A slow internet connection is an annoying problem which many of us have to face. It can be caused by a variety of problems. Fortunately, you can resolve most of these problems on your own. Here is a quick list of seven easy ways which you can use to boost your internet speed.
Disconnect Unnecessary Devices
Bandwidth carries internet data like a pipe carries water. The more taps you attach to a pipe, the less water each tap is going to receive. The same stands true for bandwidth. As you connect more and more devices to a Wi-Fi router, the bandwidth has to be allocated to all of them. As a result, each device receives less bandwidth and diminished internet speed. A quick solution to this problem is to disconnect all unnecessary devices from the router. With fewer devices connected, each user gets more bandwidth and better internet speed.
Password-Protect your Wi-Fi
If other people are connecting to your Wi-Fi router without permission, this can slow down your internet. Unauthorized access is a major cause of connection speed problems. A standard remedy against this is to use a password to protect Wi-Fi access. When choosing a password, make sure it’s not as easy as the first eight numerals. Also make sure you know who has the password. If you are unsure or have already given the password to others and now regret it, simply reset it. This will effectively revoke access of all other users to the router.
Update your Modem
Outdated or faulty equipment is often to blame for slow internet speed. For instance, an older modem may not be able to handle a more modern connection technology such as fiber optic. A compatibility issue can lead to frequent internet drop outs and considerably slow down the connection. To resolve this problem, simply update or replace your internet modem. Contact your ISP to see if they provide an updated version of the router you are using – if not, do your own research to see if there are better alternatives.
Scan for Malicious Software
Malicious software can sneak into your computer and steal your data. It can also compromise your Wi-Fi security while hogging the internet connection at the same time. By using the internet speed to communicate with the hacker server, such malicious software can significantly slow down your browsing. Use a quality antivirus or malware scanner to check for the presence of viruses, Trojans, malware or ransomware on your machine.
Remove Interferences
If you have electronic devices placed close to the Wi-Fi router, these devices can interfere with the router. The electromagnetic field of these devices can distort the Wi-Fi signals. This affects both downloads and uploads, causing a major disruption to an internet experience. You can verify this by removing any electronic objects located close to the router. Check the speeds you experience before and after the removal. You are sure to notice a significant improvement in the quality of your internet connection.
Plug into Your Modem
Wi-Fi signals travel some distance in the air to reach your machine or device. In doing so, they lose some of their strength. This is why you will experience faster speeds in comparison if you directly plug into your modem. If you are using a desktop computer, plugging directly into the modem is very convenient as you don’t have to move around the machine often. To connect to the modem directly, use an Ethernet cable which is typically a yellow cable with a clip at both ends. At the modem end, insert the clip into the ETH1 port. At your computer, plug it into the LAN connection.
Close Unnecessary Applications
Applications running in the background can consume a major part of your internet bandwidth. These typically include software updates, security scans, Skype and more. Similarly, all the tabs you open on a browser use a portion of the bandwidth. You can free up the bandwidth by closing unnecessary tabs and applications. To identify the unnecessary applications running in the background, simply hit ALT+CTRL+DEL. This brings up the Task Manager where you can review the applications by their CPU, Memory and Network usage.
If you have a slow connection, you can troubleshoot and resolve the problem on your own. This is true in many cases, as shown above. However, if the problem persists, you can contact your ISP or switch to an alternative.
Emily Jacobs is Happiness Ambassador for SpeedCheck.org
She loves to write the latest technology trends and love to share her knowledge through her articles.
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