...I haven't changed any internet-related settings. For this to happen, µTorrent has to be open. ...
But have you changed any of the settings within utorrent?
I wondering if it is using all the available bandwidth.
There are settings within utorrent's config for maximun number of connections, max up speed, and max down speed, among others.
Have you changed any of these recently?
If nothing else, try slowing the max speeds of utorrent, and lowering the max number of connections. Try a drastic experiment first.... cut them all way down. Then try your other internet apps. See if that makes a difference. If it does, then start raising the items you lowered, until you hit a happy medium.