n00b Quest.: Huge number of packets sent under Connection Status

[flashbacck]

I just noticed under my Network Connections, if I click on my Local Area Connection and click status, under Activity I have a huge number of packets sent. Since I haven't been doing anything all day except routine surfing, I got concerned. After restarting, I check Net. Status and I immediately have 4 bil. packets sent and it just keeps increasing every few seconds. As I write this, I now have 184 billion packets sent and 442 received.

I've run Adaware and Nortan AV thinking I might have some bandwidth sucking virus, but nothing came up. Is this just a stupid WinXP bug, or something worse?

edit: how much is a packet anyway?

 

[Crusty]

im at 25mil/24mil atm. My guess is that you have spyware or a virus.

Open a command prompt and run netstat. Look for anything suspicious.

 

[JackMDS]

This utility is very useful for such a situation.

Link to: Process Explorer.

Just run it, nothing to install. It shows you every thing that runs in memory and you can right click and Kill it. It just Kills for experimental purposes next time after boot it is back.

:sun:

 

[flashbacck]

msmsgs.exe seems to show increased CPU usage when ever the packet number spikes. But NortonAV, adaware and MSantispy show nothing when I scanned my system.

It might just be a windows bug. Since my laptop's been on the last 7 hrs, I have 42 TRILLION packets sent and 272 THOUSAND received. I suspect my network admin would've stopped by if I had been really uploading absurd amounts of data...

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: flashbacckBut NortonAV, adaware and MSantispy show nothing when I scanned my system.

I doubt that Complaining and Praying for that above programs would change their mind would help.

Did you check the Processes that are running on your computer?

As far as msmsgs.exe.

Look at this page: http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/msmsgs/

:sun:

 

[flashbacck]

well, I tried unplugging my ethernet cord, then using my wireless card. When I did that, I didn't have any unusual transfer activity.

So I figured it probably wasn't a virus/spyware problem. I found some generic network adapter drivers on intel's site and installed them. That seems to have fixed the absurd number of packet problems.

Thanks anyway for all the help JackMDS!

 

[Tarrant64]

Mine does that. Umm...when I use firewalls(*ahem* norton crap), i get packets like that all the time. I think it's just not closing all the ports or something cause when i use something like sygate personal firewall, it halts up to like 80% more traffic. I tested it on two of my machines and within 30 seconds one had already sent around 10,000packets(received and probably sent too), and the other maybe around 400 or less(this is with sygate, the other is with norton). Just my 2 cents. I'm not sure exactly WHAT causes it, I just know a firewall can fix the problem easy.

Also, no matter what, when i'm using kazaa, bearshare, anything like that....CRAZY packets no matter what you do. Same with bit torrent.