Anyone else having an issue with TCP connections using iCloud for Windows?

Question

Hi,
Before I asked this question, I did wait to see if any related questions came up, but none did, so I submit it now.
On my admittedly older laptop running Windows 7 64b Home, I've run into difficulties with the iCloud for Windows app to the extent that I had to uninstall it.
It would that, as my laptop was running, in the background, iCloudServices.exe would endlessly iterate TCP connections, which, while not actively sending or receiving any data, after some hours would number over 100 instances, taking up resources, and grinding my laptop's WiFi connection to a grindingly slow pace. I ended up, within the app, turning off everything, iCloud Drive and Photos, (I never used bookmarks), but still this would continue to occur.
I contacted Apple Support, explaining what was going on, and they stated they only dealt with IOS and gave me a Microsoft Support number. When I called Microsoft support, I came more and more to the realization that the issue was specifically with the iCloud for Windows app, as that was the only software that was endlessly creating and not closing TCP connections as it was. How was Microsoft supposed to solve an issue with Apple code?
So I called Apple back, whereupon they insisted it was a Microsoft issue. I explained other cloud services installed on the same computer were not having the same issue, it was unique to ICloudServices.exe. They stated they only dealt with IOS. I stated I purchased an iPad Air less than 7 months ago, and was trying to run iCloud in support of that.  They again stated they only dealt with IOS, and suggested I again try Microsoft. I asked them if it was reasonable to expect Microsoft to solve issues with Apple code? They said regardless, there was zero support offered for anything having to do with Windows, and all I could do was uninstall the app, which I did, though that did not feel very satisfactory to me. My thinking is, if Apple writes a Windows app in support of their hardware, they should offer support for it.
Anyway, I was just wondering, is this an issue unique to me? or have others experienced a similar issue? I found this issue by opening the Windows Resource Monitor, looking under the Networking tab, and scrolling through the TCP Connections section to find 100+ concurrent iCloudServices.exe instances listed, whereas even Chrome, with multiple tabs and extensions, topped out at around 20.
My one month old Desktop, DYI, sports a solid Asus 1150 MoBo, i7-4790k cpu, 16GB Ram, and an EVGA GTX 970 video card. I list some specs only to illustrate this computer has no hardware issues in comparison to my long in tooth laptop. On this desktop, running Win 8.1 Pro 64b,  at least as many, identifiably Apple, background service TCP connections are created even compared to Chrome, regardless of many tabs being open, many extensions, and even some related apps. Adobe does not even come close, though I run the full CC subscription. On this new computer, running Windows 8.1 Pro 64b, there are currently over 50 TCP connections and loopbacks that do not identify themselves, with just a - for the Image, and PID. With the experience on my laptop, I wonder how many of these are generated by Apple software, if not specifically iCloud software?
The frustrating aspect of these connections is they seem in no way active, While the Chrome and Adobe connections can be seen to be transferring data, as long as I am not running iTunes, or so have my iPad actually plugged in, it seems 99% of the time these iCloudServices.exe connections are just taking up ports, neither sending nor receiving any data discernable to me under the Processes with Network Activity, or Network Activity lists, both displayed in the same window as the TCP Connections in the Windows Resource Monitor.
Though I am fairly ignorant as regards coding, it seems as if there is no call to close a connection, very specifically, iCloudServices.exe, when it is no longer needed, and the next time a connection is needed, a new one is opened, rather than accessing the one previously opened. The only other reason I could imagine this might be occurring is if my Norton Internet Security software might mask and/or block the port after a certain time of inactivity.
Anyone out there have any ideas or advice about this? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Thanks jared,
I'm still dealing with this issue through Apple. Some time after I posted this, I contacted Apple again. They did start a case up for me, as I was experiencing the same behavior on two different machines, with two different versions of Windows.
So far it remains unsolved. I've logged iClouds for Windows on my desktop, which is brand new, then logged for awhile after completely uninstalling Norton Security Suite, depending on the Microsoft security for some time, and finally logged after I uninstalled iCloud for Windows, restarted, installed a clean download, and connected using a completely different test account, which Apple set up for me. None of this made any difference. Looking at the logs, it seems every 10 minutes, iCloudServices.exe creates a new TCP connection to confirm I'm using less than 5GB on iCloud, (which I am by a good margin, using less than 2GB), it seems this connection is not closed, and when the next iteration rolls around 10 minutes later, a new TCP connection is created. I come very close to having 6 TCP connections created per hour, until I restart my computer. This works out to... 6 x 24 = 144/day.
Perhaps the article you posted will shed some further light on this. I'm thinking seeing the state of the connection through netstats, at the least, could help.
For the last week, I've been putting a hold on further logging, as Apple wants me to create a new user account on one of my computers, install iCloud for Windows there, and log it running in the other account. This however basically means I cannot use my computer for a fair number of hours, and I've been busy enough with work the past week that I haven't the time or energy to afford to set this up and run it. I've had need of my computers too much for the past week.