop but constantly syncs to the network servers (?). Then the many video calls will cause a significant chunk of data usage (although not in the hundreds of GBs).

        Also, maybe IP camera is hacked and someone is spying on you so it's constantly uploading a feed? :D

        • John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 16:48

          I have checked the usage of those devices and it doesn't sync up.

    • HeWhoKnows on 22/05/2022 - 20:53
      +3

      Dear John old buddy

      First thing to do is to change your password under "Wireless" or similar name
      Then change/update the new password in all your devices
      Make sure it contains letters, upper and lower case, numbers and symbols such as @ or & or # or *
      Minimum of 8 characters
      Do NOT use family names and DOBs

      Then set up a second line of security in your router
      Dont rely on just the password to allow access as people can crack passwords to gain access
      You will find the second line of security under "wireless" or simlar name

      Look for "MAC address filter" or similar under Wireless
      You must add the MAC addresss of each device you are using there and then select ALLOW
      This means that devices with those MAC addresses are the only ones allowed access, with or wothout Password access.
      Of course you need to look up your connected devices to find the correct MAC addresses
      Its best to first disconnect/turn off all wireless connected devices including Smart TVs
      Then turn them on one by one so you know the connected dvice is one of yours.
      Ask Mr Google how to set up MAC address filtering on your modem/router as well as identifying the MAC address of all connected devices.

      After you have bumped up your security THEN go which hunting

      The other thing you might consider doing up upgrade to an UNLIMITED plan
      I checked the Aussie Braodband web site and its only $4/mth more to upgrade from 500GB/mth to UNLIMITED for your plan speed

      PM me if you need further assistance

      Hope this router security advise helps you John as well as other OBs

      • John Kimble on 22/05/2022 - 21:32

        Thanks for the detailed response.

        A scenario like this did cross my mind.

        Excuse my ignorance, but this would mean one of my neighbours would be using my WiFi? It can't be anyone from around the world?

        Wouldn't I see their device in my devices list?

        Yes, I pay $65 a month, we usually average 300GB a month, when we occasionally go over legitimately, I pay the $4 extra.

        • HeWhoKnows on 25/05/2022 - 13:35

          John Its just a security precaution.
          Best not to try to analyse the situation.
          Witch hunting can be very time consuming and might not yield any results.
          And if it does what do you do about it other than apply the suggestyed measures anyway.

          To recap…:
          1. Add additional security to your wireless system.(MAC address filtering-Allow)
          2. Pay the extra $5 and upgade to unlimited so its not an issue any more.

          • John Kimble on 26/05/2022 - 00:02

            @HeWhoKnows: Not meant for a witch hunt, just wanting to understand the probability of it happening.

            Pretty sure Google WiFi can't do MAC address filtering stuff?

  • FeedingTheSnail on 21/05/2022 - 16:45
    +6

    If you've checked your Router logs and can't see that you've downloaded that much, then call AussieBroadband.

    Over the last few months, there have been posts on Whirlpool by several users that the AussieBroadband app has been over reporting customer usage by a significant amount.

    One of the days in April, it reported that I used over 2400GB's. Lucky I'm on an unlimited plan, as others on Whirlpool who encountered the same error had their speeds capped.

  • Ori0n on 21/05/2022 - 17:22

    At what definition are you streaming and for how long? Streaming can use up to 7GB an hour per device. You'd be surprised how easily it adds up.

    • John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 17:28

      No idea, but we've not changed anything and past usage hasn't ever been so high and so "spiky". Plus checking the usage of our streaming devices it doesn't match up.

  • MS Paint on 21/05/2022 - 17:27
    +4

    Call ABB. There is a well known glitch in their data usage software. They will fix it.

    • John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 17:29

      Thanks, first time this has happened to me, been with ABB for many years.

      • MS Paint on 21/05/2022 - 18:33
        +2

        Happened to me last 2 months. Resolved by tech support quickly.

    • Clear on 21/05/2022 - 19:58

      I'll have to call them because they said I was transferring 40TB in their peak hours when it was actually 20TB. /s it was a fair call.

  • pacer4000 on 21/05/2022 - 17:31
    +1

    I'm with ABB and I had the same issue this month, one day my downloads were triple my average usage, which then used my quota and caused my data to be shaped.

    Called them and they upgraded my plan to unlimited for the rest of the month.

    Definitely a problem at their end. Call them OP.

  • c64 on 21/05/2022 - 17:39
    +3

    someone's been naughty downloading pron

  • Transient on 21/05/2022 - 19:18

    I use NetSpeedMonitor. Sits on my toolbar and shows uploads and downloads in kB/s in in real time. Also shows usage for day and month. However does not have warnings for usage. Other apps might but you might also need to pay for it.

  • Cave Fire on 21/05/2022 - 19:37

    happened to people I know. They had their home network usage counted as Isp data w/ Telstra.

  • seraphim2017 on 21/05/2022 - 20:38

    Console updating overnight? Games are insanely large, I leave the Series X on overnight if it's downloading as I'm on a trash 50Mb/s at best FTTN.

    Not with ABB so could be specific to their data monitoring software?

    • John Kimble on 21/05/2022 - 20:47

      Only have a Switch (forgot to list that previously).

  • Jugganautx on 21/05/2022 - 20:53

    Any streaming service is going to chew through your data like butter.

    Every time you watch a video you are downloading it, you just aren't saving it.

  • Guerilla89 on 21/05/2022 - 22:59
    +1

    You can monitor all the network usage if you are willing to connect everything to a pfsense computer as your gateway and just pass it from there out to your modem/router.

    https://www.pfsense.org/download/
    https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/monitoring/graphs…

    Alternatively just get monitoring software for every device.

    On Windows you should be able to actually just open settings and search for "data usage" and then open the overview.
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/46877/win…
    Previously I liked networx for Windows:
    https://www.softperfect.com/products/networx/

  • Ramrunner on 22/05/2022 - 19:09
    +1

    If you are ever in the market in the future for another router - there's actually quite a few that will break this down for you quite easily.

    As an example I have a UDM Pro and since I got it I've been able to pinpoint everything that goes over my network and on a per-device basis.

    Used it 5 minutes ago in fact as the firewall DPI was noticing some traffic classified as threats and showed me my son's XPS as the culprit with something on port 6881 (bitTorrent port). You can break down each device on your network per hour/day/week or arbitrary dates in the calendar and see exactly what kind of traffic and how much.

    As an example - kids are home today so:

    Netflix earns top spot with 32.9Gb
    Disney Plus next with 17.4Gb
    TikTok 1.15Gb
    Youtube 981Mb

    etc.

    Pretty insane and cool info at my fingertips.

    • Indiana1501 on 23/05/2022 - 20:30

      I'm intrigued (Read I'm a newbie) The UDM Pro appears to be hard wire only. How do you monitor Wifi traffic? Assume the UDM Pro sits on the other side of your modem or ? Thanx!

      • Ramrunner on 24/05/2022 - 08:02
        +1

        I have a UAP-AC-PRO down the back half of the house and a UAP-NANO-HD at the front half. Covers my house 100% no black spots with a single, fast, very reliable WiFi blanket. Includes all around my house in the garden all the way down to the gate 20 odd metres away.

        You can get the NON-PRO version (the Ubiquiti Dream Machine) also that has the same software and I'd dare say most of the functionality for cheaper and that has built in WiFi.

        I have no modem. I'm on Fixed Wireless so the UDM Pro goes straight into the NBN NTD in the wall. I have clients with these devices and they just have a cheap but reliable modem in bridge mode between the wall and the UDM.

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