Virgin Media sends urgent alert to anyone using its broadband services

Virgin Media has issued an urgent alert to anyone using its broadband services.

UK households are being advised of a simple trick that could significantly improve their internet speeds. The renowned Internet Service Provider suggests that a quick reboot of your router could bring about immediate improvements.

The company's advice for slow broadband is straightforward - switch off your router and then turn it back on again. This was outlined in an email from Virgin, which read: "If you find your broadband is unusually sluggish, the first port of call should be to power cycle your Virgin Media Hub in other words, the classic "turn it off and on again method."

READ MORE:

• 'Do not go to work' if you have these Norovirus symptoms as cases soar

• British Gas boss says every home should be forced to have smart meter installed

In a message seen by the Express, the company said: "It might seem simplistic, but power cycling your Hub (especially if it hasn't been done in some time) can help to clear the Hub's memory and CPU of older and no longer needed data and processing."

So, how do you reboot your hub and how long this process might take? Restarting your internet hub is quite straightforward.

The flashing black box supplied by Virgin for Wi-Fi contains a switch at its back. Switch it off and wait at least 10 seconds, or a minute if possible.

Along with this, Virgin advises you to inspect your equipment for any faulty or damaged cables while waiting, as they may disrupt your network and reduce your internet speed. Ensuring all cables are snugly fitted to the hub is also essential (tightly fasten them with your fingers but be careful not to overtighten and break the connector).

Once the time has passed, turn your router back on again. It's worth noting that it can take a while for everything to reboot and start working again - up to 10 minutes - so make sure you don't need the web, are waiting for an important email or need to make a video call to the office.

Once you've restarted your network, things should feel a lot more stable but if you still aren't getting the speeds you think you're paying for it's worth checking you don't have Wi-Fi issues

The easiest way to find out if Virgin is letting you down or if you have issues around the home is to run a quick speed test - Google and Ookla both offer this service for free - using a wireless connection and write down the result.

Next, get your laptop and plug it directly into the router using an Ethernet cable. Run the same speed test and if things are much faster you know it's your wireless connection that's poor rather than the actual broadband coming in through the walls.

There are plenty of things to try to make your Wi-Fi better including making sure your router isn't blocked, keeping it away from mirrors and avoiding placing near baby monitors, microwaves and even fish tanks.