bandwidth thieves!!!

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yohosuff

New Member
Hi!

My roommate and I have a problem that we're not sure how to fix. It goes like this:

We are using a TP-LINK router. He (my roommate) connects wirelessly, and I usually connect through a cable, as the router is in my room, not his.

I noticed that my internet speed was incredibly slow, and I naturally assumed that my roommate was downloading a few things, so I asked him if he could pause his downloads for a while so I could check my e-mail, facebook, yadda-yadda-yadda.

But to my surprise he wasn't downloading anything, in fact, he was also complaining about slow internet speeds. So where was the bandwidth going?

I checked the TP-LINK's wireless connection status page and it clearly showed my roommates MAC-ADDRESS recieving packets at a most alarming rate.

He just formatted and the problem is still there. Does anyone know what we can do about this?

PS - I had to turn off his wireless in order to get on this forum. :(
 
S

Shady

<b>VIP Member</b>
I assume your wireless connection is not secured and that's why other people might be using your internet and stealing your bandwidth.
 
Y

yohosuff

New Member
We've tried using WPA2 security, and the wireless status page still showed tons of packets being received by my roommate's MAC-ADDRESS. It seems as though something is using his computer to tap into our bandwidth.

If use MAC filtering to block his computer, my internet goes back to its super-sonic self. But as soon as I unblock him, its back to lagging and dragging. :(

I really don't know what to do.
 
Cleric7x9

Cleric7x9

Active Member
on his computer, open a command prompt, and type netstat then press enter, see if his computer is connected to anything it shouldnt be
 
Y

yohosuff

New Member
Thanks Cleric7x9, but (1) how do I know if he's connected to something he shouldn't be? and (2) if I find he's connected to something he shouldn't be, how do I stop him from connecting to it?
 
G25r8cer

G25r8cer

Active Member
In command prompt type "ipconfig/all". That will show everything. Or you can login to router in a IE and there should be an option to view connected devices. You can also reset the router by unplugging it and plug it back in. That will reset all connections. Also, having a virus on one of the pc's will cause major bandwidth usage. Virus's connect to the internet and hog your bandwidth. Go to the security section on this forum post hijackthis logs from both pc's.
 
Cleric7x9

Cleric7x9

Active Member
g25racer said:
In command prompt type "ipconfig/all". That will show everything. Or you can login to router in a IE and there should be an option to view connected devices. You can also reset the router by unplugging it and plug it back in. That will reset all connections. Also, having a virus on one of the pc's will cause major bandwidth usage. Virus's connect to the internet and hog your bandwidth. Go to the security section on this forum post hijackthis logs from both pc's.
Click to expand...

ipconfig commands will not tell you why your internet is going slow or what is using your internet. you cant tell anything about bandwidth usage from ipconfig
 
G25r8cer

G25r8cer

Active Member
Cleric7x9 said:
ipconfig commands will not tell you why your internet is going slow or what is using your internet. you cant tell anything about bandwidth usage from ipconfig
Click to expand...

When did I say that it would tell why its going slow? ipconfig/all shows all the connections. So there should be two and if theres more then someone is robbing his bandwidth. Most likely he has a virus though.
 
Cleric7x9

Cleric7x9

Active Member
g25racer said:
When did I say that it would tell why its going slow? ipconfig/all shows all the connections. So there should be two and if theres more then someone is robbing his bandwidth. Most likely he has a virus though.
Click to expand...

what two connections are you talking about?
 
G25r8cer

G25r8cer

Active Member
Nevermind I confused myself. Just logon to your router and see what is connected. Its as simple as that.
 
T

TrainTrackHack

VIP Member
I wonder why no-one suggested this...anyway, make sure that you (and your mate) have quality virus/spy-and-other-malware protection enabled and up to date. And scan both computers.
 
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E

Erox1991

New Member
Tuffie said:
Yeah just add WEP to it, and only you and your friend can join.

Tuffie.
Click to expand...

Kidding ?
WEP is old.. WPA2 maybe.

Usually wireless connection stealing more because it lose many packages(Normally 5-10%) in the air. So when he need to resend the data he will stealing bandwidth. The technique CSDM/CA helps to avoid that but not all. I got that problem in my house when three used wireless it was so slow. But I don't remember how I fixed it.
 
Y

yohosuff

New Member
Hey guys, problem solved. He was using a faulty copy of uTorrent. Even when downloading nothing on uTorrent, as long as it was open and running, our bandwidth was being devoured by an unknown demonic entity. When we closed uTorrent, everything was fine. I use a different torrent downloader from him so that was probably why there didn't seem to be any problems coming from my end. He's now going to get a new client.

Thanks for all the help!
 
J

JlCollins005

New Member
all thought talking about torrent is not allowed are u sure he just didnt have things uploading as when the downloads finish it will become a seed, or he downloaded something illegal that had some type malware or something..
 
G25r8cer

G25r8cer

Active Member
JlCollins005 said:
all thought talking about torrent is not allowed are u sure he just didnt have things uploading as when the downloads finish it will become a seed, or he downloaded something illegal that had some type malware or something..
Click to expand...

Utorrent is not illegal and neither is talk about downloading stuff so keep it to yourself!!! He did not state what he was downloading therefor you cant assume that he is downloading illegal stuff. Some of us actually download LEGAL stuff!!
 
J

JlCollins005

New Member
g25racer said:
Utorrent is not illegal and neither is talk about downloading stuff so keep it to yourself!!! He did not state what he was downloading therefor you cant assume that he is downloading illegal stuff. Some of us actually download LEGAL stuff!!
Click to expand...

well dont get ur panties in a bunch, and keep what to myself a potential reason to why his bandwidth usage was ridiculous...
 
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