Forum Discussion

5thwheeleroldma's avatar
5thwheeleroldma
Explorer
Oct 30, 2014

Do Cable Companies Fake Data Useage

My cable company website says I have been using around 12 gigabytes/month of data lately for my internet service. This sounds weird as we don't stream movies or download photos. We send maybe 2 -3 emails per day, perhaps surf the web a couple hours max per day, maybe view a 3 minute news video a couple times a week. I had thought my data useage would run around 4 gigabytes/month.

It wouldn't matter as the cable co has a max of 250 GB/month. However I am ordering the Verizon hotspot and thought their 5gb/mo would be plenty.
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2014
    It does sound like someone is piggybacking off your service. Do you have your router locked down with WPA2? Do you live in a subdivision with homes nearby that could be poaching?
  • bwanshoom's avatar
    bwanshoom
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2014
    2oldman wrote:
    Your account should have a daily use log online.
    That would definitely depend on the ISP. For example, FIOS has no way of showing data usage.
  • 5thwheeleroldma's avatar
    5thwheeleroldma
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2014
    Yeah, I have a wireless router; have to see if I can change the password on it; forgot how. Also I have Stopzilla as a security program and they do seem to be continually updating things. Maybe I should delete them and just use the freebies.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2014
    Do you have a wireless router?
    Could someone be leeching off of it?
    Change the password on the wireless router.
    Download a good internet monitor to see what is going on. I have no recommendation on a GOOD monitor
  • paulcardoza's avatar
    paulcardoza
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2014
    How many and what type devices do you have attached to your network? Are any of them set for automatic updates? A lot can be happening in background that you are unaware of.
  • tonyandkaren's avatar
    tonyandkaren
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2014
    That does seem really high. As fulltimers our hotspot is our only source of internet except whenever we run into some free WiFi. We use 5-6 G a month but I am online at least 4 hours a day, do a lot of research, and post to a blog almost daily. You may be using 12G if you have programs that are automatically updating or running in the background even when you're not using them.

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