High wireless G network usage - what's causing it?

I'm helping a friend troubleshoot a laptop at the moment, and we can't figure out what is causing high network utilization:

Ignore the CPU usage, it spiked when I took the screenshot.

The antivirus is Trend Micro 2008 and this is Windows XP system. It happens even in Safe Mode . . . it is definitely not normal. If anyone has any ideas please share.

 

It's virus/spyware/adware free?

 

Root kit.... It will not be detected by normal means. Easiest way to clean is to re-install the OS.

 

NetLimiter Monitor. It gives incoming/outgoing traffic for each process.
http://www.netlimiter.com/download.php

 

It is, nothing malicious is on the computer.

Any idea how one of those would have gotten on there?

Very cool, I will try that program before doing a format. While I would like to do a format it is not my machine . . .

Thanks for all the responses, they are much appreciated.

 

MS just pushed there monthly fixes through, started thursday.

 

We installed that program, thanks for the link. The numbers NetLimiter gives vary by 10% give or take, and the link speed keeps alternating between 18, 24, and 36Mbps. Perhaps this is a task manager timing issue? Either way . . . we're not sure if it is worth the time to fix it.

I'll see if a wireless card driver update will do anything.

 

But you haven't found a suspicious process?

 

Nope, that's the weird part. Oh well, we are probably just going to leave it at this . . . a format should fix it. The latest & greatest wireless card drivers were already installed apparently. Thanks for all the help everybody.

 

well in my opinion, rootkits/spyware/etc will be phoning home thus at most maxing out your internet connection. idk what speeds you have for internet, but even the fastest internet her in the states that i know of cant alone cause that much usage across the internet only. that seems more like intranet activity (between networked computers), which idk why a rootkit/spyware would do.