General Background Test
Wouldn't you think that at three in the morning no one should be coming and going from your house without your express permission?

I'd think the same would be true on your computer. So here's one very simple to interpret use of the information from CommView.

• Close all internet applications.
• Make sure your internet connection is open.
• Start CommView.
• Click the "Start" arrow.
• Watch the screen.

If any activity at all shows on the display something is wrong. There should be no internet activity without your permission. If you have indeed shut down your browser, email and all other programs you know about, then some program you don't know about is using your connection to the internet. Who? And why?

You may not know the answer to the problem. But at least you know there is a problem. Now you can go looking.

Installation
When you install a program there should be none, zero, zip, zilch, nada, no messages home to the parent company during the install unless you click on a button consenting. One way to make sure nothing is sent is to close your internet connection before installing a program. But if you are curious and want to see if a certain install is being sneaky try the following:

• Close all internet applications.
• Make sure your internet connection is open.
• Start CommView.
• Click the "Start" arrow.
• Watch the screen.
• Verify no activity.
• Now run suspect installation program.

If you see any activity it is coming from the installation program. That is not nice. Now you know to check the packets and find out what was being sent home. I would consider suing a company gathering information without disclosing. Certainly I'd complain. If more companies know we don't like to be taken for granted they might stop to protect their bottom line profits.