Can ISPs prove how much you download?

Yes they can - more easily so if you have a static IP address (ie. your IP does not change).

Depending on your ISP you may be able to access your download/upload stats online. Here is my current one:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/jigsaw_psyc...

Yes also, if requested they *could* itemize your complete downloads/uploads by pulling the logs for your IP, but they don't send this out to customers because it's unnecessary and a waste of paper.

@THOSE WHO SAY they don't know what sites you visit: HOW do you think they catch people who commit crimes online? The child abusers who visit kiddie porn sites? Hmmmm?

Every request you make through your ISP (pages, graphics, files etc..) is LOGGED by your ISP and they have these records. Of COURSE they know what sites you went to.

No, ISPs usually cannot prove how much you have actually downloaded. By looking at your question, I can guess you are on Telstra or one of its affilates. These people are known to rip people off in a big way. The only way you can prove how much you actually download is by downloading something like DUmeter (Download/Upload Meter) and running that each time you connect to the internet. Anyway, $360 is way too much for even 4GB on a wireless plan.... at the moment I am paying $41.95/month for 6GB (2GB peak/4GB off peak at around 8Mbit/s [was 512Kbps, but since I've been with Optus for a year now, they upgraded for free]) :). So, no there is not a way ISPs can prove what you downloaded or how much....................., hope this helps a little..............

Yes they can prove how much you download/upload.

If you have your internet connected to a wireless network. If that wireless network is not protected (WEP,WPA, WPA2), then your neighbors are stealing your internet.

If you do have a wireless router. Turn on your encryption and put a password.

If you done the steps above and you still reveicing the same amount on your bill, call your ISP and find out the problem.

On the main HTTP config there is a thing called "Modem Utilization" which shows the memory usage you are using and the total memory and it shows all your user sessions along with that.

Your wasting bandwidth because email requires connection and has a lot of images and flash which causes memory utilization and which traps you in a bill.

I recommend you calm down a little bit with surfing the net and get a wireless modem and gather other networks instead of your own.

I recommend linksys (you can get it at bestbuy possibly) or qwest.

Good luck.

Iam from New Zealand so I can relate to your situation.

Wireless plans are expensive. There equipment would be logging

all the data you use. I don't if they know what sites you visit specifically.

You are being charged per excess megabyte. It would be better to be

on a DSL plan while you use the internet at home and you can still buy a wireless router. Do you really need mobile internet?

They can prove it, They don't just make up your usage, They track every single thing you look at and how much data it uses. You can complain to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, but it's your word against your ISP.

You can find their contact details on their website;

http://www.tio.com.au/

Im pretty sure ISPS can prove how much u download because some of them have a monthly limit of usable bandwidth

They can prove it down to a nanobyte.