Broadband Internet

Broadband Internet is an option that a lot of people are using for their web surfing needs. Broadband for consumer use can be either DSL, which is usually provided by a phone company, or cable Internet, which comes from your cable company. In many cases, broadband service means faster page loads when surfing the net, quicker downloads of data, and an overall faster experience when looking at photos and videos. Even with this fast type of service, things can sometimes slow down. One of the first things you need to do when this happens is run a broadband speed test on your connection. If you call your Internet provider, they may be able to run a broadband speed test on your computer while you wait. It generally only takes a moment, and they can tell you rather quickly if the problem is on their end or yours. They may also have a website that you can go to, if you can still get online, and it will run the broadband speed test for you. You will see your results displayed right there on your computer screen.

If you have taken your broadband speed test and they find nothing wrong on their end, your connection might be off because of your connection. You may have a wire or connector that has come loose, and in some cases, you will need to reset your modem. The last time I found my service to be painfully slow, it was because the memory on my modem had been full. I’m not sure what kind of data this collects or uses, but once the memory was emptied, my connection was fine. When there is no problem on your end, no problem on your service providers end, and you have passed the broadband speed test with flying colors, most likely there is something else wrong with your computer. In many cases, you will find that you have spyware, malware, or a virus tying up your computer. Some viruses use up so much of your computer memory that it may make your broadband Internet run like dial-up. If you take care of all of these, your last step would be to have your computer looked over by a professional for any hardware problems. Once your computer is up and running again, run a broadband speed test once in a while to make sure everything is up and running, and keep your computer protected from viruses and spyware. If you don’t have antivirus, make sure you get it. Find a good spyware program and take advantage of the free firewall Zone Alarm offers. All of these together will help keep your computer protected.