How to speed up an Internet connection can be simple if you keep some basic ideas in mind.

For example, remove viruses and spyware from your system, and run a unprivileged user account for Internet access to slow down any future infections from the wild Internet. Viruses, stealthkits (also known as rootkits), and spyware will compete with or take over your Internet connection and prevent you from enjoying it yourself. So it is important to scan your system routinely for such problems.

Do not compete with other computers for Internet access via a common (shared) connection such as wireless, broadband cable, or telephone service. Do not operate your main computer as a gateway for other household computers to access the Internet. Such shared connections cause the computers to compete with each other and additional delays are inserted for the computers to communicate with each other about sharing the Internet connection.

Telephone modem connections to bulletin boards and Internet access are limited by the Federal Communications Commission to slow speeds useful over voice-grade telephone wiring. So, if you upgrade from telephone modem access to another service such as wireless, broadband, or optical fiber, then such a connection will speed up in a noticeable way.

Where two local wiring options are available to the Internet from your computer, opt for the faster one. For example, a broadband cable modem can offer either Category 5 cable or USB cable connections (USB is faster than Category 5). Also, a broadband cable modem will be faster than a telephone modem, but the telephone modem can serve as a good backup capability, if desired.

If you can afford it, get an optical fiber connection to the Internet or possibly two-way satellite Internet access for highest connection speeds. Optical fiber run directly to the computer (with a small connecting device) has superior connection speeds for two-way networking that no other fielded technology can surpass.

Finally, learn to check your Internet connection speed online, and routinely check it to recognize when Internet congestion or other slowdowns are occurring.

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