How to speed up your internet connection

These days, with broadband Internet becoming as common as snow, most of us find ourselves blessed with blissful, high speed connections to the online realms. All seems to be going just great; the downloads are fast, browsing is so fast that there is virtually no stoppages, and the online games are completely lag-free. However, things tend to go wrong sometimes. We find our net speeds slower than a sloth. Gaming seems impossible online, downloads seem to take forever to complete, and the general broadband experience leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Why is my Internet so slow?

There are several factors that can affect your Internet connection negatively. The most common problems include:

Bad Service from Provider:  Believe it or not, Internet speeds tend to vary based on geographic locations. So someone in say, Bristol, may enjoy great speeds from one service provider, while another person using services from the same provider in Manchester, may have a disappointing experience.

Old Operating System and Software: Newer software bring with them updates, enhancements and new features that can drastically improve browsing experience.

Computer Infections: Viruses, malware, and undesirable applications can infect the computer, and slow it down over time.

Old Hardware: Using outdated hardware such as old network peripherals, older cabling, etc. can also reduce speeds considerably.

Security Leaks: This pertains to Wi-Fi (Wireless) users. Your Wi-Fi network, if left unsecured, may easily be hacked into. People close-by, neighbours, etc. could piggyback on your Internet connection, reducing your own speeds.

How do I get my net speeds back to normal?

There are some really simple steps that you could take to find the reason for your slow network speeds, solve the issues, and stop them from reoccurring:

• Do a Speed Test
  : Determine what speeds you are currently getting, by running a simple online speed test.Run the speed test from different machines that have been tested to be clean and infection-free, if possible. If you get low speeds no matter which system you use, the problem may lie with your Internet provider.

• Check whether your Wi-Fi Network is secure: Wireless connections are pretty open to risks. If you use a wireless router, you can go to the router’s admin page where you can find a list of the systems connected to your network. You can also set up encryption and a password that prevents unauthorised access to your network. The admin page can be accessed by opening a Web browser and typing the IP address of the router into the address bar. By default, the IP address of modems, routers and the like, tend to be “192.168.1.1″, or “192.168.2.1″. Refer to the router/ modem manual booklets for more details.

• Check for Improper positioning in case of Wireless Connections: While Wi-Fi is a good choice as its a cable free connection, it can be bogged down by interference from other wireless devices in the area, or by walls and other heave objects coming in the way. Position the computer as close to the router as possible, to ensure maximum bandwidth. If there is a lot of distance between the router and the systems, investing in a parabolic reflector, or a high-gain antenna for the router can help boost the transmission speeds.

• Check for damaged/ old cables: Damaged cables can cause intermittent connectivity issues, frequent disconnections and several other undesirable effects. Check the network cabling behind your computer for signs of wear and tear. Replace the cables if found to be frayed, torn or damaged in some other way.

• Update your Operating System & Software: Using an old operating system can increase chances of infection, and not updating regularly used software can open the system to vulnerabilities. Both of these issues can slow down the network speeds drastically. Updating them will help you stay secure online.

• Install and regularly maintain an Antivirus Solution: Keeping antivirus software installed and frequently updated can go a long way in improving the health of the system, and can also help keep your network safe by using a firewall. A safe and secure network often tends to be less effected by worms, Trojans, etc. This can in turn keep the net speeds healthy.

• Run Diagnostic Tools: If the net speeds are quite low and the hardware isn’t at fault, then running diagnostic software tools can help determine the problem. Tools such as malware scanners, junk file removers, registry cleaners and so on, can help clean the system and thereby improve the net speeds.

Just taking some simple steps and preventive measures can go a long way in reducing speed bumps on your broadband superhighway.