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Telecom broadband invoice $585 this month.
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| geek_wyseman |
July 1, 2009, 3:50 pm |
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#1 | | Telecom broadband invoice $585 this month. We have been paying around $140 for the past months for combined phone and broadband. Suddenly this month's invoice is $585. Phoned Telecom, they said we have to pay. The reason is 22Gb over the 40Gb allowance, at 2c per Mb equals $450, on top of standard charge of $135. Is there something we can do about this? We don't do any downloading. I suspect the broadband was stolen by neighbours via the wireless broadband. Any chance Telecom's measuring device faulty? | |
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| geek_shaun16 |
July 1, 2009, 3:55 pm |
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#2 | | Well if you have wireless broadband you need to have it secure, otherwise as you've seen you end up paying heaps for it, and thats not telecoms fault |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 1, 2009, 3:56 pm |
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#3 | | I'm guessing you don't use WPA/2? I wonder if you leave all the doors and windows open when you go out aswell... |
| geek_bidda2 |
July 1, 2009, 3:58 pm |
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#4 | | Unfournately their measureing device isn't some man standing next to a window counting every byte that goes past. If you wireless is unsecure, unfortunately that's your problem, not telecoms. Is it a wireless router they gave you? IF so, does it come with instructions to secure it? |
| geek_michellew2k |
July 1, 2009, 4:00 pm |
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#5 | | I agree only a fool would have an unsecured connection. Either change your plan to one that slows your speed down once you hit your cap or secure your network |
| geek_ferita |
July 1, 2009, 4:17 pm |
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#6 | | Just go wired if you are getting your wifi hacked grab some long ethernet cables and turn off wifi |
| geek_badcam |
July 1, 2009, 4:21 pm |
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#7 | | YZXY ??!? |
| geek_badcam |
July 1, 2009, 4:23 pm |
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#8 | | What security do you have set up on your Wifi Router? |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 4:24 pm |
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#9 | | Well thats gota suck wyseman but as others have already pointed out, its not telecoms fault you didnt secure the wireless. But then again they havent exactly made it easy for the average joe to setup, as we wouldnt have the constant threads on the TMMB asking how to secure thier wireless if they did. I dont know why they make an open network the default setting? also how many peeps have the know how or the setup to hack it, even if wep was used? my network has a 1km coverage in a urban suburb, using a high powered AP & external 24dbi aerial & ive yet to have my wireless hacked even when using wep. So the point im making is, you just have to make the effort to set up some sort of encryption security & you can atleast keep out 99.9% of the random wifi leechers even using basic wep security. |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 1, 2009, 4:30 pm |
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#10 | | WEP is pretty easy to break... |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 4:41 pm |
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#11 | | Yeah i know that whakatanerocks but even the most straight up person will use an open network if the opportunity is there. How many average pc users will go all out to find out how to hack it if the network they were leeching is suddenly secured? yes maybe a tech minded person might out of interest. But most average pc users will just give up. Theres this false idea that theres gangs of wifi hackers combing the suburbs with the right gear & knowledge hacking peoples wireless when there isnt. Most are just opportunist leechers who use it cause they can, not because they have the skills etc to do it. The ones that are doing it are up to alot more than just using your internet. |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 1, 2009, 4:48 pm |
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#12 | | Yeah that's true. Most are opportunists. Best thing to do is, ah, secure you're network... |
| geek_ferita |
July 1, 2009, 4:50 pm |
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#13 | I have actually gone and secured neighbours connections as an open network is a pain for me as my kids will connect to them with their laptops.
