Can VIRUS slow down our INTERNET speed ?? !!!

@akp100 (13640)
India
February 2, 2011 5:44am CST
hello friends..:) Usually I am having good speed from my internet provider.. But recently I was having problem with speed of my internet.. I thought it was temporary but it wasn't solving after many days too. Its like some days it was giving good speed and some days it was just dull. So i called my internet provider but he told me that there is no fault from them.. So i tried my internet on my friend's laptop. And it was working fine in his system. So I thought its mine system who causing troubles.. So I format it and again tried it with fresh OS.. And no positive results.. So i called my service provider again and then he told me that they were having problems from a week. What the hack !!! I just format my system for no reason.. Now internet has become normal again. And its working fine.. But still i am confused a little.. Can virus really effect our internet speed..How ?? And whats the solution for it ??
4 people like this
18 responses
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
2 Feb 11
Hello anand, I think virus can affect the speed of internet. If the computer becomes slow then the net automatically become slow. Last month my computer was taking a pause in between, and took time to open files. Then I call the service person he came and delete some temporary files, clean up disk etc (am deleting the cookies and temp files everyday) now it is working fine. Usually the net become slow due the problem with service providers.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Hi Sree But on that time My computer was working okay.. I mean no loose of speed in computer performance.. Its just loose of speed of internet. I thought it was due to some virus.. But in the end it was due to service provider's having some fault their. I know virus can cause lots of thing. But now I never heard about they can effect internet speed too.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Yes life... That is the easiest way to delete temp files..
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Even i don't know the exact reason.. But if you type temp(without %) in run then it will take you to whole different folder(which is also carrying temp files) with same folder name 'temp'.. So they having same folder name so to make difference between them ( to open them from run) % is used..(thats what my guess) I also delete temp files from temp folder which open from run without writing %.
@saphrina (31551)
• South Africa
2 Feb 11
Hi sweetie. Get antivirus. Scan once a wekk if it's not scheduled. A virus can slow down your pc. No need to have formatted the pc, you should have only scanned it. TATA.
@saphrina (31551)
• South Africa
2 Feb 11
And you have format your pc for what then?
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Hi saphy.. :) Well I am having antivirus.. and scanning my system regularly.. But this time my system was in good shape (i mean no problem with system) .. It was just internet speed problem since a week.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Even I am confused now.. I am getting less speed of internet since last week.. But even after formatting its still not working properly.. I guess problem is from service provider side.
• United States
3 Feb 11
I suppose us online venture-rs are susceptible to multiple virus unknown to us. Although I have a great virus protector we all know that virus multiply on a daily basis and at times nothing will protect us. I guess on the brighter side you have a clean system which only took you a couple of hours to do. Glad my friend that at the end of the day it was not a harm pest bugging your system.
• Philippines
3 Feb 11
hi just want to ask what anti-virus should i use?
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
HI So you having great virus protector .. Can i know which one?? I am having avast free edition anti virus.. Its good too. But I really don't know that free edition can protect my system fully or not. Yes till now my system is out of bug and hope it will stay in freedom.
• United States
5 Feb 11
I have Symantec Nortons Endpoint which was not free, but I use it on my server and 3 other computers attached to my network. I love it as I get daily live updates and I have scheduled my computers for daily updates each night. Years ago I use to use the avast paid version but I did not like it as it did not detect certain virus's and really slowed down my system. @akp, always a wonderful feeling to have a bug free and fresh system.
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
5 Feb 11
Yes defiantly virus effect our system so when the system is low then internet speed will also low. Anti virus program is best solution of this. Like Net protector 2010, quickhill, and so more. Whenever we attaching pen drive in our system first you must check there is no virus.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
5 Feb 11
How about having free anti virus edition. I mean avast and avg free edition .. Are they worthy ??
@margeryann (1845)
• United States
4 Feb 11
That would be upsetting. My internet provider does things like that to me all the time which can be upsetting. I think certain kinds of viruses can do different things to your computer. I think it depends on the virus . Another thing that can slow down our internet is not deleting our cookies and history from our computers regulary.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
Yes clearing history and cookies is really important.. Otherwise it can cause problem on internet speed.. So better we clear them on time.
• United States
4 Feb 11
Very true.
5 Feb 11
yest i think so too. because my anti virus always detects and delete them ...
• Philippines
13 Feb 11
viruses that can affect your internet speed are the adware and malware viruses, this viruses needs internet connection to fufill its task. to repair this kind of problem try to download adware and malware remover.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
14 Feb 11
So they do their tasking using our internet after downloading some unknown things on our system. Yes better provide some better protector for them.. Thanks for suggestion.
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
4 Feb 11
Certain types of viruses can affect your internet speed. I cannot say for certain that a virus is what was causing your problems, but it is one possibility. However, do not be upset about reformatting your hard-drive. It is good to do that every year or so anyway LOL
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
Yes i haven't format my system from long times.. So yeah its really feel good after formating it without any reason.. But yes its working more faster then before. Problem wasn't because of virus but it was due to service provider and now its already solved.
• India
3 Feb 11
Virus tend to slow our computer so when surfing net on infected PC we are bound to get slow connection. As you have said your PC was working fine so it was the problem from the ISP. Internet service providers in our country are of very low standards , they don't provide the speed promised and they even don't have the experienced technical staff. My ISP one time told me that the my LAN card is needed to be changed when I could not access the net, I didn't changed and the next day I could access the net again.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
ha ha. Thats very true friend.. In out country Internet standards are still not that much. Even mine ISP had provide me many false information during starting of service and now its not that good. I mean during starting i was getting better speed.. But now i guess it becomes little lazy.
