What Causes Slow Internet Surfing?

What causes slow internet surfing? You've just discovered a new website and are looking forward to checking it out. However, loading time seems to crawl slower than a snail across sand. There are several reasons why your browser is slowing down and a number of ways to cure them.

The most likely culprit is probably spyware or a possible virus. The best thing is to run your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and see if they catch anything. Just follow the instructions if they raise an alarm.

The next most likely cause is the fact that you have too many programs installed and you don't have a large enough hard drive. The simple answer is to remove programs that you aren't using. The best way is to use the Add/Remove Programs within the Control Panel, if you're using a Windows computer. Be sure to avoid anything that has to do with Microsoft and Windows itself-like key updates-or anything dealing with any hardware you've installed-like your video card or sound card. The best rule of thumb is, if you don't know what it does, don't touch it.

Sometimes, your Internet connection might not be working. This is usually true if there's something going on with the ISP or some weather issue, like a rain storm or a power outage. If using a modem, try unplugging the power for a few seconds and then plugging back in. For good measure, restart your computer. If using a wireless router or a combination router/modem, unplug that too. Make sure you plug the modem back first before plugging  in your router. Also give your ISP a call to see if they are having an issues, like an outage.

To go with the above, perhaps the hardware is the issue. As sorry as it is, technology does not last forever. Even if you just bought a wireless router, you may need to replace it as it may be faulty. If you're still within your warranty period, make sure you get a replacement without having to spend too much. If the router/modem isn't the problem, it could be the card within your computer. If you have a wireless card, it may be time to replace it; if using an Ethernet card, same thing. If this is connected to your motherboard, you may just need to purchase an external card.

Memory or RAM is what the computer uses to remember certain things about your current configuration. The more memory you have, the more things you are able to do. If you still have 256 megabytes of memory in a four gigabyte world, you should probably upgrade. Always make sure you pick the right type and amount of your RAM to ensure it's compatible with your motherboard and machine.

Going through different steps should give you a direction to check on slow surfing. At the maximum, if trying everything doesn't yield results, it may be time to consider upgrading one or more parts of your computer or network.