Understanding Internet Data & allowances.

When you use the internet you use data whether it's reading a web page, sending an email, or watching BBC iPlayer.

With our Mobile Broadband, you buy a data allowance which is used up when you're online.

Our data allowances come as packages of gigabytes (GB) which are broken down into megabytes (MB) and 1GB is equal to 1024MB.

If you usually use the internet to browse websites and check your email, you'll probably only need between 1-3GB each month. This will give you up to 30 hours to surf the web, while giving you enough data to download nearly 100 songs.

If you use the internet more often, 12-15GB will give you enough data to stream videos, download music or play games online.

• visiting a website uses less than 1MB of data
• a four minute song uses about 6MB
• a five minute YouTube video could use up to 15MB
• watching iPlayer for an hour uses about 700MB.

Mobile internet usage has ballooned with the mass popularity of smartphones, offering faster and more efficient ways of doing anything from watching TV, playing games or streaming music on your mobile phone. As result of this demand, data allowance plans of 1GB, 2GB or 5GB are being offered by mobile phone companies.

However, when searching for mobile phone tariffs, it can be hard to know how much download allowance to go for, or how much you are likely to use.

Here's a quick guide so you can calculate how much mobile phone data you actually need.

• What do Kb, Mb and Gb stand for?
• How much mobile phone internet data limit should I go for?
• How many megabytes or gigabytes of data will I use for mobile phone internet?
• How much mobile phone data do I need?
• Can I get an internet data allowance with a pay as you go phone?
• How much does it cost if you go over your mobile phone internet limit?
• What is a fair use policy?

What do Kb, MB and GB stand for?

These are the units for measuring the digital information you will download or store on your phone. Kb stands for kilobyte and just over 1000Kb make up one Mb. MB stands for megabyte and is made up of approximately 1000 bytes.

About 1000 megabytes makes up one GB - as in gigabyte. Most mobile phone tariffs will have a limit of a certain amount of megabytes or gigabytes of data that you're allowed to download per month.

How much mobile phone internet data limit should I go for?

It can be tempting to go for the most amount of internet that is offered as part of a tariff.

However, this may not be the best value for money if you are unlikely to use it all.

In fact, it may work out to be quite a bit cheaper if you opt for a tariff that best suits your mobile internet habits on a daily or monthly basis.

How many megabytes or gigabytes will I use for mobile internet usage?

This can vary dramatically from person to person. Some people may only want to check their email and some may want to download a lot of games, music and videos to their phones.

It is important to gauge what kind of user you are and how much data you are likely to use. Here's a rough guide to what kind of user you might be:

Low data user - 'I'll use it every so often, to keep up with friends and interesting news'

You like to look at web pages, or check your email online through a provider such as Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo!. You check your Facebook or Twitter online reasonably often.

You don't play a lot of games on your phone or download music directly on the phone.

You may occasionally use at your mobile for chatting online or watch the odd video clip. You are unlikely to use your internet for more than an hour a day.

Medium data user- 'I need it for my email and browsing the internet when I'm bored on the train'

You download email daily to your phone, via an on board or downloadable email client such as Gmail.

You spend quite a bit of time browsing the internet, and download a few games or applications a month.

You like to watch video on online streaming sites such as iPlayer every so often and perhaps download a few songs now and then too.

Heavy data user - 'I rely on my phone for both entertainment and work'

You send and receive quite a few emails daily, often with attachments. You watch videos online several times a week and are likely to download a lot of applications and games as well as music for your phone.

Additionally, you may rely on your mobile internet for work as well as social communication and need to use your phone for internet access several hours daily.

If you are a low user, you may want to opt for more minutes and texts and a lower internet allowance, such as 100MB.

If you are a medium user, many find 500MB is more than enough internet for their mobile phone.

If you are a heavy user, however, you may want to look at mobile phone tariffs with 1GB or more data allowance.

How much mobile phone data do I need?

Some downloads and apps are easier to measure than others.

For instance, if the app you're about to download is as large as 100 Mb, or even more, it should clearly stated in the app description section, so you can decide if you want download it using your inclusive data package.

However, other functions that are part of your everyday use may consume a varying amount of data and could catch you by surprise.

For instance, some of your emails might have large attachments that may take a lot of data to download, or some webpages may have more video or image content than others, which means they use more data to download.

