Slow Internet? Your router might be in the wrong spot. Here are some factors to consider, in 60 seconds.
Easy way to see if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi
Having slow internet may occur more than you’d like. You may see a frozen screen when trying to binge-watch your favorite TV show. You might get booted out when paying bills. Tap or click here to get the fastest internet speeds in your area.
The problem may stem from the way your system is set up. However, it might not be your system at all. Slow internet could be the result of someone stealing your Wi-Fi.
Fortunately, free downloads can help you see who’s accessing your Wi-Fi, whether you’re using Windows or a Mac. Keep reading for details.
For Windows
Wireless Network Watcher scans your network and shows you the IP address, MAC address, name and manufacturer of the computers, tablets and smartphones it detects on your network.
Note: Each computer has a unique IP address or Internet Protocol Address. Some computer hardware devices have addresses, too. They’re known as MACs or Media Access Control.
As soon as you boot up Wireless Network Watcher, you’ll see all the detected devices on the list. You should be able to recognize the connected devices. For example, you might see devices from Apple and Amazon Technologies if you’re using an iPhone and Amazon Echo.
Read through the list to make sure you recognize everything. You know somebody is connected without your permission if you see devices you don’t recognize.
How to use Wireless Network Watcher: Click the link below. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see in purple, “Download Wireless Network Watcher with full install/uninstall support (wnetwatcher_setup.exe).”
Wireless Network Watcher will automatically download. Open the executable file and follow the step-by-step installation instructions.
For Mac
Did you install Windows 11 yet? You should know about this problem slowing down PCs first
Microsoft’s latest version of Windows promises new visuals and better functioning. Gaming, communication and web browsing have been optimized, and Android users can run their apps from their Windows PC. The new Microsoft Store has an improved search function so you can find what you’re looking for more easily.
Speed up your PC or Mac: 5 pro tricks to quickly find and delete junk
In our homes, dirt, dust, and grime can pile up over time. Cached files, screenshots and duplicates are the digital equivalent.
One of the questions I get the most on my national radio show is, “How do I delete all these duplicate photos?” It’s a pain, and you need extra software to get the job done right. Tap or click for my picks.
Sick of slow internet? How to check you’re getting what you pay for
We all know the pain of “slow” internet: videos buffer, downloads take ages, and a single page can take forever to load. We wonder whether it’s our browser, our device, or the website we’re visiting.
It could be your Wi-Fi signal. Wireless networks are notorious for connection problems. Tap or click for ways to boost your Wi-Fi coverage for good, including changing the router’s channel, which hardly anyone does.
Good news: Your home internet might get a huge speed boost (at no extra cost)
The pandemic has moved many of our lives online. Some of us have been lucky enough to stay safe by working from home during these strange times. But we don’t log off when the shift is over.
We then turn to Netflix or whatever your streaming service of choice is to stay entertained. All this online activity has probably put your internet connection front and center. If you’re not getting the speeds that you’re paying for, that’s a problem. Tap or click here to report slow internet to the FCC.
COVID vaccine sites are a total mess
You know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men. They often go awry. We’re seeing that now with vaccine rollouts. Slow internet connections are throwing wrenches into COVID-fighting plans. Here’s the full story.
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Sick of slow Wi-Fi? Here's the solution
If you’re stuck working from home and having to combat slow internet you aren’t alone. Tons of people are dealing with internet issues at the moment, due in part to the fact that tens of millions of Americans are trying to work remotely in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic.
Are you getting all the internet you pay for?
Open/download audioIf webpages aren’t loading, videos are endlessly buffering and using more than one device is a headache, you may not be getting the connection speed you pay for. Before you resign yourself to living with slow internet, use my quick and easy tip to find out if you should be getting more from your provider.
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Fix common Windows errors with a single click
Computers are expensive. That can make you want to hold onto the old Dell you bought six years ago. But sometimes even upgrading your computer’s hardware can’t fix basic problems. No matter how clean your desktop looks, there might be some bugs packed deep into your PC’s code slowing it down. Here’s how to fix those issues fast.