internet Archives - Komando.com The Kim Komando Show: America's top weekend talk radio program about all things digital! Free tips, downloads, software, newsletters, advice and more about the home electronics, digital cameras, photography, TVs, online security, gadgets and more. Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:54:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.komando.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/cropped-favicon512x512-32x32.png internet Archives - Komando.com 32 32 166923932 If your Wi-Fi stinks, your phone might be to blame https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/wi-fi-killing-apps/894343/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=894343

It’s a cozy Friday evening, and you just started streaming your favorite show. But, as the plot thickens, your Wi-Fi takes an unexpected hiatus. Annoying, right?

Before you unplug your router, look to your smartphone. The culprit could be apps chowing down on precious bandwidth.

Click here to read full story.

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Sick of being online? This guy ditched the internet for year https://www.komando.com/technology/sick-of-being-online-this-guy-ditched-the-internet-for-year/893526/ Mon, 11 Sep 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Just imagine! No more checking email, logging in, authentication codes, memes and seeing photos of your best friend’s meals. You might yearn for some disconnection, but it’s really difficult. Most of everyone’s work is on the computer. 

Well, one dude in Canada tried it out. Aron Rosenberg spent a whole year not going online. He taught English and theater at a high school and saw how his students always had a phone glued to their bodies. 

Click here to read full story.

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Plug in your address to see if you’re overpaying for internet https://www.komando.com/kims-column/see-if-youre-overpaying-for-internet/893521/ Sat, 09 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Your router is years old, but you don’t think about it because it just sits there, pumping connection to your devices. Before you upgrade, know this: You need one that’s Wi-Fi 6 ready.

Maybe your router and modem are fine until your internet gives out. Here’s the right way to reset things. Don’t just unplug, plug it back in immediately and call it good!

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Unsecure page error: 5 things to try if you get this warning https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/connection-is-not-secure/860188/ Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=860188&preview=true&preview_id=860188

There are countless threats on the internet, from scams to malware-infested websites. Then there are unsecured websites, which your browser warns you about. If you get a message that says, “Your connection is not private,” you might jolt in alarm.

This error message is meant to protect you while surfing the web. For more ways to stay safe, use this tip to protect yourself in a dangerous digital world. There are many reasons why your browser might say, “Your connection is not private” or “Your connection is not secure.”

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Are you making this huge Wi-Fi mistake? https://www.komando.com/kims-column/huge-wi-fi-mistake/873899/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=873899&preview=true&preview_id=873899

Entertaining guests? They’ll want access to your Wi-Fi, but it’s a pain to give out your login repeatedly. Get tech smart. Post a QR code in your home that automatically signs in guests on your home network. 

Now, if a hacker gets into your home network, they can access your personal information. Should you set your home Wi-Fi network to public or private? The answer might surprise you.

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How to check what’s hogging your internet connection https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/slow-internet/868002/ Wed, 21 Jun 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Bandwidth is a hot commodity, even more so when living in a rural area or a region with notoriously lousy internet service. But sometimes your slow internet is caused by your ISP. Tap or click here to see if your ISP is throttling your speeds.

If your ISP isn’t the problem, what is? Where can you go for the answers you need if you’re at home and noticing a lag?

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Easy way to see if someone is stealing your Wi-Fi https://www.komando.com/downloads/see-if-someone-is-stealing-your-wi-fi/2251/ Wed, 26 Apr 2023 21:00:00 +0000

Having slow internet may occur more than you’d like. You may see a frozen screen when trying to binge-watch your favorite TV show. You might get booted out when paying bills. Tap or click here to get the fastest internet speeds in your area.

The problem may stem from the way your system is set up. However, it might not be your system at all. Slow internet could be the result of someone stealing your Wi-Fi.

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Listener question: Is 5G wireless service as secure as wired cable service? https://www.komando.com/security-privacy/is-5g-secure/876983/ Sat, 18 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Although 5G is rolling out all over the country, there’s uncertainty about the fifth generation of mobile technology. Some people worry about it causing cancer. Others are concerned about security.

Rick from Seattle, WA, called “The Kim Komando Show” with cybersecurity concerns. He said T-Mobile recently made 5G cellular internet service available in his city. He asked, “Is 5G wireless service as secure as wired cable?” Good question! We’ve got you covered, Rick.

Click here to read full story.

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Sick of slow internet? How to get the fastest connection where you live https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/fast-and-affordable-home-internet/857566/ Sat, 24 Sep 2022 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=857566&preview=true&preview_id=857566

You’re not alone if your monthly internet bill puts a big dent in your bank account. Use this tip to discover three ways to get fast and affordable home internet.

When you’re paying for high speeds, you know the frustration of not getting all that you’re promised. We’ll even show you how to report when your ISP isn’t delivering. Tap or click here to report slow internet speeds to the FCC.

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Free or low-cost internet? Here’s who qualifies and how to get it https://www.komando.com/money/aging-connected-program/856865/ Fri, 16 Sep 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Depending on where you live, you might not have many internet access options. That can leave you with a more expensive package than you budgeted for or insufficient speeds. However, things are slowly changing as some cable companies are offering free internet services.

There is a new program that offers free or low-cost internet service. It is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that includes the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). It aims to reduce the cost of internet access for millions of Americans by up to $30 per month.

