R13 000 bill for Windows update

I wonder what percentage of Vodacom data traffic is due to Windows updates. :rolleyes:

Vodacom sells contracts which include a computer (with Windows) and a 3G modem. If the computer's OS needs to regularly update itself then the contract data bundle size should at least cover the cost of the updates. Alternatively, all traffic to the Microsoft update site should be zero-rated for users who get a Windows computer as part of their contract. (Ditto, for Telkom ADSL contracts that include a computer.) What do you guys think?

It would also be nice, if Microsoft could have their own APN on Vodacom/MTN. This APN would only allow your computer to access the update site and it would be free.

W.
 
They should have it like mweb's max limit thingy.

You can go 100meg over (you pick the limit)... after that..sorry for you! No interweb. Vodacom would have come and collect the money from my grave,because R6k bill = instant heart attack!
 
lets not forget how much money windows updates save the network providers, download the first copy and cache the rest from proxies...

now for what I consider a major part of the problem, the corrupted copy on the transparant cache causing the problem.

user A download half the file and the cache times out causing only half a file to be stored, user B and a couple more download corrupted files until the cache next refreshes it's content.

I've detected this more than a couple of times on ADSL and 3G, do it again via my leased line and everything is hunky dory... tried again but force the cache from the NP and guess what... it's corrupt!

Think for a second, Vista SP1 save the operators between 300 and 500MB of international bandwidth because of caching, andthey're billing everyone for serving the locally cached content at full rate!

do yourselves a favour, get symantec enterprise, Microsoft SUS, Thinkvantage software update administrator, etc... and and cute little copy of squid and just watch how your bandwidth opens!

Of course substitute your platforms, I'm using lots of Windows, and Office (SUS), symantec for Antivirus and plenty of Lenovo (system update administrator).

D
 
It is not advisable to use mobile bandwidth for updating windows unmonitored. This clearly proves it.
 
MS Updates

I still think that a way should be found for these constant MS updates to be zero rated somehow. In this ****ry bandwidth is NOT free :mad: MS should be footing the bill for us having to fix these constant security holes and other problems.

This is like putting a new vehicle on the road with defective brakes. Then charging you to fix it :mad:


The fuming Wizard
 
vodacom3g said:
Let's see credit card companies send you an sms BEFORE you've reached your limit. ;)

You forget that you get 3 SMS's to warn you of your usage, so even if you download at a rate of knots, the first two should warn you and the 3rd means you'd better stop.
Click to expand...

This month is the second month this year that these sms's don't pitch.
I have also checked vodacom4them up to 6 hours after last disconnect with no update.
This month I did not receive any of the sms's by the way - 8 months less 3 days to contract end and counting:mad:
 
gregmcc said:
I don't agree with this - machines need to be patched full stop. When a worm comes out that flattens the network making using of a unpatched exploit we all moan at MS!
Click to expand...

MS is the main bug creator. It is my machine not bill gates'!!
With XP I install SP2 and do not allow auto all - else I get a new internet exploder which I do not want or use - and other favours.
At most I select security updates.
Don't use MS firewall either.
 
antowan said:
It is not advisable to use mobile bandwidth for updating windows unmonitored. This clearly proves it.
Click to expand...

The problem is that Vodacom and MTN advertise their services as suitable for the average user to experience broadband. For the average user it's not unreasonable to expect that they have automatic updates or Flash, or any other number of standard bandwidth-using technologies switched on. While there are realities in the SA market which prevent people from having as much bandwith as you want, you can not offer a service where people can legitimitly run up a bill large enough to require increasing the mortgage on their house without them even noticing. With 3.6HSDPA I think the theoretically limit is something ridiculous like R25 000 per day. Even if you have Vodacom's capping service enabled you'd still chew through 3 hours of bandwidth before it would kick in (R3000).

Right now the average customer has no way to win. As AK65 shows we can't leave automatic update on. The alternative is you run an old copy of software, get sent a bad email or visit a bad website, and get a bot installed on your computer which chews through your bandwidth as well.

I can't think of any other service (Eskom, Telkom, DStv, Water, etc) where by acting responsibly I can be subject to this level of insane tariff. Even if I go on holiday for two weeks and leave a heavy appliance like a heater on, for this totally negligent act I'd still only end up paying R1000. However, if I leave my PC on over a similar time period auto-updating as recommended by security best-practices, well the sky's the limit.

The least that Vodacom/MTN could start doing is including in big print when you sign up "This service can run up costs of R1000 per hour. Caution is advised!". Ideally they must get hard-capping in place ASAP.
 
