Before diving into the geeky stuff, I wanted to share a tiny resource that helped me a lot when I started cleaning up my network mess. I stumbled on https://laetitia-informatique.fr while looking for plain-language explanations, and honestly, it felt like finding a neighbour who actually knows what they’re doing.

Why bother blocking things at the network level ?

Because it’s the only way to protect every device at home – even the ones you forget exist. Your smart TV, that old iPad your kids use, your connected light bulbs (the ones that randomly blink at 2 a.m., or maybe that’s just mine)… they all talk to the internet. A lot.

By filtering traffic directly on your router or a small local device, you stop ads and dodgy domains before they even reach your phone or computer. It feels a bit like putting a security guard at your front door instead of yelling at intruders already inside the house. Much more peaceful.

Solution #1 – Using DNS filtering (the easiest and fastest)

If you want something you can set up in 5 minutes, DNS filtering is the way to go. Seriously. It’s basically telling your network, “When someone here tries to visit a known bad domain, just ignore it.”

My picks for beginners :

• AdGuard DNS – free, clean, blocks ads and trackers with no software installation.
• NextDNS – super customisable ; I love how you can see exactly what was blocked (I once discovered my coffee machine checked in with its server every 30 minutes… why ?).

Setup is usually as simple as changing two lines (the DNS addresses) in your router’s settings. If you’ve never touched your router interface, don’t panic – it’s usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, and the DNS menu is somewhere near “Internet” or “WAN”.

The result ? Ads disappear on every device, and a huge chunk of tracking scripts gets silently dropped. You won’t get perfect protection, but for the effort involved, it’s a fantastic first step.

Solution #2 – Pi-hole (the famous “set it and forget it” option)

If you’ve ever heard someone talk passionately about their home network while making coffee, they probably mentioned Pi-hole. It runs on a tiny Raspberry Pi – or even an old laptop you have lying around – and it acts as your own private ad-blocker for the whole house.

When I installed mine, I expected it to be a whole afternoon job. In reality, it took maybe 20 minutes, and most of that time was me trying to find a spare Ethernet cable in a drawer full of random chargers. Once it’s running, Pi-hole gives you a dashboard showing all the requests your devices make. The first time I saw hundreds of blocked trackers per hour, I literally said out loud, “What the heck ?”.

Pros :

• Incredible blocking efficiency
• Totally under your control
• Works with every device, even game consoles and smart TVs

Cons :

• You need a small device that stays on 24/7
• Requires a bit of tinkering (but nothing scary)

Solution #3 – Router-level filtering (if your box supports it)

Some routers come with built-in filtering options. If you’ve got a recent Wi-Fi 6 router or a mesh system (like ASUS, TP-Link Deco, Synology…), dig into the settings – many include :

• parental control filters,
• malicious site blocking,
• basic ad-blocking,
• or custom DNS configurations.

Honestly, the quality varies a lot. Some brands just slap on a checkbox that barely does anything. Others, especially higher-end routers, do a surprisingly solid job.

Solution #4 – Browser extensions (still useful, but limited)

Tools like uBlock Origin or Ghostery remain excellent… but they only protect the device where they’re installed.

I still install uBlock on every computer I touch – out of habit, and because it catches layout-breaking scripts that DNS filters can’t. Think of it as wearing a seatbelt even when you’re driving slowly.

Which solution should you pick ?

If you’re reading this while juggling kids, dinner, and a router that looks like a spaceship, I’d say : start with DNS filtering. It’s quick, painless and genuinely helpful.

If you enjoy tinkering or you want full visibility on what happens inside your home network, go for Pi-hole. It’s strangely satisfying – especially when you see how many ads never reach your screens again.

And if your router already includes filtering features, try them ! You might be pleasantly surprised.

Final thoughts

Securing a home network doesn’t require becoming “the IT person of the family” (even though… you probably already are). With one or two simple tweaks, you can block ads, trackers and shady domains long before they knock on your digital door.

Give it a try. You’ll feel your whole network breathe a little easier – and honestly, so will you.

Before diving in, if you like practical and down-to-earth tech tips, I stumbled once on https://www.technologie-informatique.fr while searching for a quick fix for a sluggish laptop-it had a super clear explanation of system cleanup basics. But anyway, let’s get into the real stuff you can do right now, without downloading random “optimizer” apps that usually make things worse.

1. Stop Programs From Launching at Startup

Frankly, this alone feels like unlocking a superpower. Most slow PCs crawl because 12 unnecessary apps launch the second you press the power button. Spotify, Steam, Adobe… half of them you don’t need right away.

Windows 10/11:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Click Startup apps.
• Disable anything you don’t use every day.

I once disabled four background updaters I didn’t even know existed-my boot time dropped from almost 2 minutes to something like 35 seconds. Wild.

2. Clean Up Temporary Files (The Real Ones)

Windows stores tons of temporary files. Some are useful ; many are pure clutter. Think of them like crumbs stuck in a keyboard-you don’t see them, but you feel them.

• Press Win + R, type temp, delete everything.
• Do the same with %temp%.
• Open Disk Cleanup and clear system files.

Don’t worry, you’re not deleting anything important. Maybe a few leftover installers-nothing you’ll miss.