They think they are connecting to our wireless network but they connect to the neighbours unsecured one and watch youtube for africa. |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 4:56 pm |
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#14 | | Yup ;) i know of a number of warrdrivers in Palmy, even i did it when i first got into wireless. Even mapped all the industrial areas with the unsecured networks :P But you put those same unsecured business's next to a house with people with lower moral standards & they will hack it to death because they can, as they dont even have to try hard to do it. Make it secure & 99% of people will give up. |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 5:00 pm |
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#15 | | LOL ferita lucky the two networks around my house are both secured as my kids would do the same. Especially my 14yo son. I think hes having pr0n withdrawls since i blocked all the porn sites on my network, hes complained to his mum that the net doesnt work properly :P until i told her what he was doing on it ;) |
| geek_michellew2k |
July 1, 2009, 5:05 pm |
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#16 | | I used to walk to work and would see people in their cars with their laptops on the dashboards looking for unsecured networks |
| geek_badcam |
July 1, 2009, 5:11 pm |
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#17 | | I've not yet noticed anyone doing that myself. But, there are an heck of a lot of unsecured networks around town. |
| geek_billybob57 |
July 1, 2009, 5:12 pm |
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#18 | | When I first got broadband wireless I didnt know you had to set it up yourself to be secure until I formatted a computer and rang cause I couldnt remeber the password for the wireless, the nice lady after getting it going said " now we will make it secur blah blah blah " , I was like WTF they never did that the first time (auto cd didnt do it so I had to ring the first time) |
| geek_bidda2 |
July 1, 2009, 5:13 pm |
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#19 | | IS op coming back? Does anyone know if the wireless routers telecom give out, come with instructions recommending that you secure the router? |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 5:14 pm |
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#20 | | True, but the thing is michelle they are looking for unsecured networks, hence my point of any wifi security is better than none. If they were trying to hack a secured network, you would see them with a couple of lappys & window mounted aerials & they usually do it at night or early morning before anybody is around to notice what they are up to. The n00bs who do that during the day are just highlighting how stupid they are. |
| geek_kevin16 |
July 1, 2009, 5:16 pm |
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#21 | | I don't believe they include secure instructions, they do include, I believe and would like confirmed, a remote access account the helpdesk can access,.. |
| geek_wyseman |
July 1, 2009, 5:17 pm |
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#22 | | About securing the network, we do use username and password to log onto the network. That doesn't seem secure enough? |
| geek_wyseman |
July 1, 2009, 5:35 pm |
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#23 | | I also think it's misleading. When we switch to the 40Gb/month, any extra would be 2c per Mb. I would never that could come to an extra of $450. |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 5:38 pm |
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#24 | | Nope unfortunaetly that only secures your pc your router that is on BB is connected to the net 24/7 & that isnt secured. |
| geek_billybob57 |
July 1, 2009, 5:42 pm |
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#25 | | Turn off your modem when ya not using it that would work |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 1, 2009, 5:52 pm |
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#26 | | Agreed billybob as i run websites from my home server its not possible for me to do that. But most people have no reason to leave it on if they are at work or asleep. & also they offset thier costs on the cheap plans by having those high over use data rates on other plans, thats why it pays to read the fine print. Thats why i never have a plan that isnt capped or you can't increase your data usage without having to pay mega bucks for it. The last isp i was with before xtra had a usage meter that you could adjust on thier website if you thought you would use more & at reasonable prices. | |
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| geek_lucky015 |
July 1, 2009, 5:56 pm |
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#27 | | $140 a month for broadband??? That seems a bit too steep for someone who doesnt know how to secure wireless... |
| geek_lucky015 |
July 1, 2009, 5:57 pm |
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#28 | | Asuming there not spending $60 on phone calls That is... |
| geek_billybob57 |
July 1, 2009, 6:00 pm |
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#29 | | re: Didnt take a master's in computer science or whatever it's called to come up with that one LOL *click* |
| geek_badcam |
July 1, 2009, 6:02 pm |
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#30 | | 25. Until Wyseman turns his router on again. Wyseman: What's the Make and Model Number of your Router? Why don't we take you through setting up your security and then you won't have to bother turning it on and off all the time. |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 2, 2009, 8:21 am |
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#31 | | You don't need multiple laptops and hi-gain/directional aerials to hack WEP, you need two programs and a wee bit of time to gather enough packetsBut you are right, weak security is better then none. Most people don't have the know-how (not that it takes much these days) or inclination to do it... |
| geek_mrfxit |
July 2, 2009, 8:31 am |
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#32 | | Someone leaching 20gb in a month Is NOT an accidental connection (99% of cases). They are clearly taking advantage of the free connection = fraud/theft of someone elses paid connection without permission . |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 2, 2009, 8:35 am |
