ISP internet usage data

My ISP provides a dashboard where I can see my internet usage, including how much data has been uploaded and downloaded.

It can break it down into hourly periods (for the last 14 days or so). In one hourly period early one morning (around 3am), it indicates that there has been 55GB uploaded. I find that rather strange. I'm on an 80/20 FTTC connection and the modem usually syncs at 80/20. So, assuming I am getting the full download and upload bandwidth, my estimation is that in one hour there should be no more than 10GB that can be uploaded.

How can the ISP's dashboard be indicating something that is, by my calculation (which could be wrong), not possible? Is there a possibility that someone on the same ISP, but on a faster connection (likely FTTP), has been able to use my PPP credentials to log in to my FTTC connection?

The only devices connected to my wifi at 3am in the morning would be my intruder alarm, and two smartphones which do not have 55GB worth of photos or media which would be automatically syncing to cloud storage. Both the smartphones are on unlimited mobile data plans and have been set to sync photos and videos on both mobile data and wifi. And in any case, even if they did have 55GB data, I don't think the sync can happen in one hour.

Edited by teshy (Thu 26-Jan-23 17:06:13)

55GB is impossible although your calc is slightly out.

Assuming a full 20 Mbps (yes some lost on overheads - but use it as the calculation is easy)

3600 seconds x 20,000,000 bps >>>> 72,000,000,000 bits in one hour

divide by 8 to get bytes and by 1,000,000,000 for Giga

72,000,000,000/(8*1,000,000,000) >>>> 9 GB in an hour and in reality, if you totally satuarated the connection, you might achieve 8GB upload.

Thanks, so, from what I understand, 55GB upload in one hour would require around 150Mbps upload bandwidth.

I'm on 80/20 FTTC so either there is some sort of error in the ISP's reporting or my account has been hacked.

There have been no other unusual uploads since then so I am hoping it is just an error in reporting.

In reply to a post by teshy:

My ISP provides a dashboard where I can see my internet usage, including how much data has been uploaded and downloaded.

It can break it down into hourly periods (for the last 14 days or so). In one hourly period early one morning (around 3am), it indicates that there has been 55GB uploaded. I find that rather strange. I'm on an 80/20 FTTC connection and the modem usually syncs at 80/20. So, assuming I am getting the full download and upload bandwidth, my estimation is that in one hour there should be no more than 10GB that can be uploaded.

How can the ISP's dashboard be indicating something that is, by my calculation (which could be wrong), not possible? Is there a possibility that someone on the same ISP, but on a faster connection (likely FTTP), has been able to use my PPP credentials to log in to my FTTC connection?

The only devices connected to my wifi at 3am in the morning would be my intruder alarm, and two smartphones which do not have 55GB worth of photos or media which would be automatically syncing to cloud storage. Both the smartphones are on unlimited mobile data plans and have been set to sync photos and videos on both mobile data and wifi. And in any case, even if they did have 55GB data, I don't think the sync can happen in one hour.

Realistically 8-9GB once overheads etc are accounted for - so yes, 55GB isn't possible on 20Mbit - however, just check that the "upload" is "upload from ISP to you" as what is up may not mean what you think - sometimes people use up/down in the opposite order to what you think...

In reply to a post by therioman:

Realistically 8-9GB once overheads etc are accounted for - so yes, 55GB isn't possible on 20Mbit - however, just check that the "upload" is "upload from ISP to you" as what is up may not mean what you think - sometimes people use up/down in the opposite order to what you think...

I've just checked. Upload in this case is referring to what my router/modem sends out and download is referring to what my router/modem receives. Even if the 55GB was referring to what was sent to me, I don't think that would be possible on an 80/20 FTTC link as I think the maximum download in one hour would be no more than 36GB.

Does it show any data uploaded in the hours before? If they’re all zero’d out, it’s probably just a combination of uploaded data for all the hours before without data.

It is possible that someone has been able to use your PPP credentials to log in to your FTTC connection, however it is unlikely. It is more likely that the ISP's dashboard is incorrect or that there is an issue with the way it is calculating the data usage. It is also possible that the data usage is being caused by something else, such as a background process or a virus. It is best to contact your ISP to investigate the issue further.