22:33
Faizan
If you are wondering why your Internet access has slowed down, or why your monthly bill is so high, any number of your Internet-enabled devices may be to blame. While no device in itself will hog bandwidth, how you use it and how you have it configured can make a real difference. If you haven't taken proper security precautions, it may not even be a device in your household that is robbing you of bandwidth. It could be the TV next door, or even a computer halfway across the world that is to blame.
Computers
Streaming videos and playing graphics-intensive online games may be obvious bandwidth hogs. However if your computer seems to be using more than its fair share of the Internet, software updates are often the likely culprits. If you have automatic updates enabled for your operating system or any of your apps, your computer may be downloading gigabytes worth of data -- without telling you about it until the downloads are complete. To disable Windows 8 from downloading updates automatically, open "Settings," select "Change PC Settings" and select "Update and Recovery."
Mobile Devices
Any mobile devices in your household that have Wi-Fi access are also potential bandwidth hogs. Just like your computer, downloading software, playing online games and streaming video can take their toll on your monthly Internet bandwidth limits. To manage their usage, disable automatic updates, so you can download the updates when it's convenient to you. Watching standard definition videos instead of the HD versions of your favorite movies can cut your bandwidth in half. You won't see a difference on a small screen and -- if you're buying the movie -- it will usually save you a few dollars on the purchase price too.
Your TV
If your TV connects to the Internet, it has the potential to slow your Wi-Fi network to a crawl while swiping the lion's share of your monthly bandwidth. This includes any Internet-enabled devices connected to your TV, like your XBox, Playstation 3, Apple TV or Blu-ray player. A single HD movie can be between 4 or 5GB in size. As with your other devices, software updates and video games can also wreak havoc on your bandwidth.
Other People's Devices
Using a weak password on your Wi-Fi internet router, or worse, no password at all, is an open invitation to your neighbors to use your network for downloading large files rather than using their own. Another dangerous situation that can result in problems beyond flagging bandwidth is not using anti-virus software or the firewall software that comes on your PC to protect yourself from hackers. If a hacker gains access to your computer, he can upload all of your files, access your webcam and even remotely control it to hack into other people's computers.
Computers
Streaming videos and playing graphics-intensive online games may be obvious bandwidth hogs. However if your computer seems to be using more than its fair share of the Internet, software updates are often the likely culprits. If you have automatic updates enabled for your operating system or any of your apps, your computer may be downloading gigabytes worth of data -- without telling you about it until the downloads are complete. To disable Windows 8 from downloading updates automatically, open "Settings," select "Change PC Settings" and select "Update and Recovery."
Mobile Devices
Any mobile devices in your household that have Wi-Fi access are also potential bandwidth hogs. Just like your computer, downloading software, playing online games and streaming video can take their toll on your monthly Internet bandwidth limits. To manage their usage, disable automatic updates, so you can download the updates when it's convenient to you. Watching standard definition videos instead of the HD versions of your favorite movies can cut your bandwidth in half. You won't see a difference on a small screen and -- if you're buying the movie -- it will usually save you a few dollars on the purchase price too.
Your TV
If your TV connects to the Internet, it has the potential to slow your Wi-Fi network to a crawl while swiping the lion's share of your monthly bandwidth. This includes any Internet-enabled devices connected to your TV, like your XBox, Playstation 3, Apple TV or Blu-ray player. A single HD movie can be between 4 or 5GB in size. As with your other devices, software updates and video games can also wreak havoc on your bandwidth.
Other People's Devices
Using a weak password on your Wi-Fi internet router, or worse, no password at all, is an open invitation to your neighbors to use your network for downloading large files rather than using their own. Another dangerous situation that can result in problems beyond flagging bandwidth is not using anti-virus software or the firewall software that comes on your PC to protect yourself from hackers. If a hacker gains access to your computer, he can upload all of your files, access your webcam and even remotely control it to hack into other people's computers.
Posted in: internet