Vodafone use the following assumptions to calculate how much mobile internet data the following activities could approximately take:

Action: data usage (amount downloadable with a 500MB allowance)

• Download a webpage: 100kB (5000 pages)
• Check your email: approx. 100kB per email (500 000 basic, 1,000 with attachments)
• Instant message: 100kB per Instant Messenger session (500 hours)
• Download a document: 100kB per page (5000 pages)
• Download a song: 5MB per music track (100 songs)
• Download a photo: 2MB per photo (250 photos)
• Watch a video: 1000kB per minute of video watching. (1 hour of watching)
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Can I get an internet data allowance with a pay as you go phone?

Many mobile phone providers now offer pay as you go mobile phones that you can top up with internet allowance as well as minutes and texts. All you need is a phone with mobile internet capabilities.

How much does it cost if you go over your mobile phone internet limit?

How much it is likely to cost you for going over your allotted mobile phone internet limit is variable, depending on which tariff you have chosen, and which network you are with.

However, in most cases you may find it is very expensive to exceed your mobile data limit. So it is important to find a tariff that matches your data needs.

We strongly advise that you confirm your network beforehand to ensure you choose the right data package to avoid a bill shock at the end of the month.

What is a fair use policy?

Some mobiles will simply limit your internet usage rather than charge extra - called a 'fair use' policy.

This means that you will not incur an extra charge when you use up your monthly allowance, but you may be penalised if you go over what the network decides is 'fair'- often around 500MB.

Depending on your network provider, this may only mean that your internet speed will be considerably reduced, so you will not be able to stream long videos or download large applications.

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What are the different mobile operating systems?

A mobile operating system (OS) is software that allows smartphones, tablet PCs and other devices to run applications and programs.A mobile OS typically starts up when a device powers on, presenting a screen with icons or tiles that present information and provide application access. Mobile operating systems also manage cellular and wireless network connectivity, as well as phone access. Examples of mobile device operating systems include Apple iOS, Google Android, Research in Motion’s BlackBerry OS, Nokia’s Symbian, Hewlett-Packard’s webOS (formerly Palm OS) and Microsoft’s Windows Phone OS. Some, such as Microsoft’s Windows 8, function as both a traditional desktop OS and a mobile operating system.Most mobile operating systems are tied to specific hardware, with little flexibility. Users can jailbreak or root some devices, however, which allows them to install another mobile OS or unlock restricted applications.

What is a mobile phone operating system?

Gone are the days when mobile phones were just a device to make phone calls and send occasional texts.

Modern smartphones are closer to handheld computers that enable us to send emails, play games, watch the news and make video calls to loved ones. And much more besides.

Operating systems, also known as mobile OS, are the software that run our desktop computers and laptops and manage their resources and memory when they're being used for multi-tasking.

But for some time now, smartphones have used operating systems too and it's this development that has brought advanced functions to mobiles that were previously only available on our computers.

It is also a platform so developers can create applications or 'apps' (software programs developed for smartphones that can carry out specific functions).

There are hundreds of thousands of apps available and they are constantly being developed - each with their own purpose.

For instance, you may download a weather app that tells you the current temperature or chances of rain in your city, a news app or widget that sends the latest headlines straight to your device's homescreen, or a game to simply pass the time.

There are a few examples of mobile device operating systems that include Apple iOS, Google Android, and Microsoft's Windows Phone OS.

How do I know what operating system my mobile phone has?

Because smartphone operating systems are so integrated with the look, feel and function of a mobile phone, many people base their choice of device around which operating system it uses.

If you have already bought your smartphone, the name and version of its software should be detailed in the settings menu.

However, if you are buying a new phone, the operating system can be found the handset's specifications information.

What different kinds of smartphone operating systems are there?

Some mobile operating systems are open source software, which means there are no restrictions on what you can download on it, or who can develop its software (there are often a 'community' of developers).

Open-source operating systems are entirely customisable, whilst others are restricted in the types of software permitted to run on the device.

Here's a mobile operating systems list:

iOS

The Apple iOS multi-touch, multi-tasking operating system is what runs the Apple's iPhone, iPad, and iPod. A special version of the software is what powers the Apple Watch too.

iOS responds to the user's touch - allowing you to tap on the screen to open a program, pinch your fingers together to minimise or enlarge an image, or swipe your finger across the screen to change pages.

