Outrageous Internet Overages - Am I Getting Hacked By Moochers?

I got a pop-up message from my ISP (Comcast) a few days ago warning me that I had exceeded my 1024GB (1TB) usage allowance. This was my first "courtesy" warning; if it happens again I either have to spend an extra $50 per month to upgrade to an "unlimited" plan or face overage charges up to $200 per month.

Just one issue here: Using Comcast's own usage calculator, I should only be using about a fifth of this (at most) each month.

My notebook PC (Win 10 Anniversary Edition) is used for email, ebay and Facebook about 3 hours per day. Video streaming in Facebook is minimal, no more than 10 minutes per day.

My desktop PC (Win 8.1) stays on 24/7 mainly as an in-house media server. It has Carbonite automatic backup installed, but the new items backed up per month total around 100 standard Office documents (business letters, small spreadsheets, etc.).

I use Vonage VOIP phone service; calls average about 30 minutes per day (at most).

That's it. No Netflix, No Chromecast, No XBox, No downloading P2P movies or music. Even accounting for huge Windows updates on both PCs, I can't figure out how I could get to 200GB per month, let alone 1024GB (1 TB).

I installed NetWorx monitoring software on my notebook and it verifies my daily usage is measured in MB, not GB.

This leads me to two possibilities: Either Comcast's meter used to calculate my bill is WAY off in their favor or one of the next door neighbors has hacked into my router and is sponging free Internet off me.

I have a 300N router (about 4 years old) that is set up with WPA-2 security and a unique password (no, it's not "admin" ) I have never shared with anyone.

Knowing all this, here are my questions:

• Is there monitoring software available I can install on just one PC that will read and record all network traffic, including hour-by-hour breakdowns of how many decices and types of devices are connected at a certain time and the services/amount of bandwidth each is using? (If I see an xBox or Amazon Fire Stick on the list, it's a red flag the Neighbors From Hell are stealing service from me.)

• Should I invest in a newer router with better security? What are the best features to look for and/or best setup practices to make my home wifi hack-proof?

• Has anyone else had issues with Xfinity/Comcast or other ISPs claiming excessive data usage? How did you fight the issue and hopefully win?

Thanks in advance for any tips and ideas.

 

I am no true expert on this subject, however, this might be worth a read, http://arstechnica.com/business/201...r-blunder-charges-wrong-customer-for-overage/

Turns out that Comcast had fudged up the MAC address on his account that was counting someone elses data as his. Might be worth calling them up and checking to see if everything is entered correctly.

 

Are your neibours real close to you? One of them could be running Kali Linux and they ran the program Aircrack-ng. Which has all the tools to get your password. I suggest you change your password ever couple of days. Aircrack-ng has a program calling Reaver which takes about 4 hours to get your password.

Hackers get in from a feature called WPS (wifi protected setup) trun this off.
Hope this helps.

 

There is a program called (Who's on my Wifi) It will tell you if any other devices using your internet connection.

 

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/glasswire.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_network_monitor.html

 

Thanks for the tips so far.

I called Comcast's security department earlier today; they verified the correct modem MAC address is on file. I also changed the name of my network and the password.

I'm having a bit of an issue trying to figure out how to turn WPS off on my router, even using the settings help built in to it. If I keep having trouble with this, I may bite the bullet and upgrade to a new one that's hopefully has fewer vulnerabilities.

I'm running a Malware Bytes scan on the main PC (the one left on 24/7) to see if anything shows up.

To b1jqxk44: will Aircrack or Reaver show up on my PC as malware?

One final note: In the past 4 days, the amount of data usage Comcast claims has jumped by over 300GB (yes, 300GB)! If I have been hacked, somebody must be doing Blu-Rays off Pirate Bay 24/7! If this continues another day or two, I may have to add a wireless on/off plug switch to the router so I can toggle it on only when I'm using the PC or phone.

 

No, Reaver only attacks your router, not your PC. If they did do and attack changing your password will not help they also have your 8 digit code. Which is a factory default password. Look on the bottom of router on the sticker you'll see this 8 digit code. Most of the new routers from 2016
do not have WPS ( they fix this vulnerablity ) so they can not be hacked. If they try to hack the new router, the router locks up, and you have to turn it off and wait 30 seconds before you can back on the internet.

In the mean time when you are not using PC turn the router off or unplug it, until you buy a new one.
I should of mentioned the 8 digit code in my first post.

 

gman863...second the recommendation of Glasswire Firewall. I recommend using it to see how much of your bandwidth you are using and to what locations. It's got graphics that make it easy to see what's going on along with stats for periods of time detailing every IP and the application it's associated with. If you have a leak in your network, Glasswire should help find:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/glasswire.html

 

Thanks for the update. I'm looking for a new router in the next few days but, until then, I've done the following:

• Did a hard reset of the router (it said it had been running for around 720 days).
  
• Upgraded the existing router firmware.
• Disabled WPS.
  
• Changed the SSID to hidden network.
• Changed the network name.
• Changed the password.

Thanks to baklogic and AtlBo, too. I'm running NetWorx now but will install GlassWire in the next day or two.

 

Here's something you should read: http://www.howtogeek.com/176124/wi-...cure-heres-why-you-should-disable-it/Describe

 

link does not work let me find the proper one. www.howtogeek.com/.../wi-fi-protected-setup-wps-is-insecure-heres-why-you-should...

 

Both those links don't work. open google and type; wifi routers with no wps ( it's the fifth one down. )
it said's; Wifi Protected Setup (WPS) is insecure; Here's why you should...
Very informative read.

 

Here's the link for you.

 

Thanks nullptr.