Unraveling the Mystery: Why Is My Internet Speed Plummeting?

Have you ever experienced an inexplicable drop in your internet speed? If so, you’re not alone. Recently, I found myself facing a baffling issue with my CenturyLink fiber internet service right here in the Pacific Northwest. After enjoying blistering speeds of around 950 Mbps for the past nine months, my connection suddenly slowed to a staggering crawl, leaving me with barely 4 Mbps at times. What’s going on? Let me walk you through my experience in the hope that someone out there can shed some light on this perplexing situation.

The Speed Rollercoaster

One day, my internet speed took a nosedive. I initially thought it was a temporary glitch, but it turned out to be anything but that. On running multiple speed tests, I discovered my download speeds fluctuated wildly—from as low as 1.5 Mbps to 100 Mbps. Meanwhile, my upload speeds were still soaring, sometimes reaching 900 Mbps. This strange dichotomy left me scratching my head, particularly since I was connecting via Ethernet for more stable performance.

Troubleshooting with Support

In desperate need of answers, I contacted CenturyLink’s customer support. The technician I spoke with conducted a series of diagnostic tests but claimed everything was functioning properly. After his assurance, a technician was dispatched to my home, who meticulously inspected the newly installed line. He replaced my modem, updated the Optical Network Terminal (ONT), and even installed new Cat6 cables. Unfortunately, the situation remained unchanged. The technician kept probing, asking if I was possibly using a VPN. Given my limited understanding of VPNs, I confidently replied that I was not—and yet, he still seemed puzzled.

Determined to find a solution, I reached out to technical support once more, only to face a similar response: “Everything appears to be fine,” and the repeated inquiry about a VPN usage. It felt like hitting a brick wall.

Additional Concerns

As if my internet woes weren’t enough, I started encountering another curious issue: every time I performed a Google search, I was met with CAPTCHA challenges indicating suspected suspicious activity. What could this possibly mean? Is someone accessing or “stealing” my internet connection? Could a VPN somehow be involved, perhaps unbeknownst to me?

Seeking Advice

With my Mac and my sanity on the line, I find myself in need of assistance. If anyone has insights, suggestions, or experiences that