I recently picked up a nasty bit of malware called Smart Protection 2012. I managed to remove it by running anti-virus software. Now my computer is showing no infection.
However, since then my internet connection has been running very slowly.
It’s most noticeable when I try to read my daily comics. I have a folder full of links, I used to right click and select “open all in tabs” and it would load them all in about 2 minutes, with several loading in a few seconds. Now, post malware, I’m still waiting 2 hours later, with most of the tabs showing blank pages.
I don’t know for certain there’s any connection between the two, just that it started at the same time.
Any ideas what could be causing this, and how to cure it?
Is the anti-virus software new since you had the malware attack?
Most AV softwares have some sort of real-time protection that scans each Web page as you open it, checking that it’s clean before sending your browser there. That can really slow things down.
You want to check to see if this exists in your AV software and turn it off. That will speed you up. If you don’t know how to find it, tell us what software you’re using.
Also some AV software will slow your entire computer down because it’s just “heavy” software, using all sorts of resources. If you only use your computer to access the Web, then it would seem like the Web is slow and not the entire computer.
Let us know what you have.
I thought of that. I’ve tried 2 different AV’s since the infection, same problem. I’m currently using AVG. I’ve turned off ‘link scanner’ but it’s still slow to load pages.
Hello Peter, you don’t mention your Operating System, Windows, Apple or a flavour of Linux?
OK, for a Windows piece of kit a quick and nasty solution is Housecall, a Japanese online Anti- Virus scanner, follow the prompts and Roberta’s your Aunty.
There are loads of good recommendations at this forum’s header. I’m interested in what you said about your PC working more slowly, have you been using a different machine on a quicker network?
Have you been through the boring stuff of making sure your Operating System and Anti Virus scanner, (if you’re on a Microsoft system Microsoft Security System Essentials is competent if not exceptional).
Any other probs. re-setting your router/modem can do wonders as can ensuring all of the plugs/sockets are properly setted.
Otherwise PM me or post here again.
A quick recommendation for the latest Royal Society lecture from Sir Paul Nurse, a work of pure brilliance.
Peter Underhill
Nice idea. That seems to have done the trick. Thank you.