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Why?
The factors that can affect network speed are very varied and can range from congestion to poor placement. Discover the causes that can make the Internet very slow.
You turn on the computer ready to check some web pages, but it does not load, the blank screen becomes a real torment and you decide to take a walk to the kitchen, hoping that when you return the problem will be solved. But you get frustrated because when you come back nothing has changed and you reload a thousand times without success. It is a more common problem than you imagine and the causes for it are also many. Discover what might be causing your Internet to be very slow and how you can fix it.
Causes that can make the Internet slow
There are many reasons why your Internet connection may not have the proper speed. It may be a problem with your service provider and the speed you are experiencing at home is much lower than what you have contracted. To check that the problem is not at this point, it is advisable to perform a speed test. It will show you the Megabits that reach your computer. You should keep in mind, if you are connected by WiFi, that the speed will always be somewhat lower than contracted, since Internet companies only guarantee these megabits when the connection is made by cable.
Network congestion
Network congestion means that there are too many devices connected to the same WiFi device, it is also possible that one of them, even if not many, is taking most of the bandwidth of your connection. Since this device is accessing most of the resources, it is possible that the rest of the connected devices run much slower.
The solution to this problem is to disconnect those terminals or devices that do not need Internet at that moment or connect the computer directly with a cable. If this does not work, it is possible that your bandwidth usage is insufficient for your needs and you need to contract more.
Besides the devices you may be using at a given time, the problem may come from causes outside your connection. That is, there are many factors that affect network congestion such as overly populated cities where WiFi channels are very busy. You can change the band (for this you should call your operator if you do not know how to do it yourself) and check if the problem is solved.
Where is your router?
The placement of the router should not be random since the signal you receive on the computer will depend on the distance where it is located. To know if this is the problem, check the signal levels on the icon you will see on the right side of your computer’s taskbar. If this strength is very low, it means the router is very far or there are elements that are causing the signal not to be correct.
To improve the signal and make it excellent anywhere, the router should be placed high, in the center of the house, and the antennas should be placed one horizontally and the other vertically; check that there are no mirrors or elements in front that could hinder the passage of the waves.
Viruses and Malware
If your computer is not properly protected with a good antivirus, it can be infected by malicious software or malware. You can download free programs that will help you check if your computer is infected and remove any viruses it may have. Once cleaned, browsing the Internet should be fast again.
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Thieving neighbors
This is not the most frequent cause since most current WiFi networks have security systems that make your network not accessible or easily hacked. Despite this, there are programs capable of deciphering the router keys and allowing other devices to connect to your network.
If you have done other checks and the problem persists, it is possible that someone is taking advantage of your connection. You can easily check if someone other than you is using your Internet by accessing your router settings. Inside (you will find instructions in the router box) you should click on a tab called Linked Devices. A list will appear showing those mobiles, tablets, and computers connected to your network. It is best to unlink these devices and change the password to a much more secure one.
The problem is the browser
Some browsers are faster than others, so you may experience different speeds depending on which one you are using. It is also possible that, even if you have not changed browsers and continue using the same one as always, you have installed some kind of extension, add-on, or special toolbar. Often, these are installed on your computer as a result of downloading a certain program. Many times these are unnecessary for browsing, so the best option is to disable them.
If this does not work and you notice no change, try another browser to rule out other problems. If the situation improves with another, the problem is with the one you are using. The best option is to uninstall it and reinstall it.
