How to end Windows x and other programs from doing background uploads and downloads while cruising

A friend of ours uses a Satellite phone for connecting to the Internet while cruising. He was going nuts because his information download bills were insanely high even when he was just doing a couple of emails.

He KNEW something was uploading and downloading in the groundwork only could not observe what it was or how to stop it. This can too be a major pain with data connections using mobile phones, particularly when cruising in a strange state.

The first suspect is, of course, Windows 10 which does background uploads and downloads without letting the user know. Windows 10 is especially difficult because Microsoft won't let you lot turn off automatic windows updates.

The second doubtable is the calculator maker. Lenovo (which my friend was using) is notorious for installing spyware that uploads and downloads data without the user knowing near it. Dell does information technology too, just not to the same extent.

The tertiary doubtable is Chrome and/or Firefox.

To know for certain set up this easy, free, network monitor so you can go along rails of what programs are uploading or downloading in the background.

Then how do y'all stop what's eating your mobile data?

Wow! Just discovered this Dandy little free program chosen ShutUp10 to command Windows x information uploading and downloading. Information technology puts all the Windows x permissions in i piece of cake to access interface and you can't fifty-fifty imagine how much stuff is beingness sent to and from Microsoft. Cheque it out here

#ane - CRITICAL - make a restore bespeak so you tin disengage whatever changes that mess upward your system.

Click on the start push button or the magnifying glass icon and enter Restore Betoken - click on the Create a Restore Point link in the list that shows up.

When the window beneath opens, click on the create button, enter a name for the restore bespeak, and relieve information technology.

restore point

Windows 10

Windows 10 volition allow you fix your WiFi connection to "metered" and won't (in theory) download gigabytes of updates if you are using a metered connectedness - like using your mobile telephone wifi hotspot or your satellite phone connectedness.

Click in the magnifying icon on the task bar or click on the start button and type METERED into the window. The settings for adjusting your WiFi connection appears.

restore point

To change the WiFi connection to metered you need to click on the proper name of your connection in the settings window (sneaky, huh?) and another window will appear like this. Yous demand to whorl down because Microsoft put the metered switch at the bottom where you might not meet it.

restore point

That takes care of Windows auto-updates simply in that location may exist other sneaky apps that will update in the background.

Here'south what yous demand to do. Click on the fiddling magnifying icon on the task bar - or click on the start button - and type SETTINGS into the window.

When the settings window opens click on the Privacy Icon

Windows 10 Privacy

Now go down the listing of items in the left menu bar and in the correct cavalcade, turn off anything you don't desire sneaking uploads and downloads in the background.

Windows 10 Privacy Protection

Turn off all the other hidden data-use parasites in Windows x "Schedule Tasks"

You'll exist floored when y'all see what little data sucking creatures are hiding on your computer; especially if you accept a Lenovo.

Nosotros now become to the Schedule Tasks window where your computer releases those data parasites into the wild.

To open the schedule tasks window, Click the lower-left Showtime push button or the magnifying glass icon and, enter schedule in the empty box and select Schedule tasks from the results.

When the Schedule Tasks Window opens click on a binder icon in the Job Scheduler (local) card. this will reveal Named actions scheduled to deploy in the background.

Click on a named action in the center column and in the right hand card click "disable" - You lot could delete some actions - like sending customer satisfaction information to Lenovo - only information technology might not be a skillful idea to delete some of the deportment under the Windows list. Disabling an action will allow yous come dorsum and enable information technology again if your calculator freaks out. Don't become wild here, just get rid of marketing ploys similar Customer Experience Programs etc.

Windows 10 Schedule Task Window

I disabled the following deportment in the Microsoft Tasks:

  • Customer Experience Improvement Plan (disable all 4 actions)
  • Windows Error Reporting
  • Windows Update (Not needed if you have used the Configure Auto Update tool in a higher place - If you didn't utilise that tool you can disable the first vi named deportment, leave sihboot enabled. ) - you will need to enable these again when you are using a normal Cyberspace connection and desire to download updates again.

There'southward More than Information parasites lurking on some computers.

Lenovo's Superfish scandal reveals that some subconscious software uploads information about your computer activities without you lot knowing about it and displaying advertisements in your browsers (with you lot paying for the advertisements in data-use).

Dumping the Superfish:

Open the Windows Control Console, select Programs and click Uninstall a Program. Search the list for VisualDiscovery. If it is there, click the program and select Uninstall. If information technology WAS at that place, you lot'll demand to get one footstep further and uninstall hidden certificates for Superfish.

Click on the Windows Start push and enter certmgr.msc in the search box. Launch the certmgr.msc program, click on Trusted Root Certification Authorities, followed by Certificates. Search through the certificates for annihilation mentioning Superfish Inc. Once you have found the certificates, right-click them and select Delete.

Taming Your Browser (Chrome and Firefox)

Click on the Chrome carte du jour (or press Alt+Due east) Select Settings. Click on the link titled 'Testify advanced settings' Nether the section headed 'Arrangement' untick the box next to "Go along running groundwork apps when Google Chrome is closed"

Both Firefox and Chrome will update to the latest version in the background without telling you, munching happily on your mobile or satellite data use.

Older versions of these browsers let yous plow this motorcar-update off. No Longer. To protect y'all from cyber nuts and their own incompetence in making an unsecured software system, the car-update is now a bit of a claiming to turn off. Here's how to exercise it:

Note: This as well turns off auto-updates for other Google apps on your computer - like Google Earth.

For Chrome, Click on the start button or the magnifying glass icon and enter msconfig in the box and striking enter. Information technology will open the System Configuration Window.

In the System Configuration window, click the Services tab. At the lesser, check the box "Hide All Microsoft Services". This will hide all the services related to Microsoft so that y'all don't disable essential services. Under services section search and find Google Update (gupdate) and Google Update (gupdatem).

Disable Google Chrome Auto Update

Uncheck both the?Google Services?and click the?Utilize?push. Click?OK?to save the settings.

You tin can likewise uncheck whatever other service that is eating information in the background (like Dell Customer Connect, Dell Digital Commitment Service, Dell Update Service)

Firefox at least will allow you set up the browser to notify you when an update is available, only won't download it and install it untill you say it'south OK.

Click on the menu icon in the acme right of the tool bar and select Options. Then click on Advanced and select "Never Check for Updates" or "Cheque for updates, just let me choose whether to install them".

Updating When you lot Get Back

Yous DO really demand to update your browsers and Windows OS when you render to a port and take a practiced WiFi or state-line Internet connectedness.

Bookmark this page so you tin can render here and contrary what you take simply done when yous are ready to update your system over again. :-)