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Quiz: Fix your bad Wi-Fi with the right router https://www.komando.com/how-tos/quiz-to-find-the-best-router/838451/ Thu, 19 May 2022 21:30:00 +0000

Pop quiz: What’s the most important piece of tech in your house that helps you get online? If you guessed router, you’re right on the money — and if your router isn’t fast or powerful enough, you might not get the coverage you need in every room.

Thankfully, today’s networking tech is much better than what you could buy a decade ago. From Wi-Fi 6 routers to mesh networks, there are plenty of ways to set up your Wi-Fi without dead zones. Tap or click here to find the perfect location for your router to get the best speeds.

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Cable companies offering free internet service – See if you qualify https://www.komando.com/money/cable-companies-free-internet-service/837766/ Wed, 11 May 2022 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=837766

Access to the internet is, for many, a basic necessity. The pandemic has proven a need for stable, high-speed connections so that people can work from home. But it also serves as a vital tool for those looking for employment.

Unfortunately, affordable internet access isn’t as widespread as many think. There are still vast swaths of the population, especially in under-served communities, that don’t have access. The issue is being addressed through free and low-cost internet.

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Travel tech tip: How to pause cable and internet service while you’re away https://www.komando.com/travel-how-tos/pause-cable-and-internet-service/836882/ Fri, 06 May 2022 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=836882

High-speed internet has reached the point where we see it as a given in our everyday lives. We use it for work, pleasure, social media, communication and idle late-night browsing when we should otherwise be sleeping.

This is not the case for everybody. Reliable, fast internet can be a luxury for people on a tight budget. Those who qualify can sign up for free internet service from T-Mobile, AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum or Verizon. Tap or click here to learn more.

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You can get free internet from T-Mobile, AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum and Verizon https://www.komando.com/technology/how-to-get-free-internet/831111/ Sun, 20 Mar 2022 03:00:00 +0000

Good internet is something you may take for granted. Your location determines prices, availability, choice of ISP, speeds and more. If you’re in a densely populated urban area, you will have no shortage of options.

People who live in rural areas are among the last customers to get service upgrades and are often left with slow connection speeds. Satellite service is one option, though it can be pricey and typically won’t be as fast as other networks. For those with money to burn, there’s SpaceX’s Starlink satellite kit. Tap or click here to learn more about this expensive internet service.

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Want faster satellite internet? The price of Starlink’s new tier is out of this world https://www.komando.com/technology/starlink-premium-satellite-internet-service/824912/ Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000

If you live in a busy city, you can be excused for taking fast, reliable internet service for granted. Internet service providers prefer densely populated areas for the more extensive potential customer base, which means more subscribers.

Unfortunately, people in rural areas often are the last to get network upgrades and are stuck with poor connection speeds. Satellite service is the best option for some in this case. While the prices are higher and speeds typically slower, satellite service is available almost anywhere. Tap or click here for more information and tips on extending your internet.

Click here to read full story.

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Yes, you can extend your home internet to other buildings on your property – Here’s how https://www.komando.com/amazon/extend-home-internet-to-other-buildings/822006/ Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:30:00 +0000 https://www.komando.com/?p=822006

If there’s one place that should always give you reliable internet service, it’s your home. You can’t do much about the network at the local coffee shop, but you can make things better at home.

If you’re experiencing spotty internet, it may not be a problem with your service provider. Routers have limits, and their signals can be impeded by how far away you are. A Wi-Fi extender can solve this issue and boost the signal around your home. Tap or click here for our tips and recommendations.

Click here to read full story.

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Pro tip: Check the internet reliability before you move https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/check-internet-reliability/798006/ Fri, 12 Nov 2021 17:15:00 +0000

Bill Gates once said, “The internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” Internet is such an integral part of our lives that not having access can become quite the sticky wicket.

Most people forget that your internet reliability can differ significantly depending on where you live, who your provider is, and what equipment you’re using. If you have good internet now, what happens if you move?

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Change this one setting to get faster internet speeds https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/change-dns-for-faster-internet/378631/ Wed, 22 Sep 2021 21:00:00 +0000

Slow internet speeds are incredibly frustrating. You pay a boatload of cash to your internet service provider, and your connection is spotty and slow.

Many things could be causing delays in your connection speed. We’ll go over each of these things at the end of the article, but we’re going to focus on your DNS or domain name system for now.

Click here to read full story.

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Sick of slow internet? How to check you’re getting what you pay for https://www.komando.com/tech-tips/internet-speed-checkup/747122/ Wed, 05 May 2021 10:30:00 +0000

We all know the pain of “slow” internet: videos buffer, downloads take ages, and a single page can take forever to load. We wonder whether it’s our browser, our device, or the website we’re visiting.

It could be your Wi-Fi signal. Wireless networks are notorious for connection problems. Tap or click for ways to boost your Wi-Fi coverage for good, including changing the router’s channel, which hardly anyone does.

Click here to read full story.

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Slow internet? The FCC wants to know – Here’s how to report it https://www.komando.com/technology/report-slow-internet-to-fcc/783921/ Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:00:00 +0000

There are more than 115 million households in the U.S. that currently have broadband internet. That is an incredible amount of people who browse, download and work online. And when things don’t go as they should, it seriously impacts productivity.

Complaining to your service provider is one way to go about it, but they can’t always help you. Tap or click here to see who has the fastest broadband speed in your city.

Click here to read full story.

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