Data Usage Tracking Program????
Long time listener, first time caller . . . .
Well, not quite, but I am an infrequent poster, except when I have a problem.
The short question is whether there is an application or program that will identify my data usage through my WI-FI.
The long explanation is that I live in the boondocks and have no access to DSL, cable, or satellite (I guess I do have satellite access, but no subscription). At the first of this year, we signed up for a data plan through Verizon for shared usage of 8G data for our WI-FI (Verizon Jetpack 4G) and multiple smart phones. The WI-FI is used by my wife’s laptop, my desktop, and a wireless printer. We had no problem keeping within the data plan for the first six months. However, in the past few month, I have been getting huge blocks (e.g., 1.5G) of data usage on random days.
I believe I have isolated the large blocks of data usage to my desktop. During the first six months of the year, I would leave the WI-FI connected to the desktop and even leave my web browser (Mozilla Firefox) open. There was no problem. But in the last few months, I started getting data usage blocks of approximately 1.5G. I cannot correlate the data usage to downloading movies, streaming videos, or any other activity. It appears to be random. I do not intentionally download huge files from my desktop (I try to update applications such as itunes at work; I also try to update my iphone apps when connected to free WI-FI. In other words, I have been frugal with my data usage).
By disconnecting my desktop from the WI-FI, I have lessened, but not eliminated the problem. So my questions is whether there is any way to identify exactly what website or program is causing these huge data usages.
I believe there is virtually zero possibility that my neighbors (who are too far away) or strangers have hacked my password protected WI-FI. The huge blocks of data usage are from the WI-FI, not from one of the smart phones sharing the data plan.
Any suggestions?
I can download a spreadsheet of the exact data usage if someone believes it might be helpful.
Well, not quite, but I am an infrequent poster, except when I have a problem.
The short question is whether there is an application or program that will identify my data usage through my WI-FI.
The long explanation is that I live in the boondocks and have no access to DSL, cable, or satellite (I guess I do have satellite access, but no subscription). At the first of this year, we signed up for a data plan through Verizon for shared usage of 8G data for our WI-FI (Verizon Jetpack 4G) and multiple smart phones. The WI-FI is used by my wife’s laptop, my desktop, and a wireless printer. We had no problem keeping within the data plan for the first six months. However, in the past few month, I have been getting huge blocks (e.g., 1.5G) of data usage on random days.
I believe I have isolated the large blocks of data usage to my desktop. During the first six months of the year, I would leave the WI-FI connected to the desktop and even leave my web browser (Mozilla Firefox) open. There was no problem. But in the last few months, I started getting data usage blocks of approximately 1.5G. I cannot correlate the data usage to downloading movies, streaming videos, or any other activity. It appears to be random. I do not intentionally download huge files from my desktop (I try to update applications such as itunes at work; I also try to update my iphone apps when connected to free WI-FI. In other words, I have been frugal with my data usage).
By disconnecting my desktop from the WI-FI, I have lessened, but not eliminated the problem. So my questions is whether there is any way to identify exactly what website or program is causing these huge data usages.
I believe there is virtually zero possibility that my neighbors (who are too far away) or strangers have hacked my password protected WI-FI. The huge blocks of data usage are from the WI-FI, not from one of the smart phones sharing the data plan.
Any suggestions?
I can download a spreadsheet of the exact data usage if someone believes it might be helpful.
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Comments
As for a program to show itemized traffic reports on your network, I am not aware of one, but I am not an IT guy.
The last option would look like this:
Internet > modem > PC w/ traffic analysis and routing software > (wireless) router > other devices
The simplest solution will hopefully be built in to your existing router, so can you describe your current setup, including model numbers where applicable?
Tushon--My WI-FI is a Wireless Verizon Jetpack™ 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 890L. All devices use the wireless connection to the WI-FI. My system looks like this:
PC --------------------\
Laptop ------------------ WI-FI ---------------- Internet
Other devices -------/
I'm not familiar with NetLimiter, but you could try installing to both your PC and Laptop to monitor them. There's probably a smartphone app to track all data usage (including wi-fi). I use one for tracking mobile data called 3G Watchdog, but it doesn't log wi-fi usage that I know of.
For your network usage spike, there could be a few sources. One could be a program that auto-updates (such as Steam, for example. TF2 updates alone are big on data). Another could be the effects of a virus -- be sure all your devices have anti-malware software, that they're up to date (both virus definitions and the program's overall version), and then do a manual full scan. I also recommend getting the free version of MalwareBytes and running a manual full scan (the free version doesn't auto-scan, so you can use it without conflicting with your existing anti-malware software).
One last option: in theory you could funnel your data wirelessly from the Jetpack to a wi-fi router with DD-WRT or Tomato (replacement router operating systems) installed on it. The router would act as a repeater or bridge. Other things would then connect to the router rather than the Jetpack. I don't know if the extra radio interference would be a problem and it's not the most efficient solution, but it would definitely wrangle ALL your devices at once, and would offer an extra layer of protection against outside attacks thanks to the router.
Hope that helps, and I invite comments to sound off against mine as I'm not a networking expert.
UNTIL this morning. Caught another 1.32 GB data usage entry. Checked my NetLimiter log and there is no corresponding usage. NetLimiter shows total usage of around 81 MB on the 16th and 30 MB today.
My question is does anyone know how fool-proof NetLimiter is? Can I safely rule out my desktop as the source of the data usage? I just installed NetLimiter on my wife's laptop. If it is not my desktop, it must be a wireless printer (do not see how it could use that much data), my wife's laptop, or a stranger to the system.