Is Someone Interfering with My Internet Connection? Seeking Answers!

Have you ever experienced a sudden and perplexing drop in your internet speed? Recently, I found myself grappling with this issue, and I’m reaching out for insight and support from the community.

I have been enjoying CenturyLink’s fiber internet service in the Pacific Northwest for about nine months. Initially, I was thrilled with my impressive speeds, averaging around 950 Mbps download and approximately 500 Mbps upload. However, out of nowhere, my connection took a nosedive. Suddenly, my download speeds plummeted to a mere 4 Mbps. Sometimes it’s a bit better, fluctuating inconsistently between 20 Mbps and 100 Mbps—but it can drop back to 1.5 Mbps at any moment. Interestingly, the upload speeds remain strong, occasionally peaking at 900 Mbps.

In my quest for answers, I contacted CenturyLink support. The technician ran several diagnostics and assured me that everything was functioning as it should. Despite his thorough checks, including replacing the modem and Optical Network Terminal (ONT), and testing new Cat6 cables, I was still met with the same frustratingly slow download speeds. We tried testing the connection via Ethernet, which yielded dismal results, and WiFi was even worse.

The technician kept probing, asking if I might be using a VPN. Honestly, my understanding of VPNs is very basic, and I’m confident that I am not using one. The confusion on his face mirrored my own as he left, and upon my subsequent call to tech support, I received the same responses: “Everything seems fine.” The insistence on a VPN theory was baffling.

To add to the mystery, I have recently encountered CAPTCHA prompts when searching on Google, indicating potential suspicious activity on my network. This raises the question: Could someone else be using a VPN on my connection? Is it possible that someone is somehow siphoning my internet?

Admittedly, I am not well-versed in the technical aspects required to investigate this issue thoroughly. With all this in mind, I’m turning to you for guidance. If anyone has experienced similar connectivity woes or can provide insight into potential troubleshooting methods, your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Update:

I would like to mention that I’m using Macs for my devices, and while I have not yet resolved the issue, I am thankful for the feedback I’ve received thus far. I will keep you all updated as I continue to navigate this frustrating situation!