[META] Cautionary tale about Having Mega Account

CrossEyedHooker | 26 points | Oct 15 2016 20:28:46

[META] Cautionary tale about Having Mega Account | Megalinks MegaDB [META] Cautionary tale about Having Mega Account

I really appreciate this sub.

In the past I'd always used the "download using your browser" option in Mega. The DL speeds were fast and I never encountered data limits other than for individual file sizes.

Recently though, I created a free Mega account and installed MegaSync so that I could DL a 15GB file that wouldn't have been allowed by Chrome. That worked fine, so I started using MegaSync to lighten my computer's resource usage.

Today MegaSync stopped because I hit the "daily bandwidth limit for a free account" after DL 10 GB total in files. I switched to the "download using your browser" option but was still stopped by Mega with the same message (encouraging me to get a paid account) because it detected my IP address. I deleted my Mega account, uninstalled MegaSync, restarted my computer, and tried again using the "download using your browser" option but was again stopped by Mega. Finally I started a VPN to mask my IP address. I can DL now, but at only 10% of my typical speed.

This sucks. If anyone knows how I can get back to using Mega like I did before creating an account and using MegaSync, I would appreciate it. Otherwise, consider this a cautionary tale about signing up with Mega because it seems once they start monitoring your IP it doesn't stop.

EDIT: Based on comments it looks like it might be something new with Mega, and the correlation with my creating a Mega account and installing MegaSync might just be coincidence. Still a troubling development though, and I'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

[-] morphagentOG | 12 points | Oct 15 2016 20:44:03

I am also getting bandwidth limitations (starting ~1 week ago). I am using a VPN and I also DL using JDownloader.

[-] thatguywhohadareddit | 6 points | Oct 15 2016 22:16:40

Did you not have limitations before that? I've been using MegaSync for a while, 2 or so months, and have downloaded well over 20 Gb of stuff in a day. Do you think they started doing this recently?

[-] mistercam | 6 points | Oct 15 2016 22:36:29

I was also downloading large amounts of files daily seemingly without limits. I installed MEGAsync yesterday and after doing so received my first bandwidth-exceeded error message. I thought it was purely coincidental, but now I'm not sure. Once I'm done with MEGAsync, I'm going to uninstall it, and follow AladeenAlWadiya's advice below to see if it fixes the problem.

[-] morphagentOG | 4 points | Oct 16 2016 00:11:02

This started ~1 week ago. I have been using this site for over a year and I've had no prior Mega limitations. I was getting Google Chrome limitations a few months ago while downloading using browser, but switched to JDownloader and had no other issues until recently. I have never used MegaSync. If you are using a VPN (I use PIA), I found that changing your connection location, if you have that option, establishes a new IP.

[-] opensky727 | 0 points | Oct 17 2016 13:19:51

i heard JDownloader has malware in it, is this true?

[-] rng2020 | 2 points | Oct 17 2016 19:07:25

Not if you get the 'adware free' version from their forum.

[-] sitic | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 00:05:25

I've been using MEGA for about a year, about 3 months ago I started getting bandwidth limitations (tried downloading without account on new ip and in incognito mode, same thing happend).

I think it's based on which country you are in, I don't have any problems when I vpn to the US or some other place (haven't done that though for 2 weeks).

[-] GldRush98 | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 16:10:49

Yup, Mega has changed recently and now limit your downloads. I have always used JDownloader and in the past I could grab 50gb-60gb of files at once with out issue. Today I just got stopped after only 10gb of files.

[-] opensky727 | 1 points | Oct 17 2016 13:46:46

Is there a way to bypass that limit?

[-] AladeenAlWadiya | 11 points | Oct 15 2016 21:54:07

Switch off your router for 10 mins (try 1 minute first, sometimes that's more than enough) or so. When you start up again , you should have a new IP address. Also clear cookies for good measure. Go to chrome://settings/cookies , search mega.nz, remove all shown. This method will work most of the time, depends on your ISP. But it should even work with sticky dynamic IPs, especially if you're in a densely populated area.

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 7 points | Oct 15 2016 23:44:59

I've done all your suggestions and I'm back in business, but...

because I'm a certified idiot I didn't note my IP address before, so I can't know if it's different now. Also, Mega's restriction was on a (4 hour?) timer that would have run out by now anyway.

http://e.lvme.me/g4q9a75.jpg

Learn from my mistakes people.

[-] ZuliCurah | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 11:09:03

cheers. method worked for me too.

[-] MassiveBallacks | 5 points | Oct 16 2016 03:44:09

The same thing has started happening to me this week. However, this bandwidth limit hit me while I was DLing via browser without a MEGA account. So I don't believe it's MegaSync related.

Strangely enough, I created an account and installed MegaSync because I also had a 15GB file that I wanted to download.

I'd love to get rid of this 10GB cap though. It's fucking annoying.

[-] FoxRaptix | 5 points | Oct 16 2016 06:33:42

I'd love to get rid of this 10GB cap though. It's fucking annoying.

There is a way, it just involves paying

[-] MassiveBallacks | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 16:08:03

Yep, I'm considering it. The prices are in Euros. So do you know if there would be any problem with paying with credit card if I'm in the US?

[-] thatguywhohadareddit | 2 points | Oct 17 2016 21:57:30

I doubt it would, but be careful. Mega is co-owned by some rather unsavory characters. Probably, if you pay for pro, nothing will happen, but better safe than sorry.

[-] MassiveBallacks | 1 points | Oct 18 2016 19:28:28

Thanks for the info. I haven't made a move yet, so I'll just hold off.

