03-17-2014, 22:28 PM
[Guide] How to reduce your usage and have less lag
There are many ways to generate significant Internet usage. Below you will find the most common ways to reduce your usage.
1. Peer-to-Peer Networks
Downloading and uploading files from peer-to-peer (P2P) networks such as BitTorrent, KaZaa, Morpheus, Gnutella, and BearShare creates significant usage. These programs share and offer files from your hard drive to other Internet users, possibly creating excessive usage without your awareness.
Reduction Tips:
* Limit your use of file sharing programs. These programs create a large amount of traffic (usage) when downloading and sharing files.
* If you use P2P networks, turn off file sharing whenever possible and completely close any file sharing program when you’re not using it. You'll know the program is still running in the background if you can see its icon in your toolbar. For more detailed information on how to configure your file-sharing programs to limit your risk of over-usage, refer to information on peer-to-peer applications.
* If file-sharing is enabled, make sure your computer is turned off when you’re not using it, so that others cannot access your files.
2. Viruses
Your computer may be infected with a virus. A virus will often send out mass emails from your computer without your knowledge.
3. Spyware and Adware
You may have spyware and adware on your computer. Spyware programming secretly gathers information from your computer, so that it can be shared with advertisers or for other purposes. Adware is ****ware placed on your computer that allows advertising banners to keep popping up on your screen. You may not be aware that spyware or adware have been placed on your computer.
Reduction Tip:
There are several programs which will help block pop-ups and remove spyware, such as Lava****’s Ad-aware and Spybot.
4. Large email files
You can use a significant amount of usage if you are sending a large quantity of very large email files. These may be emails with a number of photos or other files attached.
Reduction Tip:
* Before sending large email attachments, compress them to reduce their size. You can do this by checking if your operating system has file compression capability, and if not, obtain a file compression program such as WinZip or Stuffit.
5. Significant Web surfing
If you are visiting a very large number of websites, you will increase the amount of usage used.
Reduction Tip:
* While Web surfing usually does not create excessive usage, you can still reduce the amount of usage this Internet activity generates. Do this by increasing the size of your Web browser cache, which allows your computer to access files from your hard drive instead of from the Internet.
* If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, go to “Tools”, then “Internet Options”, then “Settings” (under the “Temporary Internet files” section). Slide the indicator to the right to increase the Web cache. If you’re using a different Web browser, such as Netscape, click on “Help” to find out how to increase the cache.
6. Multiple Users
If there are multiple people using your Internet connection, it is possible that one of them could be creating a lot of usage if they are downloading very large files or suspicious programs that are implanting viruses on your computer.
Reduction Tip:
* Monitor how much other people are using the Internet connection, and what they are using it for. For example, children in your house could be downloading several music and video files and creating excessive usage on your Internet account.
7. Hackers
Hackers can access your computer and then use it in fraudulent ways, which can create excessive usage.
Reduction Tips:
* If you think your computer has already been hacked, contact the computer vendor.
8. Online Gaming
If you spend a large amount of time online gaming, you can use significant usage.
Reduction Tip:
* Keep track of the amount of data transfer if you’re playing games online.
9. Non-Encrypted Wireless Router/Network
If you have a wireless router/network, it may have been accessed without your knowledge.
Reduction Tips:
* Make sure your wireless router/network is encrypted so that only authorized users can access it. If your router/network is not encrypted other people can access and use your computer, including bandwidth, which adds usage to your Internet usage.
* Read the user’s manual that came with your router to determine how to encrypt it. The manual will guide you through the configuration settings necessary to encrypt your router/network.
* In addition, it is very wise to turn your computer off when it is not being used, since many of the reasons for excessive usage can occur when your computer is on, without your knowledge.
There are many ways to generate significant Internet usage. Below you will find the most common ways to reduce your usage.
1. Peer-to-Peer Networks
Downloading and uploading files from peer-to-peer (P2P) networks such as BitTorrent, KaZaa, Morpheus, Gnutella, and BearShare creates significant usage. These programs share and offer files from your hard drive to other Internet users, possibly creating excessive usage without your awareness.
Reduction Tips:
* Limit your use of file sharing programs. These programs create a large amount of traffic (usage) when downloading and sharing files.
* If you use P2P networks, turn off file sharing whenever possible and completely close any file sharing program when you’re not using it. You'll know the program is still running in the background if you can see its icon in your toolbar. For more detailed information on how to configure your file-sharing programs to limit your risk of over-usage, refer to information on peer-to-peer applications.
* If file-sharing is enabled, make sure your computer is turned off when you’re not using it, so that others cannot access your files.
2. Viruses
Your computer may be infected with a virus. A virus will often send out mass emails from your computer without your knowledge.
3. Spyware and Adware
You may have spyware and adware on your computer. Spyware programming secretly gathers information from your computer, so that it can be shared with advertisers or for other purposes. Adware is ****ware placed on your computer that allows advertising banners to keep popping up on your screen. You may not be aware that spyware or adware have been placed on your computer.
Reduction Tip:
There are several programs which will help block pop-ups and remove spyware, such as Lava****’s Ad-aware and Spybot.
4. Large email files
You can use a significant amount of usage if you are sending a large quantity of very large email files. These may be emails with a number of photos or other files attached.
Reduction Tip:
* Before sending large email attachments, compress them to reduce their size. You can do this by checking if your operating system has file compression capability, and if not, obtain a file compression program such as WinZip or Stuffit.
5. Significant Web surfing
If you are visiting a very large number of websites, you will increase the amount of usage used.
Reduction Tip:
* While Web surfing usually does not create excessive usage, you can still reduce the amount of usage this Internet activity generates. Do this by increasing the size of your Web browser cache, which allows your computer to access files from your hard drive instead of from the Internet.
* If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, go to “Tools”, then “Internet Options”, then “Settings” (under the “Temporary Internet files” section). Slide the indicator to the right to increase the Web cache. If you’re using a different Web browser, such as Netscape, click on “Help” to find out how to increase the cache.
6. Multiple Users
If there are multiple people using your Internet connection, it is possible that one of them could be creating a lot of usage if they are downloading very large files or suspicious programs that are implanting viruses on your computer.
Reduction Tip:
* Monitor how much other people are using the Internet connection, and what they are using it for. For example, children in your house could be downloading several music and video files and creating excessive usage on your Internet account.
7. Hackers
Hackers can access your computer and then use it in fraudulent ways, which can create excessive usage.
Reduction Tips:
* If you think your computer has already been hacked, contact the computer vendor.
8. Online Gaming
If you spend a large amount of time online gaming, you can use significant usage.
Reduction Tip:
* Keep track of the amount of data transfer if you’re playing games online.
9. Non-Encrypted Wireless Router/Network
If you have a wireless router/network, it may have been accessed without your knowledge.
Reduction Tips:
* Make sure your wireless router/network is encrypted so that only authorized users can access it. If your router/network is not encrypted other people can access and use your computer, including bandwidth, which adds usage to your Internet usage.
* Read the user’s manual that came with your router to determine how to encrypt it. The manual will guide you through the configuration settings necessary to encrypt your router/network.
* In addition, it is very wise to turn your computer off when it is not being used, since many of the reasons for excessive usage can occur when your computer is on, without your knowledge.
