Verizon WiFi issues

[riptides]

Update. I spoke to a lady at Verizon and asked about my usage problem. She said that there is no way that they can figure out what is using all the data from their location and that I needed to turn off the MiFi Jetpack when I'm done with it and turn it on when I want to use it. Not what I wanted to hear, but simple enough to do. Just a delay every time I turn on the computer to wait for it to start working again.

The first two months I did this, there was a significant decline in my usage and I was able to stay under 20 gigs a month. I think this is crazy because I don't download movies or anything, but with Karen working on her PhD, she downloads a fair amount of stuff. I don't know what her usage is, but before getting the WiFi, my usage was less then a quarter of this.

In the last two months I've noticed that after turning off the Jetpack, when I go to turn it back on, it's already on. I've gotten to the point that I have the computer on and I turn off the Jetpack while watching the screen to see when I lose my internet connection. Then I turn off the computer and go to work or to bed. Sometimes when I go to turn it on, it's already on!!!!

This month, 20 days into my billing cycle, I'm already over 20 gigs. Half a gig per day. There have been quite a few days when all I've used it is in the morning when I eat breakfast and have my cup of coffee. I haven't used it in the evening because of all that's been going on with Christmas. My usage should be way down, but it's increased.

Who is using something other then Verizon? What program do you use to figure out your wifi usage?

Eddie

You are not going to get route/usage data off these commercial devices. They work in memory for "paths".

A firewall and server in the network will get you the data you seek.

Or, like you have found, you are back to inspecting each device, backups, updates, location services, etc. etc.

 

[Soundguy]

We see exactly the same with a straightlk WiFi pack (rebranded Verizon)

Seemingly if it is on, its using data...

If you have an android device on that connection, download fing

See. Your connections

Update. I spoke to a lady at Verizon and asked about my usage problem. She said that there is no way that they can figure out what is using all the data from their location and that I needed to turn off the MiFi Jetpack when I'm done with it and turn it on when I want to use it. Not what I wanted to hear, but simple enough to do. Just a delay every time I turn on the computer to wait for it to start working again.

The first two months I did this, there was a significant decline in my usage and I was able to stay under 20 gigs a month. I think this is crazy because I don't download movies or anything, but with Karen working on her PhD, she downloads a fair amount of stuff. I don't know what her usage is, but before getting the WiFi, my usage was less then a quarter of this.

In the last two months I've noticed that after turning off the Jetpack, when I go to turn it back on, it's already on. I've gotten to the point that I have the computer on and I turn off the Jetpack while watching the screen to see when I lose my internet connection. Then I turn off the computer and go to work or to bed. Sometimes when I go to turn it on, it's already on!!!!

This month, 20 days into my billing cycle, I'm already over 20 gigs. Half a gig per day. There have been quite a few days when all I've used it is in the morning when I eat breakfast and have my cup of coffee. I haven't used it in the evening because of all that's been going on with Christmas. My usage should be way down, but it's increased.

Who is using something other then Verizon? What program do you use to figure out your wifi usage?

Eddie

 

[newbury]

<snip>

In the last two months I've noticed that after turning off the Jetpack, when I go to turn it back on, it's already on. I've gotten to the point that I have the computer on and I turn off the Jetpack while watching the screen to see when I lose my internet connection. Then I turn off the computer and go to work or to bed. Sometimes when I go to turn it on, it's already on!!!!
<snip>

How do you " turn off the Jetpack"? Try putting it on a switched outlet or switched power strip. There should be no way in Hades it could turn itself on.

For tracking there are a number tools inherent with windoze, but you really need some sysadmin training to make good use of them. In the computer management UI you can write event logs and track them.

If you just run task manager you can watch the usage real time.

Pay attention to the services, sometimes hackers use program name almost identical to valid services.

And realize if you load a valid software package it will often try to load other programs. SWMBO at one time had like 5 different search engines running which she didn't realize had been installed.

 

[MikePA]

Who is using something other then Verizon? What program do you use to figure out your wifi usage?

To state the obvious, installing software on your devices won't tell you if someone else is using your MiFi.

Would it be feasible to turn off all your devices for a day to see if usage drops to zero?

An alternative is to change the MiFi password and only change the password on one of your devices as a way of trying to identify if it's one of your devices causing all the traffic.

500 megs/day is a lot of data. Do you use iCloud, Dropbox or some other online storage service?

Could your wife be downloading information for her Phd then saving it in the cloud? That'd double the traffic, once to download it then again to save it back to your cloud storage.

Just tossing out ideas.

I really doubt it is someone hijacking your MiFi.

 

[MikePA]

How do you " turn off the Jetpack"? Try putting it on a switched outlet or switched power strip. There should be no way in Hades it could turn itself on.

The Jetpack is portable so it doesn't have to be connect to 120v to work.

 

[riptides]

I thought Eddie was attempting to track data usage through the Mifi to Verizion. Not WHO is connecting to it.

Some of the MiFi's wake up when activity prompts them to do so.

Tracking use through Windows and Android devices is problematic on these type devices.

 

[aczlan]

I agree with those who say to change the password, then connect the devices one at a time to see what is using the data...

Aaron Z

 

[Soundguy]

The Jetpack is portable so it doesn't have to be connect to 120v to work.

Agreed, mine charges via USB type adapter, but has about 4 hrs on internal battery. Does have soft on/off and reset buttons though..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My verizon mifi has been sending me 1M overage alerts about every day, some days when it has barely been turned on. I don't think I have been using that much data.

 

[jcummins]

Got a 20gb home broadband plan. Had the same issues. Got direct tv or other things attached to wifi... can't prove it but I believe it was part of the problem.

Best thing you can do is change the password... And only use the password on your pc. I end the connection every time i stopped using the pc. My usage problems got under control doing that.