how to stop unintended internet traffic consumption.

[junglemike]

HI All. Nice to be here.
I use Android 2.1. I am on a limited data plan.
So I installed 3g watchdog to monitor the amount of traffic consumed (also there is data meter built-in which shows the same numbers)
I noticed that data is being consumed even when i don't touch the phone at all (like at night). - ~about 10-20 megs per day, which is significant.

Theoretically I could just go into settings and disable data transfer, but this is not practical. - Because every time I want to go to the web or check email - I would have to go to settings and re-enable the traffic.

Q1) Is there any solution to this problem?

Q2) HOw can I know which program/service is consuming network when idle?

 

[Harry2]

You could the default 15 minutes email polling frequency set to a lower value or set to manual.

Harry

 

[renedokbua]

*deleted*

 

[amlothi]

If you want to go the free route, try Timeriffic. See if you can have it disable data during night time hours. (Personally, I have Wifi at home so my phone is connected to Wifi at night - no data usage.)

If you want to go the better but more complicated route, Tasker can automatically disable data under specific conditions.

 

[Deleted User]

Try just using a mobile internet widget, you can disable data with a quick button press. HTC have it, not sure about other phones but I'm sure there'll be one on the market.

 

[monsterduc1000]

There are a few widgets on the market that you can use to turn your data on/off. I use widgetsoid as not only does it have this option, you can customize any kind of widget bar you want.

 

[renedokbua]

HTC used to have a widget that would actually toggle Internet on/off but it is my understanding that standard Android does not allow any app to change the Internet status. Widgets claiming to do this, like the Widgetsoid, is really just shortcut to mobile settings.

 

[ironass]

Before turning things off and crippling your phone, can I suggest that you install TrafficStats Lite, free from the Market, to check what is using such a large chunk of data.

It may be something you enabled accidentally and do not realise that it is operating.

It will also allow you to see if there are any other areas such as, already suggested, email polling that you could alter or cut down on.

On your handset there may well be a widget (long press homescreen and select Widgets) called Power Control which has a configurable set of widgets that allows you to control such things as Mobile Data, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, Data Sync... etc. with one press.

Hope this helps.

 

[Deleted User]

The power control button doesn't work for everything so the best way to prevent any downloads is to disable mobile internet altogether.

 

[junglemike]

Thanks guys, I used your advice and solved the problem with widgetsoid. I can simply toggle the data on/off, and they are some nice switches that were not available before - like flash light.

 

[ironass]

Thanks guys, I used your advice and solved the problem with widgetsoid. I can simply toggle the data on/off, and they are some nice switches that were not available before - like flash light.

So, what was consuming 20 MB a day?

 

[ninja_reject]

HTC used to have a widget that would actually toggle Internet on/off but it is my understanding that standard Android does not allow any app to change the Internet status. Widgets claiming to do this, like the Widgetsoid, is really just shortcut to mobile settings.

This is not true. I have an HTC phone. And I use widgetsoid. It uses a different method of blocking mobile data than is available in settings. I know because once when it crashed I had to uninstall. Unfortunately, mobile data was toggled off at the time! Settings would not turn it back on, according to settings, my data was on. I couldn't get on the marketplace to redownload, I was freaking out. Luckily, beautiful Widgets seems to use the same method off toggling data, so I was saved.

P.S. The only reason it crashed was cuz I was trying to use a problematic picture for the background. Now I just use lime green for the background, and it works great. There is nothing wrong with widgetsoid.

 

[Harry2]

One should not underestimate the amount of data of the email polling.
My provider counts data in 100kB steps.
With a 15 minute email polling interval there are 10MB data minimum per day for one email account.

Harry

 

[janpetras]

I would love an app that would only prevent certain apps internet access.
For example, I want all internet access restricted, to everything, except gTalk and LiveProfile.

 

[amlothi]

I would love an app that would only prevent certain apps internet access.
For example, I want all internet access restricted, to everything, except gTalk and LiveProfile.

Root your phone and use droidwall.