To reiterate,
I currently have internet connection. However, every once in a while my connection will be terminated on and only on this computer. Avast tells me (sometimes) that this is due to a threat coming from the posted amazon ip network. I agree, Avast may not be the issue since my connection is being dropped with shields off, but it all started with the Avast alert and my computer seems to not be infected, on account of Avast and Malwarebytes both coming up clean.