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_facebook
or adjusting your Netflix playback quality to SD: https://help.netflix.com/en/node/87
- more data sources can be found here, as posted by a fellow community member:https://community.myhughesnet.com/hughesnet/topics/data-usage-sources-common-and-not-so-common
The most important tool to download is the Status Meter, available in the Customer Support Center, to help you monitor your data usage: supportcenter.myhughesnet.com
Your cooperation and patience are greatly appreciated. We look forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you,
Chris
I actually had this same thing happen two month ago. So I started unplugging the modem every night before bed. Then BANG happen again. This all started after an upgrade to 15.
I'm having the same issue - were you able to get it resolved and find out why? I've had HughesNet for five years and rarely exceeded my data usage. I had an issue in August with massive download usage and they came out and realigned my dish with the satellite. Last month and again this month, I'm getting huge download spikes for no apparent reason. I've checked and turned off all the automatic stuff, and now don't even connect my phone to the WiFi and my iPad for only an hour or so a day. And I'm on Day 9 of my billing period and have used 33% of my data. I called for help but was told they can't tell me why the mysterious downloads are happening. I'm beginning to suspect it's a bad Status Meter or something weird like that.