The Apple iOS is not allowed to be used in third party systems, so you will only be able to use it on products made by Apple. It comes with the Safari web browser for internet use, an iPod application for playing music and Apple's Mail for managing your emails.

You can download millions of applications currently available on the App Store directly to any device running iOS, be it an iPhone or an iPad. These encompass everything from recipe books to guitar tuitorials to games.

Compare iPhone deals and find out more about iOS here: iPhone deals

Windows Phone

Microsoft released a hugely revamped version of its Windows platform for mobiles in late 2010, after its software fell behind iOS and Android.

Redesigned and rebuilt from the ground up with a greater emphasis on the user experience, the result was an operating system called Windows Phone.

Window Phone is recognisable from its tile-based interface - dubbed Metro - which features removable and interchangeable squares sections on the home screen, each with its own purpose and function.

It also has aggregators called 'hubs', that group together all photos from all applications, or all music into one library, meaning your Facebook photos can be found with your camera photos and your documents from different sources grouped together in one, easy to access location.

Windows Phone comes with a mobile-optimised version of the Internet Explorer for accessing the web, and Exchange, which supports secure corporate e-mail accounts with push support.

Android

Android OS is owned by Google and powered by the Linux kernel, which can be found on a wide range of devices.

Android is an open source operating system which allows developers to access unlocked hardware and develop new programs as they wish.

This means unlimited access to any anyone who wants to develop apps for the phone and places very little restriction on its licensing, so users benefit from masses of free content.

Android is currently the dominant smartphone platform due to its tremendous traction with a wide spectrum of users.

Some of the best features of Android include the ability to customise multiple homescreens with useful widgets and apps that give you quicker, easier access to the content and functions you most care about.

It also has an excellent capacity for multitasking - with the ability to close programs by simply swiping them away.

Last but not least, the Android Market, which is the Android equivalent of the Apple App Store is home to millions of apps, many of which are completely free.

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What is an Android mobile phone ?

Android is the name of the mobile operating system owned by American company; Google. It most commonly comes installed on a variety of smartphones and tablets from a host of manufacturers offering users access to Google’s own services like Search, YouTube, Maps, Gmail and more.

This means you can easily look for information on the web, watch videos, search for directions and write emails on your phone, just as you would on your computer, but there’s more to Android than these simple examples.

The Android operating system is developed and owned by Google.

However, it's not exclusive to the Google-branded Nexus range of phones.

In fact, Android powers a host of handsets from some of the biggest mobile manufacturers.

These include HTC, Samsung, Sony, Motorola and LG, many of whom have enjoyed tremendous critical and commercial success with mobile phones running the Android operating system.

Who makes the best Android phones and tablet phones?

To a certain extent, this is largely a matter of opinion.

However, it is definitely worth noting that both HTC and Samsung's Android phones have been very favourably reviewed and have sold millions of units worldwide. Compare Samsung phones with uSwitch today.

Also highly rated are Google’s own branded Nexus range of Android mobiles.

Android mobile phone prices

Android phones range from state of the art models to cheaper handsets.

HTC and Samsung, for instance, have created superb Android phones for the top of the market, as well as mobiles running Android for those who want to spend a bit less.

Prices for the top-end models are around £500-£600 or more if you buy one outright. For that reason, most people prefer to get one on a contract deal and spread the cost over up to two years.

Monthly contract prices for these high-end models range from £25-£40 per month.

Mid-range Android phones can be had from around £300 outright or between £15-£25, while the cheapest, entry-level Android phones are £100 or so. Opt for a contract and expect to pay £10 or so per month.

Budget Android phones vs high-end Android mobiles

Pick a cheaper Android phone and you’ll still get a choice of thousands of apps and a great communication tool with excellent social networking options.

The main difference between cheaper Android phones and the most expensive models is that the former will typically feature lower-grade cameras and lower resolution screens, such as QVGA displays, whereas the latter will feature the latest, cutting-edge specifications.

Less costly Android mobiles will also typically have less powerful processors. Consequently, cheaper Android phones may not run as fast or as smoothly and may be left out of the latest software updates because they're not powerful enough to run them.

Google Nexus Android phones

As well as Android mobile phones from HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Motorola, Google has brought phones to market that feature its own branding. These are the well-regarded Nexus range of Android smartphones.

The main difference between Google Nexus Android phones and those made by third-party companies, such as HTC, are that Google-branded phones run what is called 'vanilla Android'.

