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If you’re using a wireless router, secure it with encryption. Your internet provider will help you with that.

To actually monitor live data traffic graphically, download the free evaluation version of DU Meter. Use it for a while, and buy it if you find it useful. DU Meter is useful because its graph visually displays the data inflow and outflow from all applications on your computer.

Last, but not the least, clean your computer of all malware and spyware. Install Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware. Run a scan. Remove all malware. Then install SpyBot. Run a scan, remove all spyware. Finally, use a good, free, light antivirus software, like Avast.

All softwares listed are free of cost, except for DU Meter, which you can evaluate for a month.

Hmm...a couple of things come to mind. I've seen something like that on friends' machines who are running two antivirus packages simultaneously. You can eliminate the browser by downloading Firefox and trying that - it's free - or Opera or whatever. Never hurts to have an alternate browser laying around the desktop.

Do you have a friend with a laptop who can hook up to your network cable and check to see if it happens to them? That will at least tell you whether it's your own box, or your router/modem/ISP.

And a little call to your ISP's help desk might be in order to see if they're having problems. Time-Warner had intermittent DNS problems all last week. And occasionally they'll tweak the download bandwidth themselves if they think you're running a server or something. It'd be easy enough to eliminate the possibility by asking.

You might post your setup in a little more detail - it'd help diagnosis. Best of luck!