| Have you ever wondered if you are getting the | | | | other browser programs are available to them. |
| fastest broadband speeds you are entitled to? In | | | | Most spyware, pop-ups and trojan programs that |
| most cases performing a broadband speed test will | | | | interfere with and slow down your computer system |
| show that your ISP is doing the right thing by you, | | | | are tailored specifically for Internet Explorer, so |
| and you may need to look a little closer to home for | | | | switching to an alternative browser program like |
| things that might be slowing you down. | | | | Mozilla's Firefox can solve a lot of those issues for |
| A good place to start is by checking all of your | | | | you. |
| broadband connection hardware. Sometimes | | | | Scanning with tools like Stephen Gould's Cleanup to |
| something as simple as a faulty cable can knock the | | | | get rid of unwanted cookies and files, and Advanced |
| wind out of your broadband sails. | | | | WindowsCare V2 Personal which helps you to |
| Your broadband router or modem should be | | | | manage which programs start automatically when |
| connected as close as possible to the socket where | | | | windows boots up, are both alternatives to changing |
| the broadband connection enters your home, the | | | | your web browsing program. |
| shorter the cable, the faster the connection speed. | | | | Firewalls can be a mixed blessing too. On one hand |
| Increases of up to 3Mbps can be achieved by using a | | | | they protect your system from a whole host of |
| shorter cable. | | | | very real threats to your computer system, but if |
| Ensure that your router is up to date, all computer | | | | installed incorrectly or if the wrong settings are |
| hardware needs to be replaced eventually, and an old | | | | selected, they can really hamper your broadband |
| router could be faulty or just plain slow. | | | | speed. If in doubt check the suggested settings in |
| If you connect only through a wireless connection, | | | | the help feature of the firewall or on their website. |
| the closer you are to your router or nearest tower | | | | Keeping your computer free of unwanted data and |
| makes a big difference, and purchasing a larger | | | | programs and using the error-checking and |
| antenna can help to maintain optimum signal. | | | | defragmentation features (Right click on your C Drive |
| Now let's have a look at your software, and this is | | | | in My Computer and select Properties, then Tools) to |
| where the fun starts. A lot of internet user's eyes | | | | optimise your computers running speed, will all help |
| tend to glaze over when you start talking about | | | | with a smoother broadband connection. |
| browsers, firewalls and spyware, so I will keep this as | | | | If you are confident that everything is running well |
| simple as possible. | | | | and your ISP is providing what they promise, but it is |
| A greater majority of internet users have Microsoft's | | | | still too slow for your liking, then you may need to |
| Internet Explorer installed as their browser program | | | | bite the bullet and upgrade your account to a faster |
| (for surfing the net) and often have no idea that | | | | connection speed. |