NetSpeeder2 is a good network assistant, it lets you actually know the network status. you can actually see the total transfer data, average data transfer rate, maximum data transfer rate and current data transfer rate by displaying real-time graph, numerical display. and you can watch the address of current linking site.
If you would like accelerate to browse your web pages, you can use the "Cache Pages" function. NetSpeeder2 will help you cache it to IE cache before you browse the web pages.
Set "Block AD Window" options you would like block AD window(popup windows).

NetSpeeder2 is the Shareware version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around  19.98USD.