My internet speed slowed down after installing uTorrent on a fresh computer.

[Giephri]

Over a month ago, I started having issues where my internet speed slowed down and was experiencing bandwidth. It made me lag in online games, and according to Speedtest, it decreased by 5 to 10 Mbps. Last week I lost it and decided to do a clean install, suspecting that there was some hidden malicious process in my computer using bandwidth. As I expected, my internet speed was back to normal.

However, just earlier I decided to reinstall uTorrent. I downloaded an old version (2.2.1) from OldApps. Recently whenever I've been installing programs, I do a Speedtest before and after. To my surprise (or maybe I was expecting it all along), my internet speed slowed down just like it used to. I uninstalled uTorrent as a result and my speed remained unchanged. Surely it can't be a coincidence right? Is it even possible for uTorrent to do something like that, without downloading a single torrent? The source seems to be reliable. I don't know what's going on.

 

[drkatz42]

This thread may assist you

http://forum.utorrent.com/topic/89524-bandwidth-hogging/

 

[mudpuppet]

It's a p2p service, so will probably have some play in it while it was installed. There are a few similar responses here: http://www.makeuseof.com/answers/internet-slow-download-torrents/ Secondly, depending on what you were doing and how much traffic you had etc, your ISP may have throttled you. It's less likely of an option, but torrents are in the news enough that companies are starting to take notice/action against these types of sites. There has even been talk of Windows 10 being able to detect illegal files (movies etc) and disable/not play them.

If there's a drastic difference, like you're paying for up to 50mbps and you're only getting 10mbps, I would call your ISP and have them look in to it. Keep in mind too that if you are in the middle of an online game, stream or download while you run speedtest, the data will be skewed.

 

[pjmelect]

Installing utorrent should not slow down your internet speed. Get a clean version from the writers web site. If you see the utorrent symbol on the bottom right hand corner on the task bar then utorrent could be using bandwidth. You should exit the program there to stop it. when stopped your internet speed should be as it was before utorrent was installed. If not you have installed a nasty with your version of utorrent.

 

[Giephri]

I tried the solutions in the link drkatz42 posted, but none worked. And to the others, my internet speed literally slowed down RIGHT AFTER I installed uTorrent. I never downloaded any actual torrents, nor have I been downloading anything else or streaming videos. That's why I find it very weird.

I tried uninstalling uTorrent again, restarting my computer and router. My download speed was still slow. Could it be possible that it really was a coincidence that my speed slowed down from another source right after I installed uTorrent? That just can't be right. I was also suspecting my ISP of throttling my connection, but I doubt that's the case. My other friends with the same ISP torrent just as much as me, yet they're internet is completely fine. Even if some p2p nonsense was being used by uTorrent while it wasn't torrenting, I really don't think it would take that much bandwidth.

 

[bassejepsen]

Can you test the speed, form another PC?