Unknown Downloading Consumes Bandwidth

[Robert]

So often, usually at the most inconvenient time, when I first connect
to the Internet and need to quickly see what's going on with some
time-critical webpages, I find my bandwidth completely consumed and no
webpages can be accessed. I then have to "patiently" sit and wait for
that, (whatever it is), to finish before I can get on with my
business. Sometimes these events last for 15-20 minutes.

From the little green bars in the ZoneAlarm box, it appears that
something is downloading. However, I know of no way to temporarily
suspend this process, and in fact I know of no way that I can even
figure out what/who is responsible for it. (The implications of that
are worrisome enough already), but the inconvenience caused seems
awfully presumptuous to me.

I am running the latest version of the Opera browser (8.51), and have
no mail or newsfeeds running. Re spyware, I do run AdAware and
SpybotS&D regularly. And yes, I have Windows Update set to "notify me
first".

Does anyone have any ideas about how I can determine what/who is doing
this, and if possible, how to control it to my own convenience instead
of to theirs?

Thank you very much, in advance.

 

[R. McCarty]

Click Start, Run, Type Cmd [Enter] - from within the Command
window type Netstat [Enter]
This will display all active Network connections.

 

[Guest]

You need to figure out whats running?

For a start uninstall zone alarm then reinstall it, once it is reinstalled
it will notify you the first time processes ask for internet access, you
might not know what the heck your doing but you can see the standard stuff
asking for access like generic process, ie 6, your applicaion opra etc.

keep an eye on that.
Secondly how about starting a fresh, just back up your stuff and reload your
system, before it even touchs the internet install antivirus and a firewall,
connect it and update your products quickly. restore your data, do a nice
virus sweep.

watiing 10-15mins is not expected even with a 166mhz machine, if you have
only 64mb of ram then fair enough if you have a decent system over 1ghz
processor, a nice bit of ram such as 256mb or even 512mb then ..

What I mean is thats not normal, systems get junked up with adware, even
with a good virus scanner they dont find every thing, you might have any
thing loaded.

Im a computer technican and Im of the school of keeping things fresh and
functional, just reload and keep it simple,. figure out whats going on dude.

cheers

 

[Robert]

Thank you for your extensive reply, Nigel
My machine is 2.3ghz and 512mb, so I can now put your thoughts into
perspective. You are spot on about keeping things clean and fresh!
Regrettably though, I am not as agile with all of this as you are --
being a tech. But I'm going to give it a roll...
Thank you again!
Robert

 

[Robert]

Thank you R.McCarty for this really cute tip. I have tried it, and
even made a batch program and put it in the "Quick Launch" tray. So
I'm gonna snare this apparition next time!!

One thing I have noticed, so far, is that it provides a web address
(in English) only about a third of the time, but mostly just an IP
address. Sometimes it provides the IP address for a while, and then
seems to "learn" the web address in English.

Can you please explain this to me, and also how I can get from IP to
English, if I need to, the next time the apparition surfaces?

Thank you very much, in advance,
Robert

Click Start, Run, Type Cmd [Enter] - from within the Command
window type Netstat [Enter]
This will display all active Network connections.

So often, usually at the most inconvenient time, when I first connect
to the Internet and need to quickly see what's going on with some
time-critical webpages, I find my bandwidth completely consumed and no
webpages can be accessed. I then have to "patiently" sit and wait for
that, (whatever it is), to finish before I can get on with my
business. Sometimes these events last for 15-20 minutes.

From the little green bars in the ZoneAlarm box, it appears that
something is downloading. However, I know of no way to temporarily
suspend this process, and in fact I know of no way that I can even
figure out what/who is responsible for it. (The implications of that
are worrisome enough already), but the inconvenience caused seems
awfully presumptuous to me.

I am running the latest version of the Opera browser (8.51), and have
no mail or newsfeeds running. Re spyware, I do run AdAware and
SpybotS&D regularly. And yes, I have Windows Update set to "notify me
first".

Does anyone have any ideas about how I can determine what/who is doing
this, and if possible, how to control it to my own convenience instead
of to theirs?

Thank you very much, in advance.