Windows 10: Why is explorer.exe connecting to various URLs?

Windows 10, upgraded from Windows 7 Professional, 64bit.

When I boot up my laptop, I notice that explorer.exe tried to connect to the internet to various URLs:

184.51.112.131
184.51.112.129
23.201.54.135

I looked in the startup tab to see if there's anything in there that would want to be connecting to these and I can't see anythgin that stands out. How can I determine what is causing this?

The first 2 URLs appear to be akamai, but stumped as to why this is happening.

:)

 

More detailed info on what the processes asking for internet connection do

I'm very restrictive when it comes to allowing internet access to various processes (in principle I allow it on need-to-have basis), so I'd like to know what these processes are all about, and why do they often want to connect to the internet:

• wermgr.exe (particularly demanding)
• runtimebroker.exe
• browser_broker.exe
  
• dashost.exe
• backgroundtaskhost.exe
• taskhostw.exe
• werfault.exe
• wwahost.exe
• settingsynchost.exe
• systemsettingsadminflows.exe
• wsqmcons.exe
• SIHclient.exe
• compattelrunner.exe
  
• searchui.exe (even though I've disabled Cortana or limited desktop search to local only)
• installagent.exe
  

Also, why does the default browser have two processes: microsoftedge.exe and microsoftedgecp.exe?

And why does explorer.exe want to connect to the internet before I even start to do anything?

 

After Windows 10 1511 upgrade - pop up notifications freeze on screen

Me too! Surface Pro 4. Updated to Anniversary Update a few days ago and various hang ups like this have started.

Windows key seems to force the explorer.exe to restart.

 

Akamai is a service that some makers use to download software and updates into your system, HP uses it. It's part of the Download Manager that HP uses, Dell uses it too. Maybe Apple as well. It won't load anything dangerous. Other manufacturers might use it too.

 

OK... but wonder why it's explorer.exe that is making the call. That just seemed weird.