200MB downloaded while I'm asleep and the computer's are in Vista sleep.

[simondrury]

Seeing surprisingly high bandwidth usage in the last month or so - 7GB last month (btw, recently joined IDNet and think they're great). Today I saw that I had downloaded 200MB between midnight and 9am, when I was in bed or having breakfast!

My wireless router is encrypted. I had completed the Vista SP1 upgrades last week, and don't download large files apart from the very occasional 100MB game trial, but none in the last week. I had BBC iplayer installed, but have not downloaded anything (now removed just in case).

Spoke to IDNet helpline and they suggested that I post a request for a freeware bandwidth monitor to use at my end so I can try to work out what's going on - can anyone help please?

Thanks

Simon.

[Rik]

Hi Simon, welcome to the forum.

If you're only running a single machine, Netmeter should do the job for you. If you're not running the computer at night, then powering down the router might be a quick way to establish whether your router is being compromised in any way. (Which router are you using?)

[Simon]

Hi Simon,

What level of security do you have on your router, and have you changed from the default user name and password?

Also was the computer on at the time of the downloads?  I'm just wondering if it might have been Windows Updates?

[Inactive]

Welcome to yet another Simon, have a welcome Karma..

[Simon]

Oops!  Just re-read your post.  I'll get me coat!

By the way, 

[Sebby]

It could just be a case of the times being wrong on the bandwidth usage logs (though the actual usage being correct). As others have mentioned, try one of the free utilities to put your mind at rest. It certainly doesn't sound like there's room for unauthorised access.

[simondrury]

Thanks for the very quick responses!

I'm using a BT 1250 Home Hub (the 2wire one), firewalled and using wep with a unique username and password. There are two computers on our home network, and neither downloaded anything from W. Update last night.

I've downloaded and installed Netmeter on my computer - any reason why I can't do the same on the wife's? Does the Netmeter bottom axis (time) just keep extending to reflect the time it is active?

Thanks

Simon.

[Sebby]

WEP is a very weak form of encryption (I'm not sure if that particular router offers anything stronger). That said, I'd say it's still quite unlikely that someone else is using your connection unbeknown to you.

I've never used Netmeter myself, but I'm sure someone else'll know the answer.

[Rik]

Hi Simon

I haven't used Netmeter for a long time, but it used to maintain a fixed but sliding X axis, ie a fixed period of time is displayed, on a rolling clock. You can use it on both machines, but be aware it will record any LAN traffic between them as well as any internet traffic, iow, it's measuring packets, it doesn't discriminate about where they have come from.

As Sebby says, WEP is weak, and can be cracked in just a few seconds. I'd suggest checking for any unknown machines in the router interface.

[Steve]

Hi Simon

Could try Net Graph

http://www.vwlowen.co.uk/moreinternet/files.htm

It draws a time scale graph, but only from your local network adaptor

[Rik]

I didn't know John had produced that one, thanks Steve.  

[simondrury]

Thanks everyone - will try some monitoring software as advised, and also try turning off the router overnight.

Unlikely that anyone has cracked my wep and is piggybacking as I live in the countryside in the middle of nowhere!

You've all been very welcoming and very helpful - the IDNet experience just keeps getting better.

Simon.

[Rik]

Hi Simon

Have you checked whether the sheep use notebooks?

[simondrury]

don't think so, although I thought I recognized a couple of dancing pigs on You Tube recently...

[Rik]

  You're getting the feel of the place, I can tell.

[madasahatter]

don't think so, although I thought I recognized a couple of dancing pigs on You Tube recently...

We like you - you're going to fit right in 

[J!ll]

Hi Simon  I do hope you'll behave! unlike some here! 

[madasahatter]

Hi Simon  I do hope you'll behave! unlike some here! 

Now who could you be meaning Jill? 

[Baz]

don't think so, although I thought I recognized a couple of dancing pigs on You Tube recently...

WOOAHHHH!!!!!!!  dont mention pigs. I had a worrying dream once about a pack of pigs running down the street outside the front of my house. they ended up jumping over fences and attacking dogs and kids.



think I need help 

[Rik]

Just sit back on the couch, Baz, and tell me of your first memories.

[Captain K]

We like you - you're going to fit right in 

I dunno Mad - a whole page (nearly) and he hasn't mentioned food!

Welcome Simon! 

[Baz]

Just sit back on the couch, Baz, and tell me of your first memories.

its the fence in my attic room doctor, hurt when I touched it, little hands burnt, hurt, made me jump back, hurting all the time, just want some food, mammy.........................

[D-Dan]

Hey - it's a fence we ALL sit on at some point.

[Dopamine]

Your problem sounds very much like it's caused by BBC iPlayer.

I use it very occasionally and recently discovered that if I start a program download and then pause that download, the download recommences as soon as I exit iPlayer. All iPlayer windows and programs appear to be shut, task manager on XP shows no iPlayer applications running, yet the download continues. The only way to stop the download is either to cancel it completely and manually delete the partial file from iPlayer's download folder, or keep the iPlayer Download Manager application running with the download paused. The problem with doing that though is that uploads continue to be made to others, and can't be stopped.

iPlayer seems to be the worst sort of P2P app. around, in as much as it's almost entirely preconfigured with few options available to the end user. Downloads when running swamp my connection so that I can't browse elsewhere, send or download emails, etc. without a long delay, and I have no way of specifying what percentage of my bandwidth I want the app to use. The app. is a victim of having been over simplified so as not to confuse the majority.

I run Netmeter, and it was that that drew my attention to the hidden activity of iPlayer.

[Thirles]

To switch off kserver at least on an XP machine

Start -> Run
type msconfig
select the services tab and check the Hide All Microsoft Services
find KService and uncheck it
select the Startup tab
find KHALMNPR.EXE and uncheck that

Now go back to streaming and remember what you watched so you never need to keep a copy and don't have to upload it to a million others.

[Rik]

Useful info, guys, thanks. 

[simondrury]

Thanks again everyone. I've also removed iplayer as a potential cause (never used it anyway - PVR's are far easier and more flexible in my opinion).

Just have to watch and wait now...

Simon.

[Rik]

Let us know how you get on will you, Simon?

[simondrury]

sure - will do.

[Malc]

Hi Simon  I do hope you'll behave! unlike some here! 

Just can't control Rik

[Rik]

Sue's been trying for years.