BT and Sky explain simple mistake that could be making…

BT and Sky explain simple mistake that could be making your broadband slower

As the cost of living crisis continues, households are doing everything possible to save money, especially on energy bills. Switching devices off at the mains, such as TVs and games consoles, is a common way to cut back on power usage.

But shutting down your WiFi router at night could actually be doing more harm than good. It might seem like a smart idea to stop that little black box from flashing as you head to bed, there are certain things that go on throughout the night that make sure this vital device stays running in tip-top condition, reports the Mirror.

Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) push out updates when most people aren't using the web. Missing out on these software patches could put you at risk, as routers are left exposed to bugs and data-stealing malware.

Aman Bhatti, Director of Propositions at Sky Broadband said: "We know our routers are put through their paces during the day – whether on video calls, streaming the latest show, or online gaming. That’s why our routers run firmware updates during the night, to avoid any unnecessary disruption during the day. Switching off your router overnight can affect automatic software updates and optimisations which in turn can impact the overall performance, speed and stability of your Broadband."

So that's one reason to leave things on - but that's not the only problem users face. When you constantly turn things off and on again, it appears to ISPs that the line has become problematic.

This can then lead to firms placing speed restrictions on the broadband as they would rather keep you connected than let you go offline. If this happens you'll suddenly find downloads become a whole lot slower.

Explaining more, BT said: "Constantly switching off the hub makes the line look unstable, meaning that your speed may be automatically reduced to improve the reliability of your broadband connection."

So, if you want to keep your router safe and free from being slowed down, it's best to leave it on. There are, of course, other ways to cut down on power.

For example, Sky offers a useful mode on its Sky Q boxes which puts them into hibernation during the early hours of the night. Samsung also has special options on its TVs which lower the screen brightness and launch dedicated screen savers which can reduce energy consumption.

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