This means the user interface they use is completely unaltered from Google’s original design and that they do not feature the customisations that the likes of HTC and Samsung use to put their own stamp on their Android phones.

As a result, Nexus phone users have experienced few of the problems that have sometimes affected owners of other phone manufacturers’ handsets – such as hogging more memory and battery life - and have been able to get Android updates for their mobiles as soon as Google has made them available (see below for more information Android custom skins).

This has made them especially popular with committed tech fans, who are keen to get the latest, greatest version of Android on their handset as soon as possible.

Android mobile apps

The sheer range of Android apps available is a key selling point of Android mobiles.

Head to the Android Market – Google’s official applications download store – or the third-party owned GetJar orAmazon Appstore and you’ll be able to choose from a vast array of applications, taking in everything from practical business tools to fun games.

Best of all, many of these apps are totally free to download.

All Android phones also come with Google applications preinstalled, such as YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail, so you’ll have great some apps to get to grips with.

Google frequently updates these apps free, making them easier and better to use each time.

The software maker also creates free-to-download, innovative new applications, including the brilliant Google Goggles app that lets you conduct web searches by just taking pictures with your mobile.

Android updates explained

Periodically, Google releases an upgraded version of the Android software.

These are sometimes referred to by fun, dessert or other baked goods-themed codenames, such as FroYo (Frozen Yoghurt), Gingerbread, Honeycomb or Ice Cream Sandwich.

More formally they are given a version number by Google, such as Android 2.3 or Android 3.0.

Each time you get an update you can look forward to a host of new features for your handset. An Android update also makes your phone faster to use and fixes glitches and issues that have been discovered.

It really is like getting a brand new phone each time. And better yet, Google provides all updates completely free of charge.

Getting an Android update

Networks will typically send an email or text message to your phone to notify you when an update is available to download.

Some networks will automatically push out an update to your phone over the air.

All you have to do in these cases is look out for notifications that an update is available and press a button to accept the update. It will then begin downloading directly to your phone.

The exception is Samsung, maker of the best-selling Galaxy range of phones.

If you've got a Samsung Android phone must first download the company's Kies software companion to your PC or Mac.

You can then download the update directly to your PC/Mac and plug in your phone to transfer the latest Android OS iteration to your mobile.

If you are getting the update over the air, it’s a good idea to use your wireless home broadband connection.

This is because an update is a fairly large file, which takes much longer to download over a 3G or 4G mobile broadband connection.

It’s also prudent to back up any information on your phone to a microSD card before performing the update, so that you retain all your contacts and other information if there is a problem installing it.

Android custom skins explained

Android skins are user interfaces that are particular to a manufacturer, such as HTC’s Sense and Samsung’s TouchWiz.

A user interface is what determines the layout of menus and functions on your phone’s screen.

Many phone makers prioritise social networking for their custom skins, with a view to making it easy to update your profile and stay in the loop with all your friends.

For this reason, most specially created user interfaces feature one-touch access to social networking apps, such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, as well as a single location for you to view all your social networking activity.

Perhaps the best rated custom skin for Android mobile phones is HTC Sense, which has been lauded for its user friendliness and the cleanness of its layout.

In a uSwitch poll, Sense was dubbed the number-one custom interface for Android phones by 70 per cent of participants.

However, although welcomed by many users of Android phones, custom skins have on occasion caused notable issues with Android updates.

Some phone makers have experienced problems with getting updated versions of Android to work with their own user interface, which has resulted in delays in pushing out the upgrade to phones.

This development has fuelled speculation that Google will eventually do away with custom skins in future by allowing less scope for phone makers to customise their Android phones.

History of Android

Android was first unveiled to an expectant world back in November 2007.

However, the first commercially available phone to run the Android operating system did not go on sale until late 2008, when the T-Mobile G1 hit the shelves.

Manufactured by HTC on T-Mobile’s behalf, the G1 raced to one million sales, prompting a rush of phone makers to create their own handsets based on the Android platform.

Since then we have seen the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire smash the G1’s early record several times over with global sales running into millions. Just as popular was the debut Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Also helping to spread the OS’s popularity was the arrival of cheaper Android phones, not least the cute and very compact HTC Magic.

This was also the first to be offered on pay as you deals, thus making Android accessible to younger consumers and teenagers, as well as people on a budget.

