What's with Akamai and Turner Broadcasting System

Wispy

I'd rather be asking this in the LOTRO forums, but I guess I don't qualify as an "active player" and don't want to go begging for access there, so...

I may not actively play the game right now, but I do log in every month or two to keep the game files updated.  The latest was yesterday, when I found the game wanted to install the Akamai Netsession client as part of the update.  Well, I've run into this sort of thing before (Pando anyone?), and after checking around and seeing Turbine's reassurances that it's solely used as a one-way file updating application, I permitted the installation.

Except that now, I notice that Akamai is running all the time.  And checking in on its control panel, I find it's actively connecting to "Turner Broadcasting System".  Hmmm...

And coincidentally, when my wife was having some network issues yesterday, we checked her system and found Akamai running there also...and also connecting to "Turner Broadcasting System".  She touches LOTRO even less than I do, but updated it back in April, so presumably that's when Akamai installed itself and it's been running in the background since.

At any rate, it seems to be taking active advantage of network activity 24/7, despite what Turbine claims.  Anyone else seeing this happening?

Grunty

Task Manager > Processes tab > Description column > look for Akamai Netsession whatever > Right click and End process.

It's not a permanent solution and has to be done whenever the system is started.

Or remove the Akamai client in your All Programs portion of the Control Panel.

Wispy

I removed the Akamai client via the control panel...but found the background process still running after rebooting.

Hence to msconfig and unchecking it from Startup programs.  Guess LOTRO won't be back on my rotation list for awhile.