I am only marginally computer savvy, so I need some help.I have ATT USB plug in for my internet access.In the past few days I have noticed theta on my device and on my ATT on screen internet manager, there is a download and an up load going on on almost continuously, even when the browser is not connected. (it shows up load and downloading with a symbol) It is using about 1GB a DAY in data!How can I find out what is doing this and stop it? Please keep your answers simple, for I am nowhere near a geek.

There could be many things uploading/downloading during the day without you being aware of it - Windows updates, anti-virus updates, other programs checking in with Mother to see if they have updates.But there are only 2 things I can think of that would eat up that much data in a day: automatic backups to cloud or file sharing (music, movies, etc).

HappyKayakers wrote:There could be many things uploading/downloading during the day without you being aware of it - Windows updates, anti-virus updates, other programs checking in with Mother to see if they have updates.But there are only 2 things I can think of that would eat up that much data in a day: automatic backups to cloud or file sharing (music, movies, etc).x2Shut your computer off when not in use, this will help in data usage when you are not using it. If I am very careful, I can get by on a 15 gig plan from AT&T, when we are on the road for a while, 2 months or more, I kick my plan up to 20 gig a month. Then when we come off the road I go back to the 15 gig plan.

That is a great start. Thanks for the super fast reply. We do not stream anything, or file share anything, that we know of. No movies, TV shows etc. We do not use "cloud" services. How do I find these "background" data uses and disable them?

Have you tried running anti malware. i use malwarebytes. It will usually find something that was installed without your knowledge. i run it about once a week. keeps everything clean and fast. There is a free version easily available online.

I am assuming you are connecting your smart phone to your computer and not using the AT&T sierra module. Go into your smart phone app manager and change the settings on updates. On your computer you can change updates to "notify me of updates" instead of automatic updates. Sometimes they will update stuff you don't really want. On my computer I don't use some of the tool bars, or Bing by microsoft so why should I update them. Plus, take your homescreen off the home page like CNN or Foxnews. Use outlook on your computer to check your e-mail instead of going to the ATT site. I check my news on "news myway". I am probably getting too old. Had my smart phone for about 2 years and hate it. When I'm not charging the battery I am swearing at it. LOL. Has some great features but like my laptop better using it with the ATT sierra module and the Verizon Jetpack module. We use about 15 GB a month. DW is going to keep her smart phone and I am going back to a flip phone that I don't have to charge twice a day. BTW I use Firefox, ghostery and adblock plus on the laptop. Amazing how much less data I use and still go to the sites I want to view. JMHO

Unknown Data Use | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

dockmasterdave
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
Have you tried running anti malware. i use malwarebytes. It will usually find something that was installed without your knowledge. i run it about once a week. keeps everything clean and fast. There is a free version easily available online.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
That is a great start. Thanks for the super fast reply.

We do not stream anything, or file share anything, that we know of. No movies, TV shows etc. We do not use "cloud" services.

How do I find these "background" data uses and disable them?
Grandpere
Explorer
Jul 18, 2014
HappyKayakers wrote:
There could be many things uploading/downloading during the day without you being aware of it - Windows updates, anti-virus updates, other programs checking in with Mother to see if they have updates.

But there are only 2 things I can think of that would eat up that much data in a day: automatic backups to cloud or file sharing (music, movies, etc).

x2

Shut your computer off when not in use, this will help in data usage when you are not using it. If I am very careful, I can get by on a 15 gig plan from AT&T, when we are on the road for a while, 2 months or more, I kick my plan up to 20 gig a month. Then when we come off the road I go back to the 15 gig plan.
HappyKayakers
Explorer III
Jul 18, 2014
There could be many things uploading/downloading during the day without you being aware of it - Windows updates, anti-virus updates, other programs checking in with Mother to see if they have updates.

But there are only 2 things I can think of that would eat up that much data in a day: automatic backups to cloud or file sharing (music, movies, etc).

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Unknown Data Use

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