Local Area Network status shows Received bytes increasing rapidly

Dear All!

While browsing internet in Windows 7, Local Area Network status shows Received bytes increasing rapidly, Is that a virus, Any solution?

No help, but I am subscribing to watch with interest. My wife has recently returned, with her laptop (XP) from using it on a friends connection. Since then it is showing the same - constant avtivity on my router. I have thoroughly examined the settings and can detect no change. The solution for me will, in the end, be simple - restore an image! But I am interested in seeing if anyone has a logical explaantion for this.