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#33 | | Absolutely, and because it could be any one of the neighbors it's very hard to pinpoint where it is coming from. Best bet is to secure you're network. Expensive lesson in this case, but I bet they won't forget it soon... |
| geek_nesh1 |
July 2, 2009, 9:02 am |
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#34 | | Perhaps i'm naivebut i dont understand how people can leave their wireless network unsecured given Telecom give you at least TWO prompts to password protect your wireless during the installation cd and refers to it another TWO times in the quick start booklet. Its dead easy to protect with their instructions. So easy I actually did it too well, forgot my password and had some very helpful man in Manila talk me through resetting it last night lol |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 2, 2009, 9:07 am |
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#35 | | It's not a case of you being naive, it's the other people that don't bother learning about the equipment they're using. Or think that we live in a world where there is no crime... |
| geek_nesh1 |
July 2, 2009, 9:17 am |
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#36 | | Whats interestingis how prevalent it is, so at the very least the OP can at least be reassured its not just them. driving in town last night my iphone kept automatically picking up unsecured wireless connections and joining them without my knowledge! |
| geek_ferita |
July 2, 2009, 9:22 am |
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#37 | | Re: 34 Its like that with anything though. Advising newbies to go and install linux can have its downfalls as well. Linux boxes are much sort after by hackers and a newbie with a misconfigured linux box is just an invitation for a remote root shell. This is why hackers love korean linux newbies. Korea has fast broadband, the linux box is online 24/7 and the language difference makes it harder for the hackers to get busted. |
| geek_mysteryman007 |
July 2, 2009, 9:50 am |
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#38 | | yeah you probably dont need it nowdays but a couple years back when i dabbled in it, thats what you needed if you wanted to get in fast ;) one lappy to ping the AP & another to sniff the packets. As the amount of packets needed is alot, unless you do multiple visits & save the logs. Hence why most people just hacked the neighbours wifi, cause you can do it whenever you have time. If i had the time at the mo id test the theory out & let you know, but ive got a new server im trying to get up & running at the mo, & work is flat out. |
| geek_whakatanerocks |
July 2, 2009, 10:18 am |
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#39 | | Yeah to crack WEP you need like 500,000 IV packets... |
| geek_hdmovies |
July 2, 2009, 10:21 am |
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#40 | | / I suspect you would be able to lower your bill by 400 odd dollars, as many other ISPs charge between $1-$2 per additional GB. So Telecoms charge of $20 per GB is very excessive. I remember something in my law studies that under the fair trading act, fees for services have to be reasonably priced, and a 1000% difference vs the competition is far from reasonable. I'd contact the Commerce Commission, and the Consumer Advice Bureau, as they'll be able to give more professional advice (It's been 10 years since I did my law papers). PS make sure you do some research on what other ISPs charge so you can get a good base of what is fair and reasonable. But I'd say $2 per GB is very much fair and profitable for any ISP. |
| geek_sticknbonez |
July 2, 2009, 4:37 pm |
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#41 | | .If you don't do downloading, do you really need $40GB? Also $140 for 40GB seems a bit excessive. Have you tried other ISPs? Xnet is fairly cheap, full speed and $40GB would only cost $91 with no extra cost. |
| geek_nzoomed |
July 2, 2009, 4:44 pm |
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#42 | | DONT pay it even if its your fault that you didnt secure your network, its crook that telecoN can even charge you $22 per GB, Im with orcon and they only charge us $2 per GB if we go over, Tell telecon that if they dont lower the bill to something more realistic and fair, that you will go to another provider like orcon and that you will never deal with them again. |
| geek_nzoomed |
July 2, 2009, 5:01 pm |
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#43 | | Im also suprised you dindt notice your usage going up at a far early stage? |
| geek_wyseman |
July 2, 2009, 5:02 pm |
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#44 | | Re , your ideas seem practical and useful. I am going to seek some legal advise. I am not to pay without a fight. Thanks. |
| geek_wyseman |
July 2, 2009, 5:09 pm |
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#45 | | Re , "no need for 40Gb if not downloading" That wasn't my thinking when we changed from 20Gb to 40Gb plan. We didn't have enough when using the 20Gb, so added $20 per month and double the monthly allowance. Then came the nasty surprise. |
| geek_ferita |
July 2, 2009, 5:10 pm |
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#46 | | You need to also remember that telecom can afford the best lawyers so it may be a battle you will lose |
| geek_drcspy |
July 2, 2009, 5:11 pm |
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#47 | | $20 per Gb aint that bad........have you seen the 'overage' charges for MOBILE BB ?.......telecom again: $0.57c/Mb....($570 per Gb)..... |
| geek_ferita |
July 2, 2009, 5:14 pm |
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#48 | | What sort of stuff are you doing that uses up over 20gig a month tho? I dont even use 20 gig. Are you sure you havent downloaded so,e movies on limewire or bit torrents and had the files sharing ? |
| geek_wyseman |
July 2, 2009, 5:18 pm |
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#49 | | , I was a bit careless, thinking I have doubled the cap and at 2c per Mb extra, it shouldn't be much. I was so wrong!!! |
| geek_wyseman |
July 2, 2009, 5:21 pm |
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#50 | | Re , I am taking them to Small Claim Tribunal, They might not bother to show up. | |
| | Pages: 1 2 | | Tags: broadband, telecom | | Leave your comment: | |
Geek Forums Message Board > Telecom broadband invoice $585 this month.
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