FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

How does the speed test work?

Our speed test measures your connection speed by sending and receiving data packets from optimised servers. We analyse download, upload, ping and jitter to give you a complete picture of your performance. The test uses HTML5 technology and requires no external plugins.

Why do results vary between tests?

Several factors influence results: network congestion at certain times of day, connected devices consuming bandwidth, distance from the test server, connection type (Wi-Fi vs cable), and background applications. For more accurate results, close other applications and use a wired connection.

What do download, upload, ping and jitter mean?

Download is the speed at which data is received (for streaming, browsing); Upload is the speed at which data is sent (for video calls, file uploads); Ping is the response time in milliseconds (important for gaming); Jitter is the stability of the connection (critical for VoIP and streaming).

What are the recommended speeds for different activities?

Basic browsing: 5–10 Mbps; HD streaming: 15–25 Mbps; 4K streaming: 40–50 Mbps; Online gaming: 25+ Mbps with ping <50 ms; Remote work: 25+ Mbps symmetric; Large household: 100+ Mbps.

What is DNS and why is it important to test it?

DNS (Domain Name System) translates website names into IP addresses. A slow DNS can significantly slow down browsing, even on a fast connection. Our test checks the response times of your DNS servers.

How can I improve DNS performance?

Use fast public DNS servers: Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), Google (8.8.8.8). Enable DNS over HTTPS for greater security. Flush the DNS cache periodically. Configure a secondary DNS for redundancy.

Which DNS servers are the fastest and most secure?

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1 (fastest); Quad9 9.9.9.9 (blocks malware); OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 (parental controls); Google 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 (reliable and stable).

What information does my IP address reveal?

Your public IP shows your internet provider (ISP), approximate city and region, and connection type. It does not reveal your name, exact address or personal information.

What is the difference between a public and private IP?

A public IP identifies your connection on the internet. A private IP identifies devices on the local network (e.g. 192.168.x.x). Only the public IP is visible externally.

How can I hide my IP address?

VPN: encrypts all traffic and masks the IP. Proxy: hides the IP for specific applications. Tor Browser: maximum anonymity but reduced speed.

What are ports and why test them?

Ports are virtual channels for specific communications. Testing them verifies correct configuration for services (gaming, servers), network security (unnecessary ports closed) and connectivity issues for applications.

Which ports should be open?

Only those needed for your services: 80/443 for web browsing (HTTP/HTTPS), 25/587/993 for email, variable ports for games. Everything else is best kept closed for security.

How do I open a port on my router?

Access the router panel (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1), find the 'Port Forwarding' or 'Virtual Server' section, enter the port, protocol (TCP/UDP) and local IP of the device, save and restart if necessary. Only open ports you need and for trusted devices.

What is the ping test for?

It verifies the reachability and response time to a server. Useful for diagnosing connection issues, checking latency for gaming and testing network stability.

What is traceroute and when should I use it?

Traceroute shows the path data takes across the internet, identifying where slowdowns, routing issues and bottlenecks occur. It is the ideal tool when one site is slow but others work fine.

What does a high ping or packet loss indicate?

High ping (>100 ms) indicates server distance, congestion or ISP issues. Packet loss indicates an unstable connection, Wi-Fi interference or overload. Both cause lag in games and dropped calls.

What is SSL/TLS and why does it matter?

SSL/TLS encrypts communications between the browser and a website, protecting passwords and login data, credit card information and sensitive personal data. It can be verified by the padlock in the browser and 'https://' in the URL.

What does the SSL test check?

Our test checks certificate validity, encryption strength, secure configuration, compatibility with modern browsers and the presence of known vulnerabilities.

My site fails the SSL test — what should I do?

Check certificate expiry; upgrade to TLS 1.2 or higher; disable obsolete protocols (SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0); use certificates from recognised CAs; implement HSTS for extra security.

What affects website speed?

The main factors are: unoptimised image sizes, too many JavaScript/CSS scripts, a slow or distant server, lack of caching and too many HTTP requests.

What are ideal loading times?

Excellent: < 1 second; Good: 1–2 seconds; Acceptable: 2–3 seconds; Slow: > 3 seconds. Google penalises sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load.

How can I speed up my website?

Optimise images (WebP format, lazy loading); minify CSS/JS; use a CDN; enable GZIP compression; implement browser caching; choose high-performance hosting.

What is a CDN and when do I need one?

A CDN (Content Delivery Network) distributes content from servers geographically close to users. It is essential for sites with international traffic, e-commerce, video streaming and image-heavy sites.

How do I check if my VPN is working correctly?

Our test verifies that the IP is truly masked, that there are no DNS leaks or WebRTC leaks, that the kill switch works and measures connection speed.

How much does a VPN slow down my connection?

Typical loss is 10–30% of speed. It depends on the distance from the VPN server, the protocol used (WireGuard is the fastest), the encryption used and the server load.

Free VPN or paid VPN?

Free ones have speed/data limits, fewer servers and questionable privacy. Paid ones offer higher speeds, no-log policies, support and more countries. For occasional use a free one is fine; for privacy or streaming you need a premium service.

How do I test my mobile connection?

Turn off Wi-Fi and use only the mobile network. The test will show the network type (3G/4G/5G), real speeds vs advertised speeds, signal quality and whether carrier aggregation is active.

Why is my mobile connection slow?

The main causes are: distance from the cell tower, network congestion at peak hours, plan data limits, phone incompatibility with carrier bands, and buildings blocking the signal.

How do I improve mobile reception?

Move towards windows; use a signal repeater; check that APNs are correct; update the phone firmware; consider switching carrier if the problem persists.

What is slowing down my connection?

Hardware: old router/modem, damaged cables, outdated network card. Software: malware/viruses, background updates, misconfigured VPN, slow DNS. Network: too many devices, Wi-Fi interference, QoS not configured.

How do I optimise my connection for gaming?

Use a wired connection (never Wi-Fi); configure QoS to prioritise console/PC traffic; open the necessary ports (open NAT); choose nearby game servers; close P2P applications; consider a dedicated gaming router.

What connection should I choose for remote work?

Recommended minimum: 25/10 Mbps (down/up), ping < 50 ms for smooth video calls. Fibre is preferable to mobile. For multiple HD video calls: 50+ Mbps symmetric. Always keep a mobile hotspot as backup.

The internet is not working — what should I check?

Restart the modem/router (keep it off for 30 seconds); check that cables are correctly connected; test with a different device; check the ISP status (website or social media); try alternative DNS servers; temporarily disable antivirus/firewall.

My speed is lower than my contracted speed — what can I do?

It is normal to get 80–90% of the nominal speed. If it is much lower: test at different times, use an ethernet cable for the test, check that no active downloads are running, contact your ISP with the test results and request a technical intervention if the problem persists.