My PC is continually uploading data

[Fish]

I have a small programme called Netmeter, that monitors the amount of data uploaded and downloaded to my PC, giving me Daily, Weekly and Monthly stats. Today, it shows uploading to the Internet, not in bursts, but continually. Checking the daily stats, I find that I have uploaded 256 MB, at least twice as much as on a regular day, and well over twice the amount that I have downloaded so far. Is there any way that I can find out what is sending data to the Internet? I have attached a snapshot of the Netmeter graph. The red lines are data being downloaded, in this case it is the BBC Newsplayer sending down a 3 min news video. The green shaded portion is the uploaded data. At the time of the snapshot, all charting data applications (Oanda, Metatrader, Sharescope etc) are off, as is Outlook etc.

 

[NotQuiteRandom]

If you run Windows you are BOUND to get into all kinds of trouble. A shocking proportion of Windows machines are infected with God knows what crap.

Your best bet would be to cease all investigation and dispense with Windows... Linux is free, easier to command and will not get a virus, spyware or any other problems. It is also far more transparent and never crashes.

Windows belongs in the dark age.


NQR

 

[grantx]

NQR,

I'm running an AMD 64 dual-core on XP Pro 64. Would I be able to run all my prog's/hardware under Linux? I reckon I keep hittting pc capacity as programmes can be slow to respond (even with 2 meg memory).

You mentionjed elsewhere your running Bloomberg. Does this run under Linux (this one is out of curiosity only)?

Grant .

 

[oatman]

What antivirus and anti spyware scans have you run? What protection are you running?

 

[Fish]

What antivirus and anti spyware scans have you run? What protection are you running?

Norton Antivirus latest edition and Spybot S&D 1.4. Neither of them show anything untoward, (beyond Ad tracking cookies) and the Antivirus runs a weekly check. Never ever open emails from strangers.

Can you recommend any network monitors or packet sniffers to check on IP traffic?

Linux is on my to be investigated list, particularly with Vista on the horizon.

 

[dbphoenix]

If you're running XP, select Run and type in taskmgr.exe, then Enter. This will tell you what's running. This may tell you what to investigate and perhaps remove, though you shouldn't remove anything without knowing exactly what it is. The anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-whatever may account for at least some of this.

You should also review your cookie list. You may be allowing far more access than you realize.

 

[NotQuiteRandom]

Hi Grantx,

I don't know what programmes you are running so am not sure if you could run them on Linux or not. Generally Linux has an alternative to most generic Windows applications (OpenOffice replaces the Word / Excel / PowerPoint suite etc). You don't need anti-virus software with Linux and it has a built in firewall so no need to worry about that either.

Anything done in Java should run on Linux, I have run IG's dealing interface and Interactive Broker's on it to name a couple.

You could see how it works for you without 100% commitment by running it on one partition of your machine and having your computer on a dual-boot setup. This way you can choose between Windows and Linux when you boot up the machine each time. If you do this all of your Windows files are accessible from within the Linux environment (but not vice versa). If you do this backup all your files first though... just in case.

If you are running some analytical software in Windows it may not work in Linux - but there is no harm in trying. I tried to put OptionVue on a Linux machine once and it didn't work.

My opinion is that what you lose in the ability to install some Windows only software you more than gain in terms of the added functionality, a more controllable environment and security.

I run a few different distributions but Suse is a good one to get started on... http://en.opensuse.org/Welcome_to_openSUSE.org

I don't run regular Bloomberg, rather I get a direct feed into a server from them. I am in the process of cleaning it up at the moment as I have found a better provider for the same thing at a lower price with more robust technology. Bloomberg are good for some things but data is a commodity and I am always on the lookout for enhanced stability through technical innovation.

Good luck...

NQR

 

[grantx]

NQR,

Thanks for the advice. I'll certainly look into it.

Grant.

 

[roguetrader]

Can you recommend any network monitors or packet sniffers to check on IP traffic?

http://www.netlimiter.com/download.php
The free version of this will allow you to look at individual programs or process activity on the network

 

[Atilla]

Norton Antivirus latest edition and Spybot S&D 1.4. Neither of them show anything untoward, (beyond Ad tracking cookies) and the Antivirus runs a weekly check. Never ever open emails from strangers.

Can you recommend any network monitors or packet sniffers to check on IP traffic?

Linux is on my to be investigated list, particularly with Vista on the horizon.

Etherreal is good...

 

[damianoakley]

I have a small programme called Netmeter, that monitors the amount of data uploaded and downloaded to my PC, giving me Daily, Weekly and Monthly stats. Today, it shows uploading to the Internet, not in bursts, but continually. Checking the daily stats, I find that I have uploaded 256 MB, at least twice as much as on a regular day, and well over twice the amount that I have downloaded so far. Is there any way that I can find out what is sending data to the Internet? I have attached a snapshot of the Netmeter graph. The red lines are data being downloaded, in this case it is the BBC Newsplayer sending down a 3 min news video. The green shaded portion is the uploaded data. At the time of the snapshot, all charting data applications (Oanda, Metatrader, Sharescope etc) are off, as is Outlook etc.

Hi Fish,

Do a search on Google for "ccleaner" or "crap cleaner"

It''s a free program that will literally clean and tune up your computer and it's registry.

I use this all the time and it is quite safe. It has sorted out many problems for me in the past.


Thanks

Damian

 

[oatman]

http://www.ccleaner.com/
RegSeeker http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm :cheesy:

 

[lurkerlurker]

There could be something malicious on your machine, or the only upload data could be ACK packets. Your machine needs to respond to SYN packets (basically stuff you are downloading) with ACK packets (which tell the server at the other end of the connection that the information has been received).

 

[marcolondonuk]

>I don't run regular Bloomberg, rather I get a direct feed into a server from them. I am >in the process of cleaning it up at the moment as I have found a better provider for >the same thing at a lower price with more robust technology.

NQR,
I am looking for a stock market data supplier compatible with Linux, perhaps in the form of DDE links etc. I DO NOT want to use Windows. Can you recommend a supplier in particular?
Many thanks, marco

 

[ImAPc]

I know this is an old thread, but I recommend that you download TCPView from microsoft (free). BTW would not recommend linux over windows myself, having used both.