Computer says I am uploading/downloading when I have nothing open?

[davelepard]

My data tracker says I am uploading/downloading, but I have no idea what. The upload/download is in the KB (I reset it and I noticed it was going up), but it's only been a few hours and it's already up to 2mb. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I average over 12 hours a day on the pc and sometimes keep it on for multiple days. What is it? Is it just the modem/router talking with my computer or from just going online (not saving any photos or anything)? I just don't want this counting toward my data cap (since comcast is rolling those out during the new year). My mom and sister both have laptops, but my sister rarely stays at the house and my mom almost never goes on the internet (plus I doubt either of them download anything). Pretty sure my data monitor just tracks me. So is this just the modem/router talking with my computer (If that even uses up data) or should I be worried? Also, sorry if this gets put into the wrong category. I am utterly clueless what to file this under.

 

[john-b691]

Just leaving a browser page open many times will cause traffic. Mostly this is all the advertising garbage on the page going looking for updates but a lot of sites also are automatically looking for updates. I know sites like CNN auto update the page with you no touch it. Could also be things like the virus software checking to see if there are updates.

If you are sure it is your machine and you think you are running nothing you could try running wireshark on it since that will actually let you see all the packets going in and out your machine.

 

[bdubs85]

many times it will be programs installed on your machine such as java, google, windows update, quicktime, antivirus, and others checking for updates.