I have noticed allot of activity on my cable modem, I have 4 machines hooked up to it through a Netgear Websafe Router, all these machines were off with the exception of 1. I turn off all the auto updates as I do them myself on a regular basis. This activity is pretty much ongoing.

I am looking for something I can use to monitor the information coming to and going out my modem. I have heard of Packet Sniffing but never used them. Would that be the right thing to use, if so then which one. Or a different program either way I would need pretty much a Idiots guide on how to use it.

I am a Newbie on anything with networking, I'm DOS stupid, and a beginner/intermedeate at most other software. I'm only good at building gaming machine's and playing allot. but really want to learn other aspect's. And I really want to know whats going on through my router!!!

Please don't post what I have seen in some of the gaming forums about setting up systems-- "If you don't know what your doing then don't do it / or pay some one to do it" usually refering to stuff like overclocking and such. This is how we learn.

Thanks for any help

Wildcat