Do Cable Companies Fake Data Useage

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
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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.

Its almost impossible these days for any daily internet user to stay under 5 gig. With auto run videos embedded everywhere, auto updates and background programs, even those of us who used to stay under 5 gig of 3G service for years, now struggle to stay under 10 gig, or 20 gig if you do occasional streaming.

We must have the same cable company. They show we are using 12 to 15 GB every month. We have 2 computer. Both our iPhone set to use WiFi when in range of router. Plus we have a Kindle. Hard to believe that we use that much data with just browsing and not streaming videos.
Should be a interesting winter. We have AT&T hotspot for our data.
To stop video's from auto playing. On Facebook top bar find a lock on right side. Click on it. In the window that pops up. Click on bottom SEE MORE SETTINGS. This will bring up a list of setting on left side of screen. Click on VIDEO's. Then select the option you want in new box.

DiskDoctr wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

- Do you skype? They use your computer as a node in thier system and will chew thru data if you don't get it turned off when not in use and just closing skype doesn't turn off this feature and it starts up automatically.

Got a link to this info?

If true, it is a theft of services by Skype and a HUGE security risk.

Skype super-node

Dave

You didn't mention your OS. If you have Win 8.x, do you have live tiles turned on and updating? As others have stated, video ads (whether you see them or not) can eat up a lot of data. Are your news videos coming over in HD or SD?

get free software from NetWorx to monitor and measure your actual usage. It worked for me. Answer to question - YES.

valhalla360 wrote:

- Do you skype? They use your computer as a node in thier system and will chew thru data if you don't get it turned off when not in use and just closing skype doesn't turn off this feature and it starts up automatically.

Got a link to this info?

If true, it is a theft of services by Skype and a HUGE security risk.

Many things are possible:
- Video Ads running in the background
- Windows or other programs with automatic updates?
- Someone connecting to your card (change the password and turn off when not using to see what is happening)
- Do you skype? They use your computer as a node in thier system and will chew thru data if you don't get it turned off when not in use and just closing skype doesn't turn off this feature and it starts up automatically.
- Virus/malware?

Windows updates can be sizeable, and use a lot of data
Second Tuesday every month, plus the eng security patches
I have auto update turned off, on my pc

^^^ was going to by my guess as well. A lot of times I don't really notice videos running when I go to a page because I'm not specifically watching them, but they use a good bit of data.

One thing I discovered. If you're on Facebook or any website where videos automatically start (usually an ad), THOSE eat up your data. Even if it's not showing on your screen, they're eating up data as much as if you're watching a movie. Somewhere in your FB options is a box to click off videos. Can't remember how it's done though. :(