Broadband - tracing data being used by 'others'?
Discussion
AW10 said:
Apols if you already know this but ipads and iphones use data 24/7 unless they're actually turned off as opposed to just a short button pass to put it into standby.
Also consider intalling data monitors on individual devices to see how much they use.
Indeed, an Android device set to auto-update apps or podcasts/etc. could cause a relatively significant dent in the 3GB monthly allowance.Also consider intalling data monitors on individual devices to see how much they use.
AW10 said:
Apols if you already know this but ipads and iphones use data 24/7 unless they're actually turned off as opposed to just a short button pass to put it into standby.
Also consider intalling data monitors on individual devices to see how much they use.
Yeah first thing we did when we noticed the problem was check Dad was actually turning them off and not putting them in standby, no such luck for a simple solution, all properly off.Also consider intalling data monitors on individual devices to see how much they use.
Would this help:
https://www.gargoyle-router.com/
Assign all of their devices static IPs, set them to be allowed to do what they want, and block/restrict all traffic from the DHCP pool?
I bought the TP-Link Wr1403ND router, for £12.50 on ebay. Sorted our problem with guests blowing our download limit, now they get 500mb/day and then cut off. I'd never got that in-depth before but it was very easy.
https://www.gargoyle-router.com/
Assign all of their devices static IPs, set them to be allowed to do what they want, and block/restrict all traffic from the DHCP pool?
I bought the TP-Link Wr1403ND router, for £12.50 on ebay. Sorted our problem with guests blowing our download limit, now they get 500mb/day and then cut off. I'd never got that in-depth before but it was very easy.
chris1roll said:
Would this help:
https://www.gargoyle-router.com/
Assign all of their devices static IPs, set them to be allowed to do what they want, and block/restrict all traffic from the DHCP pool?
I bought the TP-Link Wr1403ND router, for £12.50 on ebay. Sorted our problem with guests blowing our download limit, now they get 500mb/day and then cut off. I'd never got that in-depth before but it was very easy.
Cheers, unfortunatley they've just spent quite a bit on a highish end wifi router so that suggestion would go down like a lead balloon if I said I was taking it back out lol. https://www.gargoyle-router.com/
Assign all of their devices static IPs, set them to be allowed to do what they want, and block/restrict all traffic from the DHCP pool?
I bought the TP-Link Wr1403ND router, for £12.50 on ebay. Sorted our problem with guests blowing our download limit, now they get 500mb/day and then cut off. I'd never got that in-depth before but it was very easy.
schmunk said:
Indeed, an Android device set to auto-update apps or podcasts/etc. could cause a relatively significant dent in the 3GB monthly allowance.
Yep, 3 gigs is a pretty paltry allowance for 2 people and if they also have mobile devices (phones, tablets) and maybe some other network connected gadgets like SmartTVs or the like, then they are going to have problems staying within the allowance every month if they also want to do some typical web surfing on top of all the data that the 'always-on' devices will be transferring.Easiest solution for the OP is to get his parents to spend a few quid to update to a higher-cap or 'unlimited' package and stop obsessing over trying to stay within a ridiculously low arbitrary data limit.
BenM77 said:
What do they use for TV?
A TV 
The 3 gig was never even close to being bridged before the leeching of data started happening, they rarely used 1 gig a month for a whole year with all the devices.
The point isn't that they're going over the limit, the point is the limit is being used by someone other than them.
furtive said:
I bet it isn't, unless you have used WEP on the WiFi security settings in which case it's your own fault.
It will be something in the house using it. Windows updates, tablets slurping data in the background, etc.
no it's not wep, it's WPA2 on a hidden SSID and if you read the rest of the thread, the data is being used with EVERYTHING in the house capable of using it being turned off with the exception of the router.It will be something in the house using it. Windows updates, tablets slurping data in the background, etc.
I have read the thread - despite being asked several times if you are using WPA, you had failed to reply to that question until now...
You should be able to see which devices are connected in the router settings.
Change the WiFi password to something hard to guess but don't change the password on any of your devices and see if any data gets used. Then add each device one at a time until you find out which one is slurping all the data.
I would be very surprised if someone is hijacking your wifi connection if you are using WPA.
Do they have any powerline ethernet adaptors plugged in?
You should be able to see which devices are connected in the router settings.
Change the WiFi password to something hard to guess but don't change the password on any of your devices and see if any data gets used. Then add each device one at a time until you find out which one is slurping all the data.
I would be very surprised if someone is hijacking your wifi connection if you are using WPA.
Do they have any powerline ethernet adaptors plugged in?
furtive said:
I have read the thread - despite being asked several times if you are using WPA, you had failed to reply to that question until now...
You should be able to see which devices are connected in the router settings.
Change the WiFi password to something hard to guess but don't change the password on any of your devices and see if any data gets used. Then add each device one at a time until you find out which one is slurping all the data.
I would be very surprised if someone is hijacking your wifi connection if you are using WPA.
Do they have any powerline ethernet adaptors plugged in?
the comment was more aimed at things being on - just saying I know that it's nothing in their house as it's all been completely shut down when data is going. We did change the password, for a short while no data was used, then it started again. Same as when we changed the router for a new one, a few weeks of no data usage, then it started back up again. You should be able to see which devices are connected in the router settings.
Change the WiFi password to something hard to guess but don't change the password on any of your devices and see if any data gets used. Then add each device one at a time until you find out which one is slurping all the data.
I would be very surprised if someone is hijacking your wifi connection if you are using WPA.
Do they have any powerline ethernet adaptors plugged in?
No powerline adaptors, they have two Netgear Extenders at either end of the house, both off when data has been used. My dad is Mr Anal about things being turned off at the socket when they're not in the house, it took me best part of a year to convince them that they should leave the router on, other than the fridge /freezer, if they leave the house EVERYTHING is shut down. At the moment we are running a test with wifi being turned off as well on the router when they're not in - the problem is they have a burst of high use, with gb's being used in a few days, then nothing for a couple of weeks, so tests have to be over quiet a period to ascertain if they've made any difference!
furtive said:
I bet it isn't, unless you have used WEP on the WiFi security settings in which case it's your own fault.
It will be something in the house using it. Windows updates, tablets slurping data in the background, etc.
I guess there's an outside chance that a computer has been hijacked by a trojan/virus and the machine is now part of a botnet.It will be something in the house using it. Windows updates, tablets slurping data in the background, etc.
No sneaky grandchildren, no. We were wondering if it's possible that one of the neighbours PC's were infected with something and access was being gained through those, we don't think they have the inclination or aptitude to do it themselves, but wondered if someone may be using their equipment to do so (reason being for two weeks they were both away and no data was used at all)
Davi said:
No sneaky grandchildren, no. We were wondering if it's possible that one of the neighbours PC's were infected with something and access was being gained through those, we don't think they have the inclination or aptitude to do it themselves, but wondered if someone may be using their equipment to do so (reason being for two weeks they were both away and no data was used at all)
Have any of the neighbours visited and brought their gadgetry with them, and connected it to the problem router ? If so - there's your answer. They're picking up the "wrong" signal and connecting to it automatically at times (e.g. when at the end of the garden, other side of their house from their router etc.)
marshalla said:
Have any of the neighbours visited and brought their gadgetry with them, and connected it to the problem router ?
If so - there's your answer. They're picking up the "wrong" signal and connecting to it automatically at times (e.g. when at the end of the garden, other side of their house from their router etc.)
No unfortunately not, would be a nice simple solution, but they're not that social lol.If so - there's your answer. They're picking up the "wrong" signal and connecting to it automatically at times (e.g. when at the end of the garden, other side of their house from their router etc.)
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