The internet is an indispensable tool that has helped shape the world into what it is today. It’s also a great way to waste time! Computers, tablets, and smartphones are all tools for accessing the internet. But sometimes they can be more trouble than they’re worth – especially when you face one of these six common problems.
Slow internet speeds
Slow internet speeds can be a mess. If the problem is with your ISP, there’s not much you can do but complain and switch providers if possible. But one thing to try before doing that is restarting your modem or router (whichever applies). Sometimes this will solve the issue in a jiffy!
If it isn’t your ISP holding back your speed, then perhaps an app on your computer needs updating? Or maybe something else is going on behind the scenes without you realizing it. If Xfinity Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting, you should try resetting your router or modem. Another solution is to try checking for updates from Microsoft Windows Update, Mac OS X Software Update, iOS Updates, Android Device Manager, or whatever other operating system(s) you use – keeping in mind that some may need rebooting after applying updates.
You can also try with your browsers – a lot of the time that’s where slow speeds crawl from. There are some browser extensions to help speed up your internet as well, but remember not all tools work for everyone. Another thing you can do is clear your browsing history and cookies/cache (if applicable).
Limited bandwidth for streaming videos or music
Sometimes limited bandwidth can be due to slow internet speeds. But this isn’t always the case! One thing you should check is if your ISP actually uses a data cap – most do nowadays, so it’s good to keep track of how much data you use every month regardless, as staying below or at your limit may not be enough with some ISPs.
So what about those times when YouTube seems stuck on loading? Or Amazon Prime Video won’t load past two minutes before buffering? Sometimes they just have servers put in place that throttle video quality and/or speed for everyone until things smooth out. You can try watching later or using a different browser (if available) for the time being while waiting for these issues to resolve themselves.
Of course, if you have a data cap from your ISP, there’s not much you can do but wait for the month to end and hope everything gets sorted out in time before that happens. If it isn’t your ISP or video quality/speed throttling, then perhaps something else is going on behind the scenes without realizing it?
Unreliable connections that cut out often
“Oh crap, I lost my internet connection again!” Sometimes this can be due to your ISP or, if you’re using a mobile data plan, other people in the same area. Try switching out different devices (ex: smartphone instead of tablet) and see if that fixes the issue at hand. Maybe it’s just one type of device having issues while others are fine? Try to check for updates from your ISP or mobile data provider, then reboot all devices – including routers and modems.
Poor signal strength with Wi-Fi, especially in rural areas
Sometimes the signal strength just sucks. It depends on where you’re at and what’s going on nearby that might be messing with your Wi-Fi connection even though it shouldn’t be – like people using cordless phones or microwaves, for example. Try changing out different devices (ex: smartphone instead of tablet) to see if that helps boost the quality/strength of your wireless internet access before moving on to other troubleshooting steps.
The poor signal could be due to interference or range issues too. So it might be a good idea to check out your router placement, whether you’re using the correct Wi-Fi channels (and what other devices are around that could interfere), and if you can move routers for better signal strength (ex: moving from upstairs to downstairs).
Is your computer infected by malware and viruses?
If your computer is running slow, or you have a lot of popups and advertisements, there’s a good chance it could be infected by malware. You should check the usual suspects like Windows Defender, Avast!, Malwarebytes, HitmanPro – even if you already use an antivirus program! Sometimes different programs pick up on things that others don’t to help keep computers safe from viruses and other security threats.
Don’t forget about checking for updates too when using these scanning tools as well, since they usually update daily to make sure users are getting the best protection possible with all available patches installed in their systems. Also, try closing down all browser tabs (if applicable) before resuming scans, so it doesn’t interfere with any active processes going on in the background.
The most common malware viruses are from fake emails containing links or attachments that can install programs without your knowledge – especially if you aren’t aware of what’s going on at the time being (ex: click it to open, but don’t actually go through with it). Other things like clicking popups and advertisements online could lead to infecting computers too, so always be wary when browsing around!
Sometimes even using public Wi-Fi connections might not be safe either because hackers may try installing keyloggers in order to monitor everything typed out by anyone connected. So make sure all devices have up-to-date antivirus software installed before connecting anywhere else other than trusted networks (like home/work)!
Why can’t I access some websites from certain locations?
If you can’t access certain websites from your region, then it could be due to the site-blocking in that particular area. Other than using a VPN (a virtual private network) and spoofing IP addresses for visiting blocked sites – which is illegal in some cases depending on what country/state you’re at – there’s not much else we can do about this issue. Just make sure all devices have an updated antivirus program installed along with firewall security as well before browsing around!
These are just a few of the many problems that people have when using their internet connection. We hope that you found this article helpful and that your internet is working again soon!
I’m is an owner of Venostech.com, blogger, Android and technology enthusiast. Individual who are educated in the IT and like to write according my scope.
