I have been chcking my broadband usage monitor.With the router switched off there is no usage recorded ,with my laptop on but not connected to internet I am clocking up 200mb a day . That isn't right is it?
I do have a secure password protected connction
No other computers are in use in the house
I am using vista and have norton antivirus
I did exactly what you have done with the same results I was clocking up even with the modem/router disconnected (wired setup) I was using Bitmeter which is supposed to be good
I was using windows 7 64 bit so assumed it did not agree with Bitmiter
This may seem like a naive question but I really don't know the answer - if you click on a neighbour's wifi link, do they end up paying for it? We don't, but if we power up the laptop there are apparently several wifis in our street.....
Boxtops:
If you use a neighbour's wi-fi, you'll be adding to the amount that 'they' download. If they've got an account with no restrictions on downloads it obviously won't cost them anything, whereas someone who has a limit on his downloads might have to pay extra (or even have his internet access cut-off or restricted if his account goes well over the agreed limit).
Either way, it's still a criminal offence to use someone else's connection without their permission.