I'm ageing...and I blink, but I anticipate being around for while yet.
I ran SBC's ad buster and got 22 items. I got rid of them and then ran Adaware. It showed 30 mission crittical items.
The only time that the computer goes quiet, is when the modem is turned off. I had assumed that not having a browser running would stop contact with the outside world. What goes on when just linked to the ISP alone?