Internet downloading.

[SCB]

When I am browsing the internet or reading emails etc, my connection seems a lot slower than it should be. Constantly, something is uploading ir downloading to my computer slowing the connection. You can see this by the two computer icons on my tskbsr constantly working even though I am not doing much. Is there a way for me to check what is actually downloading/ uploading using my connection and removing the permission?

[snook]

You could open Task Manager and check what processes are going on. There'll be plenty there that you won't recognise, but you can track them down by 'Googling' the names. You might find something there that shouldn't be. Also, it might show up by how much memory it's using (the figure on the right). If it's using a lot, it's probably what's causing the drop in speed.

Why don't you run your anti-spyware program - I'm sure you've got one somewhere on your system. If not try Ad-Aware or Spybot Search & Destroy, or Spyware Doctor. These might find little critters lurkin' in your system, and they could be the cause too.

[rojash]

If you have Windows XP with Auto-update enabled, in the event that a major update becomes available, your computer will start downloading it as soon as it becomes available, and if unable to complete the download in a single session, will resume downloading every time you connect, until the download is complete. This MAY be what's happening in your case.

[SCB]

Are there no easier alternatives?

I have tried these before and I always end up removing something I shouldn't have.

Could I disable ALL internet access so that each individual application would need to ask again for permission?

[SCB]

Thanks rojash, I have tried this and I am up to date on this.

This is initially what I thought was happening but it has been going on too long now so I checked this out first and I have all the updates.

[snook]

SCB, perhaps you could reset your firewall so that nothing is allowed in, then, when something tries to begin a download it will have to request permission?