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Aug 21, 2008

Possible reasons for slow internet connection

by windshell / General

H-Desk.com Forum Index > Articles archive > General

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If your internet seems running slow lately, if pages are opening for ages or you need hours to finish upload or download, something probably bothers your connection. There are some of the most common reasons for slow connection revealed in this article.

Although high speed Internet connections run at a much faster rate than any dial-up connection, they are often much slower in reality than advertised. What the advertised speeds often are is the maximum potential that a particular connection can reach, not what the connection speed will be on a daily basis.

High speed Internet connections usually offer no guarantees regarding speed.  Certain speeds or ranges of speeds are often advertised, but mostly the maximum speed will not be received because of an abundance of outside factors - many of which the Internet service providers have no control over.


However, there are some possible reasons for slow connection. Note that some are possible to be repaired, while others are connected with other outside factors that are non-repairable, such as browser, installed software, malware, etc.



1. Type of Internet Connection You Use


First of all, speed depends on which type of internet connection you use. Wireless connections tend to show more problems than those that use cable.

  • Internet speeds are often affected by the network’s location (especially for DSL connection).  Which means, further from your provider or Access Point (if wireless) you are, the slower your Internet connection will be. 
  • Some modems, particularly inexpensive models and internal types, can only handle certain speeds of data transfer, limiting the speed of the whole Internet connection, regardless of the speed your service can provide. 
  • Cable Internet services share bandwidth.  If there are many subscribers using that same bandwidth, it can slow down the connection. 
  • Rarely, some older homes that use outdated telephone wires may be the cause of a slow Internet connection, as they can sometimes be limited lower speeds, regardless of the speed your service can provide.


2. Problems with Your ISP (Internet Service Provider)


It ‘s possible that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) sometimes does not provide enough bandwidth as according to the agreement. If you’re suspecting that happens, you can always use some bandwidth testing website or third party software to verify the actual bandwidth you have.
Most of the ISPs already provided such service, so just look for the bandwidth testing feature or ask them to check it for you.


3. Problems with Hardware


Your Windows or router often may not be compatible with each other, which causes extra overheads and slows down internet access dramatically. It has been reported that Vista is incompatible with old routers, especially if they’re older than 2 years.

The only solution, if you still want to use Vista is to replace modem for newer one.

If a Web site has particularly high traffic at the time you are trying to access it, your slow connection speed could be the fault of the Web site.  If too many people are trying to access the same site at the same time, it could cause congestion and slow down the entire site. 


4. Problems with Software


Possible reasons for slow connection can be new versions of browsers such as Internet Explorer 7 or Mozilla Firefox 3. For example, IE7 is not optimized, with too many checking and fancy features that delay everything. Also, new browsers are packed with a dozens of add-ons, extensions and other features that suck bandwidth and slow down the connection.
Some other software that is related to Web, such as Antivirus, Antispyware software or Firewall can slow down connection as well. Their checking and scanning features that interact with browsers and other web related software can influence the connection speed by using extra bandwidth.

For example, it’s been reported that Antispyware software Spybot Search & Destroy with its new immunization feature that adds certain suspicious links to Host file located in Windows/System32 folder slows down the connection speed through the speed of Firefox browser itself. Spybot S&D apparently perform check of suspicious Host files at every Firefox startup and during browsing, that significantly slows down the speed.


5. Problems with Malware


PC infected by virus and spyware can be one of the most common reasons for slow internet connection.
Both viruses and spyware are great consumers of internet bandwidth causing the connection to slow down. They constantly consume Internet bandwidth to send private information or establish a connection to the hacker's computer.

Also, your Internet browser can be hijacked by unauthorized BHO (Browser Helper Object), using bandwidth to send your privacy data to the hacker.
The constant connection or attempt for connection will dominate your computer bandwidth and eventually freeze up Internet connection



These were some of the reasons to help you understand why your Internet connection is all of sudden so slow and to help you fix that problem.


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