@ANIME123 (2466)
• United States
3 Feb 11
Well for me when I used to get a virus they would always slow down my internet speed and it was no fun that's when I decided to get avast antivirus because ever since getting that program I have had no problems with the internet and it runs smoothly and nothing is better than that. Having fast internet is the best because I don't like it when it lags because it takes way to long to get everything done that I need to get done on the computer it's just no fun at all.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
I also use avast free anti virus.. And its working fine for me. Yes slow internet is just irritate me too. I always like to surf or download with fast internet.
@RamRes (1723)
• Argentina
3 Feb 11
Yes, a virus can slow down your internet. Actually, what it'll do is sending out some of your data or downloading something out there, thus wasting your bandwidth. You must get an antivirus ASAP if you don't have one, so you can be reasonably sure that you don't get anything bad while surfing. But based on your history, I bet that a virus is not responsible here. Your ISP has admited having problems and after formating the problem doesn't go away, only casualy. Too much coincidence. You may try a speed testing web page to see if your connection is working as promised, and also try it in safe mode with network support to be sure.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
Yes surely it was problem from my ISP side. As now i am starting to get speed as normal. I format my system just for nothing. I had asked about it to my ISP first then he told me that its okay from their side.. and then i format my system. But still problems were their. So i called them again and they had told me that they having some problem... Didn't they could told me before i format my system??
• India
3 Feb 11
Yes some time virus effect on internet sped. It damage our computer programs. Not only viruses but also malware, Spyware also effect on computer and net speed. But there is solution also. Just download Best anti-virus like bitdefender, Kaspersky ,Nod-32 etc. You also try spyware docter or uniblue speed up my PC. If you want these free jus add me as your friend and then send me massage. I will help you. And if your C drive memory is low then your net speed also down. Every time clear your browser history. Clear Your Cashe. Your Net speed is increase.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
Thanks for the tips and helping friend. I am having free avast anti virus.. And so far its working fine for me. I had also tried with AVG free anti virus and its also good one.. So are you telling that i should make C drive size larger .. ?
@asaname1 (17)
5 Feb 11
Just install one or two antivirus. so that virus will never enter again.. but be sure that you will install that antivirus when your pc has no virus on it yet.. and when you will format your computer first remove your internet connection so you will get maximum security on your part...
@akp100 (13640)
• India
5 Feb 11
I am having one anti virus avast(free edition).. which is working fine. I was using multiple anti virus but someone told me that they can conflict (i never experienced it) so after that i am on with only one.
@asaname1 (17)
5 Feb 11
Yes it can affect our internet speed.. . it is because the virus downloads and uploads it self but your not aware of it .. The virus downloads the copy of its self to your pc and download some more till your pc is not responding or worse it sends your private info to the net so everyone can see it.. I experience that about 3 months ago.. so i just format our pc with a genuine copy. lolz
@akp100 (13640)
• India
5 Feb 11
Yes i have hear something like that.. Virus can download other files and this can cause low speed of internet.. But yes formating is the best option.
@JayRez (33)
3 Feb 11
Yes a virus can definitely slow down the internet and performance of your computer. Ive even once had a virus screw up my whole internet connection so that it wouldnt work on other computers either. It was really terriblr and i just went without Internet for a couple years D:
@akp100 (13640)
• India
4 Feb 11
Yes virus can effect the performance of our computer for sure.. But on Internet speed to thats i am really not sure. It may be or may be not. You are telling that after getting effected your internet also not working on other computer too ???? Thats little strange.
@lovedude (4447)
• India
2 Feb 11
Yes, virus or spyware can definitely affect Internet speed. Due to viruses or spyware your internet speed get down slow. You home page change automatically and redirect with another websites. Many pop ups will come when your computer with affect with viruses or spyware. Therefore you should scan your computer with updated anti virus or anti spyware removal tools. you can get more details : http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-47524-confusing-virus-affecting-computer :-)
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
I wasn't facing any other problems you have mentioned above like change in home page and other.. But internet speed is surely not like before.. Thanks for the link .. there is lots of information related to it their..
• Philippines
2 Feb 11
That depends on what type of virus attacked your computer. There are viruses that will destroy some of your important "dll" files, there are virus that will destroy all your media, images, documents, and other personal files, there are viruses that can will make your computer slow, and viruses that will destroy your software applications, there are viruses that will restart your computer automatically, and so on. Viruses have it own property and it is programmed to attack a specific area in your computer. If your internet connection is getting slow, it can be due to virus also but there are also things that needs to be considered like your ISP server, Modem, browser settings, and so on.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Yeah.. I am aware with the viruses which do other dangerous stuff on our system.. But slowing down our internet speed, I am hearing this thing first time.. Well now virus can do any unexpected things.. I guess i have to be used to of it..
@Jotomy (6322)
• India
2 Feb 11
Hi akp, it not only slow down the internet but also it will effect badly to the computer too. Have a nice day.
@akp100 (13640)
• India
2 Feb 11
Yes.. But in my case mine computer is working fine without problem.. But yeah we should be careful on that.. Virus can do many unexpected things.. Thanks for response.
2 Feb 11
This is the first time I herd of it but viruses can effect hardware so it may be effecting your wifi
@akp100 (13640)
• India
3 Feb 11
Did I mentioned Hardware..... How will you define Internet speed as hardware.