Why is it putting MB of stuff onto the internet?

[lugoteehalt]

Noticed the statistic from the computer that it had taken 147MB from the internet today and put 8MB out. Why did it put out so much data, 8MB, why would it need to do that? It makes me paranoid.

[devils casper]

Which Linux distro are you using? Package Manager never uploads that much of data. Is there any other package running that requires internet access?

[jayd512]

Some of the outgoing traffic will simply be queries to websites.

[lugoteehalt]

Which Linux distro are you using? Package Manager never uploads that much of data. Is there any other package running that requires internet access?

Using Debian Lenny.

Been streaming stuff from youtube and the like presumably accounts for it taking in 147MB it is just a little difficult to see why anything would need to take 8MB out of it, that's how much it put out onto the internet. Have got a bit confused about which way round 'uploading' is.

Thanks both.

[coopstah13]

8mb is hardly anything, i wouldn't even think about it

any communication you make to a web server will be sending data out not just getting data back

[lugoteehalt]

8mb is hardly anything, i wouldn't even think about it

any communication you make to a web server will be sending data out not just getting data back

Thanks, that's very reassuring. Answers the question but have to say I personally have no idea why anything would need that much.

[coopstah13]

the browser has to ask the server to send you what it wants, that is data that will be sent out over the line, possibly you are visiting a site with cookies which is more data, it isn't much data mind you, but it adds up after a day of web browsing

[lugoteehalt]

the browser has to ask the server to send you what it wants, that is data that will be sent out over the line, possibly you are visiting a site with cookies which is more data, it isn't much data mind you, but it adds up after a day of web browsing

Right, thanks, it's a sort of dripping tap effect - before you know it the bath is full.

The evil bastards are not trying to murder me....no really.

[Roxoff]

Yep, and if you send any emails, they'll add to your outgoing count. And any DNS queries (looking up the IP address of each web site), and posting to forums such as this one, it can all add up, little by little.

If you want to be better informed, zero the counter and spend a few mins doing what you normally do on the internet, and have a look at how much has gone through.