Worried you might be running out of bandwidth? With the DSL Management Console you can monitor your usage online.
Article Details
- Written on: September 20th, 2006
- Time written: 11:14 am
- Filed in: Phrooti News
DSL Management Console
Worried you might be running out of bandwidth? With the DSL Management Console you can monitor your own ADSL usage online. In addition to monitoring usage this tool also allows you to create sms alerts, change your ADSL password, check for unauthorised logins or lock your account to one physical ADSL line.
Now that you are monitoring it you may notice extraneous or unexplainable usage and there are a number of causes of unwanted traffic:
Causes
Network chatter
Up to 10mb per day of random packets caused by portscans, dns, router update checks, remote pings etc. This will occur even if your PC’s are switched off if you have a router as opposed to a USB based ADSL modem.
Skype
The new Skype client generates traffic even if not in use. This is because Skype can turn any PC into a 3rd party router for assisting in its P2P telephony functioning. In other words your PC is the exchange for somebody else’s call:o.
Stolen username
There are known exploits and hackers actively scan insecure routers to obtain usernames and passwords. These are then used to steal bandwidth from the account.
Wireless hijacking
If your router is wireless enabled, hackers in the nearby vicinity may be using your bandwidth for their own purposes, even if WEP or WPA is enabled.
Spyware,malware,viruses,trojans, rootkits
Any of the PC”s connected may be infected with the above causing your machine to become a zombie for sending spam or an instrument in sending denial of service attacks. New evidence suggests rootkit technology is now being employed to avoid detection by most Antivirus programs.
Solutions
Network chatter
Turn of your router to avoid any traffic charges. Alternatively put the router in “stealth mode” - this makes it appear to be offline to the outside world and reduces the small amount of daily wastage.
Skype
Log out of Skype when not in use. Use a different client, eg MSN Messenger or other SIP based voice services.
Stolen username
1) Change all passwords - ADSL password, router password, client service area password etc…
2) Enable Phrooti’s DSLSecure technology - this allows you to lock your account to your own physical ADSL line preventing it from being used elsewhere.
Wireless hijacking
Enable WPA-PSK encryption using a 12+ character random password. Do not use known words, product names, labels or anything else. Do not use WEP encryption as this can be cracked within minutes giving a false sense of security.
Spyware,malware,viruses,trojans, rootkits
Run multiple virus and anti spyware scans on your system, there are various tools available to do this via the web:
Trendmicro Housecall
Panda Active Scan
Article compiled from source at WebAfrica.