Is Telkom stealing my data?

L

LM van Niekerk

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For a number of years we found that our data disappears without using it. We checked on our side what could be wrong but after due diligence we found not one area where our data could be used or 'stolen' by a neigbour. (We live on a farm anyway and the nearest neighbour is more that 100 meters away.)
So we started wondering....?
Firstly 10 gb was more than enough for us. My wif never touches the computer, but I do use it for email and certain other reasons - looking up something and once in a while using youtube and or something else. We are senior people and don not watch videos, neither do we "stream" filmks and other stuff. (My golly we don't even know how to do it!!!)
Then I went to complain, but in the end I was moved to buy more data. Then we had 20gb......not long afterwards we had 40gb!!! And even that was not enough to take us through the month....

This really was the the last straw. My wife and I went to the Telkom office once agai, but got the usual response " we were using it up...!!! No customer service at all!

I have now reached the end of the line and submitted a complaint to Telkom and to Icassa. I heard nothing until I resent the mail!??? Suddenly both called me...my golly!??

I think Hellkom is stealing my data so I must buy more and more! What do you think?
 
Don't be dumb... Telkom is not stealing 10's of gigabytes from you.

Someone is using your data. Someone is on your WiFi streaming to their hearts content. Change your WiFi password.
 
LM van Niekerk said:
For a number of years we found that our data disappears without using it. We checked on our side what could be wrong but after due diligence we found not one area where our data could be used or 'stolen' by a neigbour. (We live on a farm anyway and the nearest neighbour is more that 100 meters away.)
So we started wondering....?
Firstly 10 gb was more than enough for us. My wif never touches the computer, but I do use it for email and certain other reasons - looking up something and once in a while using youtube and or something else. We are senior people and don not watch videos, neither do we "stream" filmks and other stuff. (My golly we don't even know how to do it!!!)
Then I went to complain, but in the end I was moved to buy more data. Then we had 20gb......not long afterwards we had 40gb!!! And even that was not enough to take us through the month....

This really was the the last straw. My wife and I went to the Telkom office once agai, but got the usual response " we were using it up...!!! No customer service at all!

I have now reached the end of the line and submitted a complaint to Telkom and to Icassa. I heard nothing until I resent the mail!??? Suddenly both called me...my golly!??

I think Hellkom is stealing my data so I must buy more and more! What do you think?
Click to expand...
I think windows and Android updates are to blame. So you have Vodacom nearby? Get a black Friday special. I've been paying R350 for 400/400Gb for the past 2 years.

Also, are you or your wife using YouTube? HD YouTube videos chew through data. Do you watch videos or send and receive pics on WhatsApp? Do you take lots of photos and videos with your phone camera?

As others pointed out, it could be someone else with your password. Is the password written down or printed at the back of the router?
 
Last edited:
LM van Niekerk said:
For a number of years we found that our data disappears without using it. We checked on our side what could be wrong but after due diligence we found not one area where our data could be used or 'stolen' by a neigbour. (We live on a farm anyway and the nearest neighbour is more that 100 meters away.)
So we started wondering....?
Firstly 10 gb was more than enough for us. My wif never touches the computer, but I do use it for email and certain other reasons - looking up something and once in a while using youtube and or something else. We are senior people and don not watch videos, neither do we "stream" filmks and other stuff. (My golly we don't even know how to do it!!!)
Then I went to complain, but in the end I was moved to buy more data. Then we had 20gb......not long afterwards we had 40gb!!! And even that was not enough to take us through the month....

This really was the the last straw. My wife and I went to the Telkom office once agai, but got the usual response " we were using it up...!!! No customer service at all!

I have now reached the end of the line and submitted a complaint to Telkom and to Icassa. I heard nothing until I resent the mail!??? Suddenly both called me...my golly!??

I think Hellkom is stealing my data so I must buy more and more! What do you think?
Click to expand...

In all my checking of colleagues with "disappearing data" it was always phone backup settings (or uploading on new devices). Google photos, WhatsApp backup, stuff like that. So your device settings would be my first point of investigation.

How is data setup? Stand alone 4G router? The default password is on the bottom of the router, so someone like a domestic can easily check and use that if it is still the default
 
supersunbird said:
In all my checking of colleagues with "disappearing data" it was always phone backup settings (or uploading on new devices). Google photos, WhatsApp backup, stuff like that. So your device settings would be my first point of investigation.

How is data setup? Stand alone 4G router? The default password is on the bottom of the router, so someone like a domestic can easily check and use that if it is still the default
Click to expand...
OP is one of those clients I'd HATE to deal with as a call center / store empolyee. He clearly doesn't know what the **** is going on, but blames his service provider for his son watching pr0n and using his data. But he's the first to report the company ICASA.... I'm thankful that I'm not the one on Telkom's side having to listen to his screaming nonsense on the other end. Kudos to Telkom for actually entertaining his kak.
 
They all steal data. Even Vodascum. When I look at where my data has gone each month it shows some to facebook. I do not even have facebook installed on my phone. Nor even a facebook account. But every single month there is a trickle of data going off on that. And this has been going on for over 10 years. What can we do? Take them to court for a few Rands each month stolen?
 
genetic said:
OP is one of those clients I'd HATE to deal with as a call center / store empolyee. He clearly doesn't know what the **** is going on, but blames his service provider for his son watching pr0n and using his data. But he's the first to report the company ICASA.... I'm thankful that I'm not the one on Telkom's side having to listen to his screaming nonsense on the other end. Kudos to Telkom for actually entertaining his kak.
Click to expand...
Good grief dude. You sound like a bad ISP support grunt.
 
