Device /software to monitor broadband usage

[carielge]

Hi, My kids are zapping our broadband usage and going over our limit. They don't use it all the time and I do know which sites they use but not which ones use the most broadband. Can anyone recommend a device/software that can monitor specifically when the usage goes up?  I have looked at the IDNet Broadband usage for my account but that will only do it daily.  They don't download films and the occasional piece of music so I know it's not that.  Many thanks

[Simon]

Hi, and  

Someone will be along to help you with this soon, but in the meantime, have you checked your machine for spyware, or anything that might be using your connection without your knowledge?  I assume your router is secure?

[Ray]

 

[Bill]

Have a look at Netmeter:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Bandwidth-Tools/NetMeter.shtml

There are some reports that it won't work on Win7 (64-bit, not sure about 32-bit). It has to be installed on the computer(s) you want to monitor, and if you've got a LAN it will measure the total LAN traffic on that machine, not just that to/from the internet.

It's a nice little program though, I just wish there were a Mac version

[DorsetBoy]

NETWORX is an excellent tool, I have found it extremely useful as I have a young man that uses bandwidth like it's free.

The other superb tool which is very underused is Microsoft Live ...... first give each child their own user account and use the account settings to limit their activity,there are timers to set times the machine will work for them,then go to WINDOWS LIVE FAMILY SAFETY CENTER

where you can set limits,content type and ban specific domains.  I can tell you from experience that YOUTUBE and any other video streaming site will be the culprits, my son was using up to 6GB a day before I blocked YouTube and reduced the hours his PC will run per day.

[Rik]

Another one to try is the ThinkBroadband meter:

http://www.thinkbroadband.com/tbbmeter.html

Welcome to the forum.

[Technical Ben]

NETWORX ...my son was using up to 6GB a day before I blocked YouTube and reduced the hours his PC will run per day.

Wow, even BBC iplayer takes a while to use up that much space (although I'm not counting High Deff video). How many music videos is that? 

[carielge]

Gosh, thanks for all the replies and welcomes to the site - pleased to meet y'all!  Yes router is secure and have the all powerful 'Norton' to protect us. I know many people don't like them but they really have stopped us from some nasty viruses.  Will look into the products mentioned and see what they offer. We know Youtube, iplayer etc use alot of bandwidth but not sure about Runescape, Facebook etc. I've limited them on Spotify but would like to give them clearer guidelines.
Thanks again

[Tacitus]

.... I just wish there were a Mac version

You could try Net Monitor.  Not free but a useful utility.

Note though that most, if not all these utilities measure what goes to and from the NIC card. So they include all traffic on the LAN.