Mac Using Bandwidth CONSTANTLY

P

Pooky

Garfield's Teddy
Joined
Dec 16, 2007
Messages
24,504
Reaction score
21
Location
Neverland
When I use my Macbook Air at university, it connects through the university's proxy server.

Everytime I connect it it starts using data constantly as I can see in activity monitor - but I have no idea what it is!!!!

I installed Little Snitch but it didn't really help at all, it showed mdnsresponder seems to have a lot of activity but when that was disabled then I couldn't access anything!

I feel so frustrated as I can't use internet now because it just uses up my bandwidth allowance in like 10 minutes..

Please help!
 
I tried google DNS and all that happened was I could not access the internet through my browser - but it was still using data.

EDIT: Same thing with OpenDNS.
 
Last edited:
System Preferences -> Software Update (make sure download updates automatically is unticked)
 
Just a silly question.. you are not infected with that Mac trojan are you?
 
I have an app installed called Magican which shows all outgoing connections in a little more detail than Snitch. Might help you track it down..
 
I installed an App called Rubbernet which says that there is not bandwidth usage..... Now I'm confused, could activity monitor be lying?
 
Pooky said:
I installed an App called Rubbernet which says that there is not bandwidth usage..... Now I'm confused, could activity monitor be lying?
Click to expand...

mdnsresponder does not download anything technically...
 
It depends. Mac OS X is moving into the Cloud space, so check if your iCloud is activated or not. Also, as stated, the software update needs to be deactivated. Remember that iTunes setting of auto-download may also be active.
 
I had a similar problem. Mine was that I was editing an iBooks Author file in a Dropbox folder. And every version of that 4 GB file that Lion kept making every few minutes kept getting backed up ... constantly.

Your problem may be something similar.
 
creeper said:
It depends. Mac OS X is moving into the Cloud space, so check if your iCloud is activated or not. Also, as stated, the software update needs to be deactivated. Remember that iTunes setting of auto-download may also be active.
Click to expand...

No iCloud, update not activated, iTunes also not active.

clasqm said:
I had a similar problem. Mine was that I was editing an iBooks Author file in a Dropbox folder. And every version of that 4 GB file that Lion kept making every few minutes kept getting backed up ... constantly.

Your problem may be something similar.
Click to expand...

I don't have anything stored in dropbox or anything similar. This is happening when nothing is open.
 
When it is connected to my home wifi - no usage..... But through the university proxy, then there is...
 
Use tcpdump in a terminal session to find out.

Open up a terminal session and type man tcpdump for how to use and arguments (no need to download anything, default utility on a OSX)

Start this up before you connect to the network and you will trap the cause.

Note: run with sudo as it requires raised permissions, and I'd suggest exporting to a file as you'll find the network is quite chatty even when seemingly not busy re apps. Also run ifconfig for a list of interfaces you can monitor.

For example: sudo tcpdump -I en1
 
Last edited:
Pooky said:
No iCloud, update not activated, iTunes also not active.



I don't have anything stored in dropbox or anything similar. This is happening when nothing is open.
Click to expand...

Just remember btw OSX consists of many processes that use the network, not just the ones you launch -- have a look at your auto loading apps, in your profile to see if any of these could be causing the issue. Also look at which services are permitted to auto launch, for example: Google chrome is by default automatically permitted to update itself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X