DaveO

The mostly likely thing is that Real Player thinks they have an update that "you need."

I've gotten a popup that asks me if I want to get an urgent update download, repeatedly, from Real Player.

It does (probably) mean that Real Player is "talking behind your back" since it wouldn't know there's an update unless it's been calling home.

Mine doesn't divert my web connection, so there probably is a setting in Real Player to turn off this "feature," but I have no idea where it would be. It may be a choice during installation, that you can't easily access once it's installed.

Microsoft does the diversion trick with Auto updates that don't complete, so others could use the same "feature." The first opening of my browser goes directly to the Microsoft update page, instead of to my home page if they want me to. I don't object to Mickey doing it, since it's helpful; but Real Player is in a different category (IMO).

John