We have had HughesNet for several years. Nothing has changed with our computer settings. Everything updates in the middle of the night during free time. Our wifi has a 24 character password! Our neighbors all have DSL. Our allowance is being used up overnight while no one is using it. Went to bed with 32% and have Zero this morning.

Lea,With all the other hoops you are being asked to jump through it would be interesting to check when Windows Update has been checking for updates the next few days. Start, All Programs, Windows update will show you the last time windows checked by time and date. That doesn't mean it made the update at that time since it is on the BITS download system which only downloads when nothing else is going on, pauses if there is, and resumes the next time the pc is on. Defender, which should be off since you have McAfee, and a few other windows programs update the same way.What home page do you use in your browser?A few of the news channels you mentioned checking as well as the Hughes home page have way too many large changing pictures and little videos running on them these days for limited broadband.Even the home page of Microsoft Bing has far too many images. If you leave any of these open in a tab while looking at others or nothing there is a lot of usage. A search engine page that is very plain and mostly text is the way to go. They are getting hard to find as Google Search is adding more junk all the time. What email program do you use? Some of them check for new mail every 15 minutes but some almost instantly whenever they are open. Send yourself an email and see how long it takes to arrive back in your inbox with the program open.McAffee should have a History Log and/or a Performance graph that will show you everytime something tries to come through it. You will be amazed at the activity that goes on in the background.It should tell you each event and when it happened. If you have some of the common malware trying to gain access it may block it but there will be activity ( usage) every few seconds. Actor PID is a typical one. You can look it up on the web and see how much trouble it has been for many folks that are completely unaware it is trying to mess with their computer.We all think nothing has changed in the way we browse and use our computers but the sites we browse have become more and more cluttered every year and the size and frequency of updates to windows and other software we have installed has become ridiculous, at least in my opinion.Ron

I also wanted to mentioned that I can't agree that my data is refilling right. It did last night, but the night before the data gods blessed me with an extra 10%. Not complaining about that, but when the data gods giveth that means they can also taketh away.

Lea are you using Facebook? Their videos play all by themselves and use all sorts of data ... I know that won't make the math make sense but I had an issue with that .... there's a way to stop them from playing automatically now!

Hi Lea,Thank you for updating us so far. You mentioned that you unplugged the LAN cable with 22% of your data allowance left. So overnight your modem was left isolated until you plugged back in the morning and found the same amount, 22%. This tells us that no data was used and eliminates the modem as a source of unidentified data usage.I don't know why your data reset up to 82%, but look on the bright side, you were given more data than expected! As Staci mentioned, Facebook does have autoplaying videos in their timeline feature, which can use more data than you expect. In addition to that, keep in mind there are countless factors that can use your data:- more devices are capable of connecting to the internet: phones, tablets, gaming consoles, SmartTVs, and even refrigerators can connect wirelessly to the internet. Keep track of what devices you leave running on Wi-Fi.- automatic-updates: your computer and any other programs you use will often keep working in the background, even if you're not actively using that program, in order to keep your system/program up-to-date. Anti-virus programs will periodically use your internet connection to check back with their malware database for any updates. You should have an option to turn off auto-updates and/or schedule them for a later time.- multimedia content: Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, news sites, and other websites will contain videos, animated gifs, and sound clips that may start playing as soon as you land on the site. So much content, so easily available almost everywhere on the internet. For starters, try disabling auto-play video on Facebook:https://community.myhughesnet.com/hughesnet/topics/how_to_disable_autoplay_videos_on_facebookor adjusting your Netflix playback quality to SD:https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87To help you monitor your data usage and other performance metrics, we’ve gathered resources for you here, which also includes communityrecommendations: http://community.myhughesnet.com/hughesnet/topics/track_your_usage_performance_speeds_and_view_tips_....The most important tool to download is the Status Meter, available in the Customer Support Center, so download that if you haven’t already:supportcenter.myhughesnet.comAnother community member has also shared a list of things you might not have thought to check that uses data, so we highly suggest checking it out here: https://community.myhughesnet.com/hughesnet/topics/data-usage-sources-common-and-not-so-commonFeel free to let us know if you need additional assistance, we're happy to help.Thanks,Liz

Great that means that your data is refilling right. next let figure out whats causing the data usage, What brand and model router are you using and can you list all of the devices that you have connected to it either by wire or wireless

Usage depleted overnight. All updates set during free time.

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CharlesMcCool
New Poster
12 years ago
Lea if after unplugging the lan cable to your modem for a couple of nights rules out the modem then we can start looking at your router and your devices until we can find the culprit.
Lea
12 years ago
Day 2 of unplugging the lan cable from the modem. Went to be last night with 56%. Plugged in the cable this morning and the meter said 100%.
CharlesMcCool
New Poster
12 years ago
Great that means that your data is refilling right. next let figure out whats causing the data usage, What brand and model router are you using and can you list all of the devices that you have connected to it either by wire or wireless
Lea
12 years ago
I have had the same router for at least 2 years. NetGear WNR1000. One laptop that is never left on over night. The status meter is downloaded on it and I am always aware of data usage. We have a desktop computer with all updates set overnight and it is left on most of the time. We have never had a problem with the settings. It has a status meter downloaded and we watch it carefully. My husband has had an IPhone with no extra apps on it and has had it for 10 months with no problems. I have an Iphone. If I use my Wi-Fi, I turn it on and watch my data on my computer. I do not leave my phone connected to Wi-Fi overnight. There are not other devices that can connect to Wi-Fi in our home.
Lea
12 years ago
I also wanted to mentioned that I can't agree that my data is refilling right. It did last night, but the night before the data gods blessed me with an extra 10%. Not complaining about that, but when the data gods giveth that means they can also taketh away.
CharlesMcCool
New Poster
12 years ago
OK you got me there. your right last night it filled right. lol you have a Netgear Router, have you updated the firmware on it lately, there is a know problem with netgear routers and I will see if I can find the link for you to read. also when checking for firmware updates for that router you need to do a google or Bing search for the latest firmware, there have been a few others on here that have used the genie utility to see if there was an update and it said there wasnt but in reality there was and the genie didnt see it. also could you check the time when you auto updates is set for. and change it to around 4am. with windows 8.1 I have mine set to 3am but it always does the updates ate 11am and I cant get it to update at the time its actually set for.
Lea
12 years ago
I will check into the firmware update for the router. I have Windows 7 and my updates are set for 3:00 am. My "free time" is 2:00 am til 7:00 am. I have not seen a problem with my updates at the wrong time. We are up at 3:30 am (UGH) for my husband to get ready for work.
CharlesMcCool
New Poster
12 years ago
Great to hear about the windows7 but not the 3:30 am wake up. what antivirus are you using?
Lea
12 years ago
McAfee Security Center
CharlesMcCool
New Poster
12 years ago
Ok let me do some research, There is a post somewhere but I cant find it that pertains to unidentified data usage from netgear routers so I will keep looking for it also. I will get back with you this afternoon.

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Usage depleted overnight. All updates set during free time.

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