NEED FOR SPEED
Virgin Media tells all broadband customers to try simple 30 second Wi-Fi tip that instantly boosts their speed
Don't miss the six objects obstructing signals in the video above
VIRGIN Media has revealed an overlooked broadband speed boosting trick really does work.
Wi-Fi troubles can often leave users scratching their heads as it's hard to pinpoint what may be causing the issue.
1
There are a wide variety of objects that are known for obstructing signals.
These can include electronics such as microwaves, cordless phones and baby monitors.
Even less obvious household items like a mirror can have an impact.
The position of your router is also key - so in a basement or far away in the garage is no good.
Read more about Wi-Fi
But if you've checked off all these potential problems and you're still having connection woes there may be an extremely simple solution that many have dismissed in the past.
Virgin Media says it may seem "simplistic" but it can help.
Little-known objects that can disrupt your Wi-Fi
People don't realise how many objects around the home can impact their Wi-Fi signal and slow things down. Here are some you may have missed.
- Microwaves (when they're running)
- Baby monitors
- Fish tanks
- Mirrors
- Bluetooth devices
- Cordless phones
And the trick is to just reboot your router.
Yes, the classic "turn it off and on again" method does have its uses.
Most read in Tech
That's because a reset clears the hub's memory of older and no longer needed data and processing clogged on it.
Boost Your Wi-Fi: Easy Fixes for Faster Internet
Virgin Media says this is especially useful if you haven't done it in quite a while.
So, it's worth a shot - just power off for 10 seconds.
(AD) FIND THE BEST BROADBAND WITH USAVE
Searching for the best broadband deal online can be a real hassle.
Save yourself the stress by using usave's comparison tool, which compares tariffs across a wide range of providers.
Click on the link below, and enter your postcode to see what's available in your area.
- Compare broadband with usave -
"The hub can take five to 10 minutes to reboot," Virgin Media warns.
";You’ll know the connection is back up and running when the white light on the front of the hub is on.
"The white light is at the front for a Hub3 and a Hub5. For the Hub4 this will be the light ring around the hub."
WORST PASSWORDS TO USE ON YOUR ROUTER REVEALED
In 2019, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) compiled 20 of the most common passwords around.
Common passwords mean they're easy for cyber thieves to guess - so if you're using one of these on your router you might want to change it right now.
- 123456
- 123456789
- qwerty
- password
- 1111111
- 12345678
- abc123
- 1234567
- password1
- 12345
- 1234567890
- 123123
- 000000
- Iloveyou
- 1234
- 1q2w3e4r5t
- Qwertyuiop
- 123
- Monkey
- Dragon
Names, favourite football teams, musicians and fictional characters are also very popular and therefore easy to guess.
The best sort of password is long and easy to remember - so the NCSC suggests using three random words strung together.
Of course, you shouldn't recycle passwords on various platforms or devices either. Should a hacker gain access to one they could then go onto access your other accounts.
So use a password manager to securely keep track of them all - Google Chrome and Safari can store these for you.
Topics