What is Redmond doing?

[Peter]

I'm new to Win 7 (2 weeks). Initially there were dozens of updates to
the OS and to MS applications that were installed on the PC. It stopped
after a few days.

In the past 2 days I've noticed a lot of downloading from 65.54.81.xxx.
This AM, over 170 MB of data was downloaded from 1 IP address. This
site closed, and another 65.54.81.xxx site started downloading many MB
of data.

I don't have any MS application open, only the OS. No updates are
showing up waiting to be installed. IF I interrogate windows update, no
updates are found that need to be downloaded.


Scanning with avira antivirus, malware bytes and super anti spyware show
a clean PC.

This is really hitting my bandwidth hard.
Any ideas?

 

[Vacuum Sealed]

I'm new to Win 7 (2 weeks). Initially there were dozens of updates to
the OS and to MS applications that were installed on the PC. It stopped
after a few days.

In the past 2 days I've noticed a lot of downloading from 65.54.81.xxx.
This AM, over 170 MB of data was downloaded from 1 IP address. This site
closed, and another 65.54.81.xxx site started downloading many MB of data.

I don't have any MS application open, only the OS. No updates are
showing up waiting to be installed. IF I interrogate windows update, no
updates are found that need to be downloaded.


Scanning with avira antivirus, malware bytes and super anti spyware show
a clean PC.

This is really hitting my bandwidth hard.
Any ideas?

Pete

Many programs have Auto-Update features that will do the task in the
background, and sometimes even without your knowledge or approval.

Windows has many features that require constant online access, even
though Windows Update has stated there was no updates to be found
doesn't mean that your desktop will not go in and check if there is any
available to it. And this is just one program.

Google
Chrome
iTunes
Silverlight
Adobe PFD
Adobe Flash
Java
....
....
...
..

The list can go on and on for those that need their daily fix of updates.

Do you have a 3rd party independent Firewall program or are you using
the one that packs with Win7?? I use Zone Alarm as it gives me the
ability to monitor and stop internet to/from access to any/all programs
I desire. you can also get a DNS Name resolver program that can attempt
to unvail the HostName of the IP Address.

You can go to:

APNIC: www.apnic.net
ARIN: www.arin.net/whois/index.html

Need to be extremely cautious as sophisticated hack programs can hijack
your system and use it as a remote hub to tranship files to/from
destinations. The next thing you know you get a knock on the door from
the Feds asking very embarrassing question.

HTH
Mick.