And I keep MSN Messenger disabled (it is a piece of crap, IMO). I cannot get totally rid of it because good old Microsoft has it coupled so tightly with their newer IE and "Passport" that IE won't work if you uninstall Messenger.
One thing I am pretty sure of ... IE trying to access the internet, even when closed, is surely an artifact of the "integration" of MS Windows, IE, and Messenger. How it actually happens is anyone's guess!