Beware of Webafrica

First yes my modem does have good password that has been changed several times and the wireless is not even activated.It is only me using this connection I am 100% sure.My windows automatic updates is turned off and there is not other program that has to be updated.

This has happened twice to me now.
Let me start with the first time.
I order 5 gig international ( because my telkom 5 gig is finished )
I use it for like 10 days using about 3.2 gig.
Then I went away for the day ( computer turned off ) and when I came back I browse for like 5 minutes and it says the cap is finished. I log into my account and I see crazy usage on the graph. I phone them and they say no all the data was used from my connection. This is impossible for 5 minutes of browsing. I tell them this several times but they say there is nothing they can do.

So I stop using them for about a year. Once again my telkom cap is finished ( This has never ever happened with the telkom account ) So i decided to give webafrica a go again. So I created a different account with them and the exact same thing just happened. I was not away again but i just did my normal browsing, didn't even watch one youtube video or download anything.

So people beware of webafrica I will never ever buy from them again!

never had a problem with them in more than a year. Had a 10 GB connection every month.

Same here, haven't encountered any problems other than my son burning bandwidth on FB and You Tube.

try MWEB...they open up a session for you that starts in 24 hours...fortune tellers I tell you

Vexo said:

I log into my account and I see crazy usage on the graph. I phone them and they say no all the data was used from my connection. This is impossible for 5 minutes of browsing. I tell them this several times but they say there is nothing they can do.

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They have records of the line ports which connected to your account, and the times of these connections, which you can view @ http://dsl.webafrica.co.za. If it shows that only your line connected to the account, then that's the reality of the situation and there is nothing they can do since the cap was used from your line.

I would recommend locking the dsl account to your line, but this won't work since the cap is only being used from your line.

check for malware, spyware, updaters running in the background, others on your network using the cap, etc.

I have 2 x 30GB and 1 x 20GB accounts for nearly a year , never had an issue with abuse or bizzare accounting. 'Vexo' - if you cannot operate a PC and router stay with a console.

download a program called "NetLimiter". It will give you a pretty broad view of exactly how much data is flowing in and out of your computer, and with which application/s the connection/s is associated.

Hey Vexo

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
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.

Stolen username
Their are known exploits and hackers actively scanning 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 Web Africa"s DSLSecure technology - this allows you to lock your account to your own physical ADSL line preventing it from being used elsewhere. This can be found at http://dsl.webafrica.co.za/ or by clicking the Manage button on your account in the Client Area.

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

There are also various tools available to track traffic usage on individual PC"s, the easiest to use is probably Netlimiter:
NetLimiter

NB:
Please also see these password guidelines to ensure the passwords you have selected are adequately secure:
http://security.fnal.gov/UserGuide/password.htm
http://www.newsforge.com/software/03/02/26/1639212.shtml?tid=2

If you require any additional assistance then please PM me you're client code. Have a wonderful day further.

Another thing to keep in mind, Telkom accounts have variable caps, and while most of the time you don't get capped you could be using much more than your actual account allows, thus you not knowing that there is something on your pc using it.

Now if you turned of your pc...and the bandwidth still originated from your line its quite possible that someone close to your house is using it via wireless if your adsl modem has wireless on it.

One really needs to know more about your whole setup before anyone can make a conclusion as to why your cap was used up so fast, but I am fairly certain more investigation on your side could go a long way to figure this out.

Remember, webafrica doesn't make up how much cap you have used, those details are sent from telkom/saix to webafrica's radius servers and chances that that is incorrect is very slim to none. If it was a problem, a lot more people should have had this exact same problem for more than a year now if not every consumer using webafrica.

So maybe tell us more, help us help you figure it out, chances are you might be very surprised at what the real problem is. It is easier to blame someone else than look at your own setup.

I call BS on this post. This guy has not responded to any of the above posts. This is just something to make WA look bad and I doubt he ever had WA account.
I will be getting my 30GB local tomorrow and I am sure I will not have any problems. Lots of torrents to be upped and downed.

jirm said:

I have 2 x 30GB and 1 x 20GB accounts for nearly a year , never had an issue with abuse or bizzare accounting. 'Vexo' - if you cannot operate a PC and router stay with a console.

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I have been using and operating a computer and a router for longer than you could walk little man, so keep your insults to yourself.

Another thing to keep in mind, Telkom accounts have variable caps, and while most of the time you don't get capped you could be using much more than your actual account allows, thus you not knowing that there is something on your pc using it.
Now if you turned of your pc...and the bandwidth still originated from your line its quite possible that someone close to your house is using it via wireless if your adsl modem has wireless on it

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I know that is why i use them, i buy 3 gig every month and get about 4.8 gigs out. Like I have stated my wireless is switched off.

I know exactly how much data my software needs every month to update and I keep track of thish and i dont have any viruses,spyware or mailware ( Bitdefender total Security and several anti-spyware tools )

I call BS on this post. This guy has not responded to any of the above posts. This is just something to make WA look bad and I doubt he ever had WA account.

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Nope just telling you what happened.

I did not make this post to listen to a bunch of fan boys getting upset because I have had problems with webafrica, just thought I would give you a warning. If you have a good experience then by all means keep buying from them.

Bought a 2GB on Saturday, only started using it properly on Monday.. Got capped last night..

My web usage was the same as my usage on my other accounts (casual browsing e.g facebook, occasional youtube browsing etc.) but I have never used 2GB in three or even four days before from such casual browsing..

I have another Telkom SAIX 3GB which I use (gets me to 4.5GB no problems) which usually lasts me 2 or 3 weeks of such regular browsing.

Makes me wonder..Maybe it's a virus on one of the other PC's on the network, but I run Netlimiter and it doesn't seem to be.

Wasn't going to say anything but since Vexo mentioned it thought i'd also share my experience.. If I know I had been downloading, I wouldn't have posted or even thought about it.. Router is secure as well as my Wireless.. Nothings changed there

On the other hand I really liked the customer zone and the live chat support!

or maybe on second thought it's all the *cough* late night "browsing" *cough*

LOL Vexo ! Your vast experience has obviously taught you nothing. Stop posting false warnings on one of the better ISP's around.Get your facts right buddy!

Vexo said:

Nope just telling you what happened.

I did not make this post to listen to a bunch of fan boys getting upset because I have had problems with webafrica, just thought I would give you a warning. If you have a good experience then by all means keep buying from them.

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Sorry if I insulted you but it was very suspicious to me that there was no reply up till now.
I will make sure all my passwords are strong and make sure my router password for wireless access is also strong.

Good luck Chuck