Monitoring Usage ?

[Robert11]

Hello,

Use Comcast for my broadband Internet. Using Windows7.

A month ago I had a call from them re my usage as being way over the 250 GB/month they allow.

O.K., I had a "talk" with my son re all the downloads, videos, etc. he does.

I also installed, from Rokario Software, their "Bandwidth Monitor"-Lite (free vers) to keep an eye on things.

Since our talk, the monitor shows almost nothing per day; a few tenths of a GB at most, perhaps.

Today, I see that Comcast has finally came out with their Monitor.
I took a look, and it is showing about 200 GB so far this month !

So their monitor, and the Bandwidth Monitor I installed, apparently don't agree.

Hard not to believe that theirs isn't the correct usage.

Before having another talk with son, would sure like to understand what (may) be going on.

The Rokario Monitor has an Auto-Select tab where it apparently pulls up
what "Controller" is being used by my PC. Frankly, I have no idea what this is or means, but it's a real long list of possibilities it shows, and it auto-detects this one:

Realtek PcIe GBE Family Controller-qoS Packet Scheduler

Might it be that it is monitoring the wrong one ?
How else can I check which "Controller" my system might be using without
using their auto-detect ?

Any thoughts on this, or why the very big usage difference, would be much appreciated.

BTW: anything with W7, or something in my system that might be accounting for all of this, before I go and accuse...?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Thorsen]

Is it a wireless connection? Are you using WEP or WPA to protect your connection? a neighbor might be using your bandwidth

 

[Robert11]

Hello,

The Linksys router is hard-wired via the typical ethernet cable to two desktop PC's.
One of which is hardly ever on.

Nothing wireless that I have connected.

No idea if it is broadcastiong or receiving any wireless from some other
source though ?

Frankly not too sharp with this stuff anymore (in my 70's now).
Thought that as I only had the two hard wired connections, I would be totally safe from any neighborhood intrusions. True ?

What is WEP or WPA ?
Something I need to be concerned abosut ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Thorsen]

If its a wireless router, it can send/recieve even when you arent using it for wireless. there should be a website to help set up your router's wireless settings. Here is a youtube video. I have not watched this, but it says how to set up. Hope this helps. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSAXMO7aNzg

WEP and WPA are encryption methods to prevent others without a key to gain access to your router. WPA has the best encryption right now. WEP is easier to setup.

This is important to have at least WEP encryption as unencrypted information can be intercepted and viewed by niehgbor-hackers (If you have neighbors that are also hackers)

 

[Robert11]

From OP:

Hi,

Will definitely look into it.

Which icon, as mentioned previously, do you think represents the "real" active network adapter controller one ? Why the check mark next to the Non-Linksys one ?

Again, thanks for all the time you are taking to help me.

Bob