[-] evilbunny_50 | 4 points | Oct 16 2016 01:43:00

I just left it for the time stated.. started on a Friday afternoon with a 13Gb download (Sniper 3 iso) and hit the limit later that day. I just said fuck it and went home and came back Monday to a completed download.

Just be patient I guess?

[-] BraTaTa | 3 points | Oct 16 2016 04:43:45

If you leave the browser open, the download will automatically resume where it left off when your daily limit was up. Their timer set it to about 5 hours or so. It must be a new policy because i've only encounter this for about a week now. I left my computer on and the download resumed after the 5 hours was up.

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 02:41:00

It is was it is I suppose. But for me it will force a significant reduction in DLing.

[-] morphagentOG | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 02:50:32

Thanks for that. Good to know. I didn't have the patience to wait, I guess. Will try that next time.

[-] 3r0z | 3 points | Oct 16 2016 02:05:05

I just noticed this bandwidth limit today too. I didn't set up MegaSync or anything, just downloading through JDownloader like I always do. This is something new because I download scores of gigs from Mega everyday. This is life altering.

[-] morphagentOG | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 02:37:46

LOL. I don't have cable and live in a very crowded area so antennae is useless. Yes, I agree...life altering.

[-] ZuliCurah | 3 points | Oct 16 2016 11:03:03

I've been having the same problems.

dammit I trusted mega in the hopes that they would not do something like this. but then this happens.

well... hopefully enough people are outraged by it to force them to lift the limit

[-] thenicob | 3 points | Oct 18 2016 11:57:10

https://cracked-games.org/mega-nz-unlimited-download/ I am using the downloader and it works perfectly fine. Downloaded a ton (40 GB in a row etc.) If you need a translation/tutorial I could help you out.

english tutorial; http://nicoblog.org/guides/fix-for-mega-nz-bandwidth-quota-exceeded-error/

[-] Blue_Train | 2 points | Oct 18 2016 13:22:54

If you run across a macOS tool that'll do the same as IDM, please, share the info. thx

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 1 points | Oct 18 2016 13:43:30

Nice! I'll be trying this next time I hit the limit. Thank you.

[-] thenicob | 2 points | Oct 18 2016 15:04:28

Welcome.

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 1 points | Oct 22 2016 17:20:57

Doesn't it cost to use IDM after 30 days?

[-] thenicob | 1 points | Oct 22 2016 20:23:16

Not using it. Didnt even know it was "required"/existed until now. Just go download MEGAdownloader and enjoy.

[-] Blue_Train | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 05:22:58

Is there any kind of announcement about this on the site or does it seem like they're doing some sort of under the radar testing of bandwidth limitations? When does DotCom plan to launch 3.0?

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 11:49:55

I would assume that Mega is tracking how many free account holders are driven to get paid accounts by this. Beyond that I don't know any more than you.

[-] rushabshah32 | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 12:07:40

What's exactly the bandwidth limit and how long does it take to reset? I once downloaded 18 gb few months back and never faced such problems

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 12:48:04

The message I received said the limit was dependent on overall traffic by others, and varies. The reset time for me began at 4+ hours IIRC.

The growing consensus seems to be that this is something that's been implemented within the past month. Just last week I was DLing more than 18 GB in a day without issues.

[-] rushabshah32 | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 14:25:02

I'm guessing that there was someone else who was downloading from the same link, And that link was from a free account. Maybe we wouldn't have had this issue if the link generated was from a pro user's account.

It's all just an assumption.

[-] delgadoii | 2 points | Oct 17 2016 14:14:57

It seems that yes, Limitations have started to roll out and you will have to be patient if you don't have a "Premium" acc.

I use JDownloader and leave it overnight, it takes a bit longer but download without errors. Cheers Every1.

[-] jodorowsthesky | 1 points | Oct 19 2016 19:10:26

You don't have to wait using MegaDownloader.Always worked like a charm!
http://megadownloaderapp.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/download-links-english.html

[-] FoxRaptix | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 06:34:43

I mean, people are downloading large amount of data from them.

So many people using the site for free, it was inevitable they'd implement something like this or risk going under.

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 11:44:33

That depends entirely on their business model. Plenty of services remain "free" to people because of ad revenue for example.

Either way I'm not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth. I just think people should know if there's been a change to the service.

[-] qwertx0815 | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 13:13:48

i never saw an ad on their site...

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 13:17:33

Exactly. So it seems a false choice to say "it was inevitable they'd implement something like this or risk going under."

[-] FoxRaptix | 2 points | Oct 16 2016 20:53:44

I don't think it's a false choice to say that. I mean we clearly abuse the site to share free media in mass, so in response (because i'm sure were not the only group using them to share media in mass) they had to change their business scheme.

If people abuse a free system inevitably it will have to change or go under

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 1 points | Oct 16 2016 21:57:33

Switching to an ad revenue model was/is an option, and would obviate implementing "something like this or risk going under". That's why saying "it was inevitable they'd implement something like this or risk going under" is a false choice.

[-] FoxRaptix | 1 points | Oct 17 2016 00:37:57

An ad revenue model would make little sense with them considering how they're used or advertised to be used and how much they claim to value privacy.

[-] CrossEyedHooker | 1 points | Oct 17 2016 02:27:13

I might not know enough about it, but that doesn't seem true. Obviously tailored ads that rely on gathered personal info wouldn't be appropriate, but ads don't have to be tailored.

[-] FoxRaptix | 1 points | Oct 17 2016 04:21:20

Yea but then you also need those ads to pay out more per a view than free users are downloading during that session. Not to mention figuring how much of their sites user base uses ad-block extensions which would put them back at square one. people downloading unlimited for free with no revenue for it to balance it out.