Google’s first update for the OS was codenamed Cupcake, but was officially known as Android 1.5 and landed back in April 2009.

This debuted new functions, including the option to upload videos to YouTube, new widgets and also gave users fresh animations between screens.

Since Cupcake was released, Android updates have arrived regularly, with each overhaul of the operating system helping keep Android at the forefront of consumer technology.

The latest version,Android Marshmallow isn't an overhaul of everything you thought you knew about Android. Rather, it's a refinement and extension of the core features and functionality of Android Lollipop. In this Android Marshmallow review, I take a look at the major features of Google's latest OS version to let you know where it hits, where it misses, and where it has room to improve.

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Simple ways to make a slow computer run faster

One of the best things about a new computer is the speed. It boots fast, opens programs like a dream and generally doesn't leave you checking your watch.

Of course, the longer you use a computer, the slower it gets. It's tempting to buy a new computer or call a professional, but I wouldn't just yet. You can get back most of the speed with a few free tricks. They're simple enough for anyone to do, and your wallet will thank you.

Keep software up to date 

Make sure all your software is up to date. This includes web browsers, applications, drivers for devices such as printers and, most importantly, Windows itself, as Microsoft issues regular updates to plug security holes or fix glitches in the operating system. 

Regularly defragment your hard drive

When your PC saves a large file to the hard drive, it breaks it into smaller pieces and stores them across several locations. This means the hard drive works slightly slower. Windows 7’s Disk Defragmenter tool, for example, reorganises this data in a more logical fashion, so your computer performs quicker. 

Check for viruses and other malware Run your antivirus software regularly. Viruses can slow down your computer and cause data loss, while spyware can compromise security by monitoring your activity and collecting information about you. Launch your antivirus software and make sure it's up to date. Then run a full scan of your hard disk. 

Spring clean your web browser

Every time you visit a webpage, your web browser stores or ‘caches’ it as a small file in your Temporary Internet Files folder. Over time, the volume of these files can build up. Periodically clearing out your browser’s cache will help it to work faster when loading pages and reduce the amount of valuable disk space these cached files take up. In most browsers these settings can be found within the History menu, labelled something along the lines of Clear browsing data or Clear cache & cookies. 

Limit startup programs

How fast your computer starts up depends on several things, including the hardware you’re using, the version of Windows installed and how many programs are also scheduled to start up when Windows does. Here's how you can take control of it.
Many programs will start running invisibly in the background when you turn on your computer, slowing down the system startup time and potentially causing software crashes. Yet, you can easily disable programs that you don’t need to start straight away: Click Start, type msconfig in the search bar and press Enter.
In the System Configuration window, click the Startup tab. From the list of programs that appears, untick the box next to those you don’t need to launch automatically at startup. Only deselect programs that you don’t use regularly or know that you don’t need. Click Apply and then click OK. Now restart your system. For a more in-depth look at how to improve startup speed, check out our full advice guide on the Which? Tech Daily blog here.

Get rid of unwanted programs

Speed increases don't end with startup times. You'll want to make sure that your computer is running fast when you're using it, too. Here's a few key pointers. Free up storage space and memory by uninstalling programs that you don’t use. These may include trial versions of software that came with the computer when you bought it, out-of-date antivirus programs, old software or games that you no longer play. Click Start > Control Panel > Uninstall a program. From the list of programs that appears, click the program you want to uninstall, then click Uninstall. 

Remove temporary files

Window’s Disk Clean-up utility can help boost your computer’s performance by removing temporary files and unnecessary system files: Click Start. In the search box, type disk clean up and, from the list of results that appears, click Disk Clean-up. In the list of Drives, click the hard disk drive that you want to clean. For most people this will be the C: drive. Click OK. In the Disk Clean-up box, select the type of files that you want to delete and then click OK and then click Delete files.

Identifying bloatware

Despite the expectation of a digital clean slate, brand new PCs often come preloaded with all kinds of unnecessary programs known as 'bloatware'. It's perfectly normal to accrue more of it as you install more and more programs throughout the life of your PC. Many preinstalled bloatware programs can be uninstalled easily, but the trick lies in knowing what can be safely removed and what you should keep. If you find programs installed on your computer that you’ve never used, and have no intention of using, these could be bloatware that you can easily uninstall. If, by accident, you uninstall something useful, don’t worry - your PC should have been supplied with discs containing backup copies, so you can always reinstall the programs. 

