Is your internet service provider suppressing your speed? How to check

Websites seem sluggish and downloads take forever. It’s frustrating – especially when you’re paying for high-speed internet.

First, make sure it’s not just you. When I’m unsure if slow speeds or timeouts are part of a bigger issue, I hit Down Detector to see if others are reporting the same problem. Tap or click for a direct link and a few other tricks if a website won’t load.

If that’s not the issue, it could be a moocher. Yes, your neighbors or someone else could be piggybacking off your connection. Tap or click here to check what’s connected to your network.

There could be another culprit you might not have considered. Your internet service provider could be throttling your speed. Here’s a smart way to check what’s going on behind the scenes. All you need is a virtual private network, or VPN.