On your laptop browser, go to http://192.168.42.1 and login to the wifi settings using the default 'admin' password (you can change it later under Adminstration -> Password Settings).

How are the wifi channels set up at the modem from the main page? Recommend the following:
1. Security: WPA-Personal

2. Mode: WPA2

Also, from Advanced Setup -> Wireless:
1. 2.4 GHZ should be set to Wireless Mode 11b/g/n and Bandwidth 20/40.

2. 5GHz should be set to Wireless Mode 11a/n/ac and Bandwidth 20/40/80.

3. You can also set the security and mode (from above) for each band independently under -> 2.4GHz Primary Band and -> 5GHz Primary Band.

On your iPhone/iPad, also recommend the following:
1. Auto-Join
2. Configure IP: Automatic

3. Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
4. Router: 192.168.42.1
5. Configure DNS: Automatic
6. Configure Proxy: Off

There are some speed advantages to using 5GHz over 2.4GHz, but 2.4GHz tends to be more reliable at a further distance.

Let me know if you have any questions.

@MarkJFine@alfresco@Reggie

*happy dance*

I do believe I have solved my issue at preventing video content from automatically 'downloading' in it's entirety...that and auto playing, lol

so, I found another add-on that IS compatible with FireFox Quantum, called Flash Block (Plus).

I downloaded this add-on and have been playing with it for around 30 minutes now, testing it out on a variety of websites that are well known for automatically streaming/downloading video content (again..just an example, CNN)

so now, if I visit a site and notice the video feed automatically trying to download, I can simply add it to the flash block list, and any future content appearing within that domain will be halted.

Saving a little data, one website at a time

It adds up quickly..

oh yeah, I went ahead and updated back to the Firefox Quantum version 58.0 (64 bit) and I still have the Disable HTML5 Autoplay add-on activated as well.

@tryshz

The two linked posts are quite the read, that's for sure, and they have a lot of great info.  

I'm not really sure about your ASUS router, as I'm not familiar with them, though there are a lot of people on here that are.  There may very well be a section in its settings which shows data usage, though how it's broken down, as in month, week, day, hour or even minutes, I don't know.  And with Nightshift, I have absolutely no clue.  I've seen it talked about before and a few people use it and love it, but I know practically nothing about it, or at least nothing that would help with monitoring data usage.  

With regard to the Glasswire, though you mentioned that you're going to try to install it, I would install it on each of your Windows based computers.  It only monitors the data of the Windows based computer it's installed on, which is why I suggest installing it on all of them.

Also, as referenced in the pictures in the post, please make sure to set the options on the Usage tab to "Incoming & Outgoing" and "External" (I'll post updated pictures below).  This way, Glasswire is monitoring both the upload and download, and is only monitoring the data being used via the internet.  And, though it can look a bit daunting, once you get used to Glasswire it's pretty easy to decipher and is just about the best tool there is for data monitoring on Windows computers.  And, of course, please feel free to ask any questions you have about how to use Glasswire and how to read it, or anything else, really.  We all used Glasswire for a first time and all had to learn it, and aksing those who already know is the best way to do so.  Always remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.  

Again, because Glasswire has been updated since that info was originally written and posted, here's how to set the options...

After Glasswire has been installed, click on its icon in the taskbar to open it (if it's not already open).  Click on the Usage tab at the top, then click on All on the left.  It doesn't really matter if the option on the right is on Month, Week, Day or Custom, at this point, as the options setting will change for all of them.  So, you can leave it on whatever it's on, or put it on Day, like shown in the picture.  Again, for setting the options it doesn't matter.  Next, click on All on the left.  Then, click on the drop down menu icon in the red box that is to the upper right of the circle graph.  When the drop down menu is shown, select the two options shown, which are "Incoming & Outgoing" and "External".  

Again, this will make it so, when you look at your usage, you're only looking at the data being used by the internet and not data being transferred back and forth inside the computer.  It'll also show both download and upload (incoming and outgoing, respectively) data.  

After a short time you'll start seeing data info showing.  All shows everything in a quick look way.  Apps shows everything broken down by the app that used it.  Traffic shows the type of traffic, but to be honest, I never bother to look at that.  It could come in handy if you're having some type of odd data usage in your computer that's hard to figure out, but for the most part you won't need to bother with it, either.  All and Apps are the two that you'll look at most.  

Glasswire is great as it shows every bit of data being used by the computer and just what's using it.  You'll be able to see how much data every program and process uses.  Like if you want to see how much data your antivirus program used from 2pm to 4pm on July 24th, you'll be able to see exactly that.  And, you'll be able to see how much total data was used from 2pm to 4pm on July 24th, and exactly what used it, as in all the programs and processes that used data during that time, and how much data each program and process used.  And, you'll be able to look and see just how much data was used while you weren't there, and what used it (if the comptuer was on).  It's a fantastic tool to have.  The date and times I was giving were just arbitrary, by the way, but I was using them as an example of what this program can show you.  

It'll take a little while to learn how to read what Glasswire shows you, but again, please feel free to ask any questions you have about it and for any help that you need.