Okay, I'm a desperate Business Support Officer with NO knowledge with computers at all (yep, I can hear you groaning already).  I <i>think</i> I'm phrasing this problem okay-ish but if not, please don't jump on me. 

I'm doing a lj cut because I don't think I can explain it 'quickly'

  I work from an office by myself and we have a Server which is linked up to my PC.  I'm a contractor who has been with the company for over three years and the computer system was set up by around 4 different technicians/experts/what-have-you.  Doing the admin work is my job, the computer stuff is the responsibility of my 'employers'.

The Server runs Windows Server 2000 and mine runs Windows 2000 Professional.  We use SQL Server.  This was all fine for around 14 months but recently the server started freezing up and dying. The SQL Server activity is monstrous and apparently (according to our computer technician - an outside contractor on a maintenance agreement) this is why the computer is locking up (I can't shut down, even with Control + Alt + Delete - I have to press the 'off' button). 

The activity log is HUGE - we're getting thousands of activities a day.  This never used to happen.  Also, we have ADSL and we have a 500MB upload and 500MB download limit a month.  This never used to be exceeded, but in the last month or two (since I've been having the problems) it has been exceeded by around 150MB.  From memory, it's the 'download' that's exceeding the limit, but I'm the only one who works from the office and I'm definitely not downloading anything stupid or unusual (no, I don't abuse my solitude and download porn ^_^) .

Apparently we have a firewall.  What sort of firewall eludes me (how would I check?) but it has several ports (TCP ports?) open so I can process credit card transactions and customers can pay accounts via our web site.   Until last week there was apparently no anti-virus on the server.  Our computer guy put Norton's 2001 on it.  Yesterday the anti-virus picked up a Trojan dropper virus, so I did as told, restarted in safe mode and removed the file.  Whether it was new or not eludes me, but I'm guessing it was, somehow, new.

So basically, what I'm asking is, do you have any idea why all this extra activity would be occurring?  Do you have any idea how I could find out?  <i>I</i> haven't been doing anything extra and nobody else should be able to access the server (apparently).  Our internet/email access also mysteriously dropped off yesterday morning and our router is apparently fine, there's no problem from our ISP's end.  Another 'mystery' problem that no one wants to solve. 

Our webmaster suggested our network is probably full of holes.  So, one last question; how do I find a network specialist in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia?  Is there some sort of registrar where stupid people can go to enlist the services of those with wisdom?  The company's paying, so cost isn't an issue.

You may now weep with frustration at my pure stupidity ^_^