Why my Internet connection is so slow ?

The following might be the reasons.

1.Broadband Plan 

2.Line condition

3.Spyware or Trojan virus

4.Browser add-ons or extensions

5.System hardware & memory.

6.Network Setup , Wrong DNS Settings

For details

Choose the right broadband plan

256 Kbps download speed is sufficient for browsing and Emailing.
But for viewing streaming video like you-tube, etc more than 512 kbps bandwidth required. For viewing HD video, more than 2 Mbps download speed required.
If you are in differential speed plan then check the broadband usage.
If your usage exceeded the limit, you will get minimum speed only.

Second, make sure that your phone line is in good condition.

 If the telephone wiring in your home or business is old or deteriorating, you might be picking up stray signals or cross talk from other phone lines. These problems will slow your Internet connection because the modem will have to send the same information over and over until it is transmitted without interruption. Check your telephone wires to be sure they are not damaged, frayed, or twisted around power or other telephone cables. If you notice crackling in your phones, you might want to dial 198 service to book a complaint to have them check the lines inside and outside your home to make sure they are in good condition.
Note: Check the line condition yourself by opening the modem setup page.
Open the browser like Internet Explorer type the address http://192.168.1.1
give username and password as admin. A webpage will be opened.
Now verify the SNR and Data rate in the status>Statistics> DSL.
If SNR is greater than 20 db when data rate is above 2 Mbps then line is good. 

Computer woes: spyware, viruses, and other programs

The health of your computer can affect your Internet connection. Spyware and viruses can definitely cause problems, but your Internet connection speed can also be affected by add-on programs, the amount of memory the computer has, hard disk space and condition, and the programs that are running. 

Two of the most frequent causes of poor Internet performance are spyware and viruses. Spyware can slow your system by interfering with your browser and monopolizing your Internet connection. Spyware monitors your Internet use and keystrokes, which adds delays. The problem is compounded when there are multiple spyware programs running at the same time. If the problem is severe enough, you can lose connectivity altogether.
To get your Internet performance back, you should regularly run an anti-spyware program to clean out any spyware infestation.

When a virus infects a computer, it installs computer code which will attempt to propagate itself, usually by sending copies of itself through e‑mail. Some viruses can multiply at the rate of hundreds of e‑mail messages per minute, which leaves little computing power and Internet connection bandwidth for anything else. 

Is my computer Infected with a Virus ?
Assuming your anti-virus software hasn't alerted you to the presence of a virus, here are some indicators of malware on your computer:

1.Computer has become unstable, that's a sign that something's wrong.

2.computer seem to run much more slowly than it used to..

3. Internet LED on modem is blinking all the time even when there is NOT traffic.

4.Check the traffic in COMMAND Prompt .   If you see lot of foreign address, the system is probably infected with Trojan horse.

Start > All Programs > Accessories > COMMAND PROMPT

FALSE ALARMS

While surfing the Web, you might encounter alarming pop-up messages claiming a virus has been found on your computer and that you should download software to get rid of it. Be careful! These messages are often scams that trick you into downloading software that can hurt your computer or spy on computer activities.
If the message didn't come from your own anti-virus or anti-spyware applications, don't trust it!

Browser add-ons also cause performance problems.

Browser add-ons are programs, such as multimedia add-ons, search bars, or other programs that usually appear on your browser's toolbar. Many browser add-ons can add to a rich browsing experience, offering multimedia or specialized document viewing. However, some add-ons can slow your Internet connection. If you suspect that add-ons are causing slow performance, try starting Internet Explorer in Add-ons disabled mode. Add-ons are disabled only for the session, but if you find your performance improves, you can use Manage Add-ons to turn them off permanently.
To access Manage Add-ons from Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Manage Add-ons .
Disable or remove add-ons except shockwave player or adobe flash and java

Computing Power

Like all computer programs, Internet Explorer requires a certain amount of computing power, memory, and disk space to run efficiently. Every webpage you view is first downloaded to memory and then saved to temporary disk files. Running another program that is using lots of memory and computing power can compete with Internet Explorer and cause delays. If you find your Internet connection running slowly and you have other programs running, try closing them. If you want to run several programs, consider increasing the memory you have on your computer. Low disk space can also cause performance problems. You can increase your disk space by deleting temporary files from Internet Explorer

Occasionally, settings get changed in Internet Explorer that could possibly affect how Internet Explorer works. You can reset Internet Explorer to its default settings. IE>Tools >Internet options>Advanced> Reset or Restore default.
and Uncheck the third party browser extension.

Outside factors that affect connection speeds

Unfortunately, there are events and conditions that are outside your control. Even with a fast connection, external factors, such as busy websites or spreading viruses can slow the entire web.
 Popular websites can become overwhelmed with users. For example, when an examination result is published in a website, many people might try to visit the site at the same time. Similar issue exist when booking tatkal train ticket in IRCTC.

If the website isn't prepared to handle the traffic, you might encounter delays.

During times of heavy computer virus outbreaks, the Internet can slow down. Many viruses spread by causing computers to send out hundreds or thousands of copies of the virus. This can slow the Internet by sheer volume.

Posted in: Speed, Troubleshooting