Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Somebody is stealing my megabytes on ADSL

Apr 18, 2007 11:32PM PDT

Hello,
I have max 3 or 5 gb megabytes of download in a month on my adsl connection. I recently discovered that somebody surfed with my account data and wasted a lot of megabytes so my bills will be high this month. Is there anything that I can do to protect my self against it except changing my account password?

Regards,
Mirza

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Why not change the password?
Apr 18, 2007 11:37PM PDT

Also, are you using WIFI? There are new HACK tools out there. Read about my encounter with them and how we fixed it at http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=242736&messageID=2457489

Finally, don't allow ANY spyware or malware on the machine as they can install emailers, P2P softwares and more. Read http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6132_102-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=238606&messageID=2432058 about free tools to detect such.

In closing, if they limit your GB most ISPs offer an "shut off" or "limiter" to such accounts. Be sure to research what you can do to limit the bytes.

Bob

- Collapse -
First
Apr 19, 2007 9:10AM PDT

I would change my password. Make it a mixture of numbers and letters. Harder to crack that way.

You have neglected to tell us how you are connecting. I'm guessing that you are using a wireless router. If so, then turn on the WPA security. Make the passkey a combination of letters and numbers. The longer it is, the more secure you'll feel. This should stop anyone from hacking into your router, stealing your megabytes.


Rick

- Collapse -
combination
Apr 19, 2007 3:17PM PDT

I have a ADSL modem + switch to connect 3 machines in my home office, no router

- Collapse -
Here that would cost a bundle. Here's why.
Apr 19, 2007 9:54PM PDT

Without a router the ISP has to dole out three internet IP addresses. And that costs you 3 times as much per month.

Why did you do that?

Bob

- Collapse -
no
Apr 19, 2007 10:08PM PDT

no no, that is simply not true! I live here in Bosnia and Herzwgowina. With the same configuration, same switch, months ago I had no issues I had control over 3 gg per per month because we all together used only 100 per day...now the situation is different and 2 days ago I see that it was 1.2 gb on one day so it seems that somebody hacked in...

- Collapse -
It won't work forever.
Apr 19, 2007 10:12PM PDT

That was my warning.

As to the hack, etc there are too many worms, virus, spyware so you can't have any of that going on.

How sure are you that the machines have ZERO issues with pests.

Bob

- Collapse -
status...
Apr 19, 2007 10:32PM PDT

I ran AdAware on every machine here and CCleaner too, every machine here has ZoneAlarm personal edition installed. I changed my adsl password and still I am not sure if I secure because yesterday I had 500 megs of traffic, that too much again, nobody here used video streaming or similar sites...

- Collapse -
That's not enough. We list more scanners at this link.
Apr 19, 2007 10:38PM PDT