Massive data being used up by (nsurlsessiond)

[phly]

Good Day

I have an issue whereby massive data is being used up by this service "nsurlsessiond" and it links to "launchd" which links to kernel tasks and so forth. I have nothing running that uses the bandwith and data that gets gobbled up by this service.

How do i trace what is eating up all my data and stop it. I have googled the problem and some links point to icloud and its services syncing but i don't even have any items on icloud that would sync. Its off also. I initially thought it was the app store trying to download updates as those are huge. and i have updated them yet data is still getting used whenever there is an internet connection open or WIFI.

 

[bwana]

Installing Little Snitch might help you track things down.

 

[ginggs]

Kevin, is that you?

 

[phly]

Can't believe it was a small obvious issue that i just managed to fixed
Lost about 500mb though between my original post and this update. And several gigs of data since installing El Capitan.

Turns out it was spotlight and the setting "turn on spotlight suggestions". I didn't for once think that I would fire up the net and the laptop would lose it going crazy all over the interwebs even though I'm not even searching anything. Now that I switched off that option. Only 1mb used up so far. Unbelievable.

 

[sajunky]

The next things Microsoft must do with Windows Search. Steal this idea.

 

[phly]

Reports are even Microsoft since windows 10 is using up data behind the scenes. And in SA where data is still a luxury to some of the folks it becomes a major problem. It could just be an update that is forced on you without your knowledge as you innocently looking up viral cat pics however the shock when you realize it is not funny.

 

[wezzcoetzee]

Did you see THIS?

Basically it's your photos syncing with iCloud, had the same issue before...

Where did you find that it's related to spotlight?

 

[phly]

I had no photos on macbook syncing to the iCloud. Infact the service was off. It was a fresh El Capitan install. I found that spotlight related option online at some website. I had skipped it previously as I too didn't think it would be that and double checked my iCloud. However after posting that it was fixed i realized that it was just temporary and that data started getting used up by the same service again. (From my understanding the service kicks in whenever any app or service is using up the internet or rather connecting to and downloading data from the internet). The final fix was to fire up app store and stop the downloading which I think were still going on behind the scenes somehow. That solved my problem ultimately.

PS starting up app store from spotlight wont work in changing the settings. One has to go to preferences then click on App store and you will now get the option of turning of updates downloading in the background.

 

[phly]

Did you see THIS?

Basically it's your photos syncing with iCloud, had the same issue before...

Where did you find that it's related to spotlight?

Oh and the spotlight solution is on page two of that same link you posted