Toolbar trouble
Extra web browser toolbars are a classic example of bloatware. These sometimes come preinstalled with your PC, and many downloadable applications will attempt to add unnecessary toolbars. Toolbars typically appear at the top of your browser window, and often provide their own search box. Uninstalling toolbars can be done in the same way as other software. Look out for toolbars when installing other programs. Unusually, you will be offered the choice to opt out by un-ticking a tick box.

Speed up your startup

The most annoying computer slowdown for most people is startup. Even new computers can take a few minutes to start. After years of use, it can seem like hours.

Your computer spends much of that time starting third-party programs. Security software, printer software and driver updaters are just a few examples. The frustrating part is that many of these don't need to run at startup.

Autoruns is a freebie that can help reduce the load. It finds and disables unneeded programs so they don't slow you down. But it won't stop important startup processes, like security software.

Startup Delayer is a good program if you want more control. You can tell what programs to start when. That way, they're not fighting for system resources.

If you have a Windows 7 or 8 computer, you might invest in a solid-state hard drive (SSD). These are much faster than conventional hard drives. It can bring your startup times to well under a minute.

SSDs are still small and expensive — a 128 gigabyte SSD costs $110 to $150 — but that's less than a new computer. Before you put down any money, however, read on.

Clean the clutter

Another thing that slows down your computer is a cluttered hard drive.

In the past, you had to worry about a full hard drive. Thanks to modern large-capacity drives, filling the space isn't easy.

Still, even coming close can slow down your system. So, if you have less than five gigabytes of free space, it's time to clean.

Use a free disk-visualizing program such as WinDirStat to see what applications and files are taking up the most space. Move space-hogging files you need to an external drive and delete the ones you don't.

Grab Revo Uninstaller to thoroughly remove any programs you don't use anymore. Zap unused trial software and other unwanted bloatware with PC Decrapifier.

Even if you have plenty of space, clutter can still slow things down. Plenty of programs create temporary files they have to sort through later. Get rid of temporary files with the free program CCleaner.

You might have duplicate music or photo files clogging up your programs. Use a program like CloneSpy or VisiPics to remove them quickly.

Pick up the pieces

Files on a hard drive aren't like files in a filing cabinet. On a hard drive, files become fragmented. Bits and pieces of them get scattered around the drive. This increases the time your computer takes to open them.

That's why there are defragmenting programs. These assemble the pieces so they're easier to find.

With Windows Vista, 7 and 8 this isn't such a big deal anymore. They run the built-in defragmenter automatically on a schedule.

To check when it runs, go to Start, or go to the Start Screen in Windows 8. In the search bar, type "defrag" (minus quotes). This will either bring up the defragmenter program or a list where you can select it.

Check when it ran last and when it's scheduled to run. Usually it's set for early morning. If your computer isn't usually on then, change it to a different time. You can also run it manually.

In Windows XP, you'll have to run the defragmenter manually. Open My Computer and right-click on your main drive. Then choose Properties.

Go to the Tools tab and choose Defragment Now, then click Defragment. It will take a while, so sit back and relax.

One exception to defragging is if you have a solid-state hard drive. These work in a different way and don't have this problem. In fact, running a defragmenter on an SSD will shorten its life. Windows 7 and 8 will detect an SSD and turn off defragmenting automatically.

Boost your browsing

Your computer runs fast, but loading websites leaves you twiddling your thumbs. What gives?

First, make sure you're getting the Internet speed you paid for. The free serviceSpeedtest will give you the real scoop on your Internet connection.

If you suspect the problem is in your wireless network, you can tweak your router's settings to eliminate hang-ups and bottlenecks.

If your wireless signal is weak or your home has dead spots, try putting your router in a central location. Also, move it away from walls and metal objects.

It might turn out that it isn't your connection, but your browser. On Vista or 7, the fix for that could be as simple as upgrading Internet Explorer to version 9 or higher. Do this from Start>>Control Panel>>Windows Update.

Getting rid of unneeded browser toolbars, like Babylon, will also speed things up. These often come attached to free software. You can remove these manually in the browser add-on settings, or use a program like Toolbar Cleaner.

Remove pesky viruses

Speaking of unwanted programs, viruses can seriously slow down your system. They might be busy recording everything you do, or sending out spam.

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