WireFree said:
It would also be nice, if Microsoft could have their own APN on Vodacom/MTN. This APN would only allow your computer to access the update site and it would be free.
Click to expand...

I agree it would be nice if updates were free but what about other OSes like Linux, Mac OS or even individual programs like Firefox?

Also, can you imagine explaining this to a non-technical person? "Ok, you need to have automatic update switched off, but every Tuesday you need to disconnect, then change this little APN field to say 'msupdate', then reconnect, then run windows update, wait for it to finish, disconnect again, change the APN back to 'internet', and connect again."
 
dionb said:
MS is the main bug creator. It is my machine not bill gates'!!
With XP I install SP2 and do not allow auto all - else I get a new internet exploder which I do not want or use - and other favours.
At most I select security updates.
Click to expand...

I do the same myself, but for other people that are less technically inclined I'd rather (and they'd rather) the machine belonged to "Bill Gates" than "Russian Storm Botnet Creator".
 
BTTB said:
First thing I do is disable Auto Update on a new installation of Windows.
At R70 a Gb for ADSL Prepaid one has to watch your data usage.
Click to expand...

There are so many different ways for one to run up bandwidth on the Internet other than Auto Update though. I can think of YouTube, online gaming, movies, music just off the top of my head. Without resorting to having a book that comes with the Internet entitled "Things you should NOT use on SA Internet", we need to ensure that if people make a mistake and leave Auto Update on the most they can lose is the R70 for the Gb voucher.

We can treat that as the price paid for a lesson well learnt. Where I have a problem is what Vodacom/MTN are doing, where a single honest mistake can cause you to run up a debt large enough to buy a motorbike.
 
On both my windows laptops I have disabled windowsupdates - and never had any issues or problems with viruses etc.

Only thing that is allowed to update is avg free and clamav (on my server).

If it works, why fix it? At the very least you can download SP2 or SP3, burn it to a CD, and use that next time to bring your freshly installed windows up to a reasonable current level - without downloading oodles and oodles of updates for every PC on your network.
 
The_Librarian said:
On both my windows laptops I have disabled windowsupdates - and never had any issues or problems with viruses etc.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but then Vodacom/MTN need to be telling that to people who sign up for their Internet service. For most people signing up to broadband, they're going to see many websites which tell them "For your own safety you should have Windows Update enabled" AND they're going to see a message that pops up on their taskbar warning them that their security is at risk because updates are disabled. Vodacom/MTN need to make clear that while it may be "nice" to keep your computer up-to-date, the consequences of leaving it on could be a R13 000 bill. That would help people make a far more informed decision.
 
The_Librarian said:
On both my windows laptops I have disabled windowsupdates - and never had any issues or problems with viruses etc.

Only thing that is allowed to update is avg free and clamav (on my server).

If it works, why fix it? At the very least you can download SP2 or SP3, burn it to a CD, and use that next time to bring your freshly installed windows up to a reasonable current level - without downloading oodles and oodles of updates for every PC on your network.
Click to expand...

Well said, just keep the A/V app up to date
 
The_Librarian said:
Only thing that is allowed to update is avg free and clamav (on my server).
Click to expand...
Cheapskate:D
Must be private user heh?
I use AVG Anti-Virus Plus Firewall (v8) - get 24 month update incl software - like v8 now.
It replaces ms firewall and does spyware now.
Use Mailwasher Pro for spamcheck.

Oh, and has anybody noticed how seismic xp becomes when it knows there are updates and you are not allowing it to install them - tantrum mode supreme.:eek:
 
AK65 said:
Never received any sms - checked the sim when i stuck it in my phone - plenty from six months ago - none at the time of this incident....:(

Not that I would have seen them anyway - the card is in a linux gateway server in my basement - I am not using the vodafone dashboard anyway ....
Click to expand...

AK, when you first posted, the first thing I checked was if you got the SMS's. And you did, they were delivered at the right times. The problem was that your application did not know how to receive them.

If you're on contract you could have used the ALTNUM system to get the SMS's on an alternate number.
 
Let's compare a little:

Neotel 10Gb - R599.00
Vodacom - R13 000.00

Oh wait I forgot! Bandwidth costs Vodacom more than anyone else......:rolleyes:
 
lenosb said:
Let's compare a little:

Neotel 10Gb - R599.00
Vodacom - R13 000.00

Oh wait I forgot! Bandwidth costs Vodacom more than anyone else......:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

LOL... and when they have better coverage, adding a CDMA dongle to a laptop will be dead easy... not to mention having a CDMA cell phone to replace your vodacom handset.
 
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