UB40 said:
They all steal data. Even Vodascum. When I look at where my data has gone each month it shows some to facebook. I do not even have facebook installed on my phone. Nor even a facebook account. But every single month there is a trickle of data going off on that. And this has been going on for over 10 years. What can we do? Take them to court for a few Rands each month stolen?
Click to expand...
You use Facebook whether you like it or not. You're posting on this forum that has hidden Facebook trackers.
 
supersunbird said:
This is my thinking too. Go see how many IPs opening the average news website actually addresses.
Click to expand...
It's a fact. Use the browser console or Inspector and see how many seemingly plain websites connect to Bookface infrastructure.
Also, the Telkom network is insecure, there is an ongoing incident that's been covered up, it became a problem for me just before I left SA in 2022, I was no longer able to get 2FA SMS messages from online services in the US that I use, and after complaining they told me that Telkom blocked incoming international SMS because of security breaches.
 
lkpat said:
Good grief dude. You sound like a bad ISP support grunt.
Click to expand...

Can you imagine the ISP support guy that has to explain to every other user that THEY are the one using 10's of gigabytes of data? Then go report me to ICASA afterwards?

Yeah, so if I was an ISP employee dealing with this fool, I'd probably want to blow my head off with a shotgun.
 
genetic said:
Can you imagine the ISP support guy that has to explain to every other user that THEY are the one using 10's of gigabytes of data? Then go report me to ICASA afterwards?

Yeah, so if I was an ISP employee dealing with this fool, I'd probably want to blow my head off with a shotgun.
Click to expand...
Hey, if it's in office hours and you're being paid to do the job...
On the other hand, if support isn't for you....

Not everyone is cut out for client support. It's very niche.
 
lkpat said:
You use Facebook whether you like it or not. You're posting on this forum that has hidden Facebook trackers.
Click to expand...
Facebook? Ive never had a facebook account, and never will.
 
UB40 said:
Facebook? Ive never had a facebook account, and never will.
Click to expand...

How to say you don't understand what he said, without saying you don't understand what he said.

Your device can talk to FB servers when you open a non-FB website because of FB trackers in the non-FB website... thus NETWORK TRAFFIC to the FB servers occurred. It's likely talking to Google and other servers too.
 
supersunbird said:
How to say you don't understand what he said, without saying you don't understand what he said.

Your device can talk to FB servers when you open a non-FB website because of FB trackers in the non-FB website... thus NETWORK TRAFFIC to the FB servers occurred. It's likely talking to Google and other servers too.
Click to expand...
Thank you for clearing that up. I was not aware
 
UB40 said:
Facebook? Ive never had a facebook account, and never will.
Click to expand...
As ssbird said, you don't need a facebook account for them to track you.
As already pointed out, MyBB has an embedded Meta Pixel script.
You're featured!

How do they know it's you? Browser fingerprinting, IP, etc. etc.
Then there's Whatsapp which Meta own. If you use Whatsapp, they have your phone number - more than that they can't expect.
 
LM van Niekerk said:
For a number of years we found that our data disappears without using it. We checked on our side what could be wrong but after due diligence we found not one area where our data could be used or 'stolen' by a neigbour. (We live on a farm anyway and the nearest neighbour is more that 100 meters away.)
So we started wondering....?
Firstly 10 gb was more than enough for us. My wif never touches the computer, but I do use it for email and certain other reasons - looking up something and once in a while using youtube and or something else. We are senior people and don not watch videos, neither do we "stream" filmks and other stuff. (My golly we don't even know how to do it!!!)
Then I went to complain, but in the end I was moved to buy more data. Then we had 20gb......not long afterwards we had 40gb!!! And even that was not enough to take us through the month....

This really was the the last straw. My wife and I went to the Telkom office once agai, but got the usual response " we were using it up...!!! No customer service at all!

I have now reached the end of the line and submitted a complaint to Telkom and to Icassa. I heard nothing until I resent the mail!??? Suddenly both called me...my golly!??

I think Hellkom is stealing my data so I must buy more and more! What do you think?
Click to expand...
We thank you for feeding our nation.

Speak with your wife she might be watching youtube,tiktok or some other service. Data cannot just vanish.

Your kids can be on some social media platform live-streaming driving the latest John Deere tractor you just bought.

Speak with your farm foreman maybe he has the wifi password and has shared the wifi password with every single farm worker on the farm.

We can continue guessing where your data has gone but I think we could be here all day.
 
Start off by changing your Wi-Fi password....costs you nothing and eliminates the possibilities of workers, friends or others accessing and using your data (Wi-Fi). Save this new password where only you know to access it. Google or YouTube how to do this. And as mentioned by other MBB members, YouTube alone is a huge data guzzler.. Good luck.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I've checked all known avenues that I have control over and the most likely bleeding is from background users like the big names stealing bits all the time. I've started on 10 gig, up to 20, to 40, now on 100 gig. I'm sure this won't be enough soon. What can we do. I say "we" because it is obvoiusly a general issue.
To those that think this is a platform for abuse, just go see a shrink, please, maybe you'll get healed.
 
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