3. Remove Heavy Background Apps

Some apps, like cloud sync tools or photo managers, constantly run in the background. That’s fine… unless they eat half your RAM. Ask yourself : Do I really need this running 24/7?

Just open Task Manager → Processes, sort by memory or CPU, and you’ll instantly spot the greedy ones. I once found a game launcher using 600 MB doing absolutely nothing. Gone.

4. Update Windows and Drivers (Yeah, I Know…)

I used to ignore updates too. Then one day, after installing one tiny graphics driver update, a friend’s PC stopped stuttering in Chrome. Sometimes the fix is that simple.

• Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates
• Optional : update graphics drivers via Intel, Nvidia, or AMD

5. Switch Your Power Plan to “High Performance”

Windows loves to save energy… a little too much. On some laptops, the “balanced” mode throttles performance heavily.

• Search Power Plan → choose High Performance

Sure, the fan might spin a bit louder, but the speed gain ? Totally worth it.

6. Clean Up Your Desktop (Seriously)

Okay, hear me out. Windows treats each desktop icon like a tiny UI object it has to redraw constantly. If you have 80 icons (yes, I’ve seen this), it slows things down.

Move everything into one folder-call it “Stuff I’ll Sort Later” if you want. Instant clarity, instant speed boost.

7. Disable Visual Effects You Don’t Need

Windows animations look nice, but on older PCs they feel like walking in mud with fancy shoes.

• Search Adjust the appearance of Windows
• Select Adjust for best performance

If that looks too bare, re-enable just the ones you care about.

8. Check Your Storage : If It’s Nearly Full, You’re Slowing Everything Down

SSDs, especially, hate being full. If you’re above 80–85%, performance tanks. Delete old downloads, uninstall unused software, or move photos/videos to an external drive.

I once freed 15 GB by just removing duplicate videos from a vacation in Marseille-Windows felt instantly snappier.

9. Restart… Properly

Sounds obvious, right ? But many people only “Shut down.” On Windows 10/11, shutdown often uses a hybrid mode that doesn’t fully reset the system.

Click : Restart → that’s the real refresh.

10. Bonus : If You’re Still Slow, Consider Upgrading RAM or Moving to an SSD

This isn’t a 10-minute tweak, but it’s the best upgrade you can give a slow PC-especially if it still uses a hard drive. An SSD can make an old machine feel brand new. I’ve seen 8-year-old laptops boot in 12 seconds after the switch.

Conclusion

A slow PC doesn’t always mean it’s “dying.” Most of the time, it’s just cluttered, overloaded, or misconfigured. These tweaks take minutes, don’t require risk or technical skills, and honestly, they can bring back that smooth, snappy feeling you’d forgotten about.

Try them one by one-see which one makes you go “wow, that was it !”. And if you’ve got your own little tricks, I’m curious : what’s the one thing that sped up your machine the most ?

The funny thing is, the more I talk about email safety with friends and clients, the more I realize we all fall for the *same* traps. Curiosity, hurry, a long Monday… and hop, we click the wrong link. If you want a deeper look at IT basics in general, I often check https://www.metier-informatique.fr for quick refreshers – super handy when I’m doubting a technical term or process.

1. Recognize the “fake-but-looks-legit” emails

You know those emails pretending to be from your bank, Amazon, or even your electricity provider ? They always arrive at the worst moment – usually when you’re half-distracted. And, franchement, some are so well designed that even I sometimes squint twice. A couple of clues help a lot :

• Weird sender address : something like support-amz-verify@something-random.org. If it smells strange, it’s strange.
• Urgent tone : “Your account will be closed in 24 hours !” Really ? Services almost never talk like that.
• Links that look off : hover over them – if the URL looks like a cat walked over the keyboard, don’t click.

Ever had that mini heart jump when reading “Your payment failed”? Yeah, scammers know that feeling exists, and they abuse it. Take 10 seconds to breathe before acting. It saves headaches.

2. Strengthen your passwords (the real way)

People always roll their eyes when I say this, but I promise : a weak password is basically an open bar for hackers. And I get it – remembering long strings of characters feels impossible. My trick ? Use a password manager. I switched to one three years ago, and honestly, I can’t imagine going back. It remembers hundreds of passwords, while I barely remember where I left my keys yesterday.

Aim for :

• At least 12–16 characters
• A mix of upper/lowercase, numbers, symbols
• No real words, birthdays, pet names… even if Pixel the cat is adorable

3. Activate two-factor authentication (2FA)

I used to think 2FA was annoying – “Ugh, another code to type…” – but after seeing how many hacked-mail stories circulate, I changed my mind fast. With 2FA, even if someone steals your password, they still need that extra verification step. It’s like having a digital bodyguard.

Choose an authenticator app rather than SMS if you can. Text messages can be intercepted way more easily than people think.

4. Keep an eye on unexpected attachments

If someone sends you a .zip file or a weird-looking PDF out of nowhere, pause. Even if it’s from a coworker or a cousin you haven’t seen since 2014. I once received a supposed “invoice” from an old client – turned out their mailbox was hacked, and the file was a virus waiting to party on my laptop.

Rule of thumb : if you weren’t expecting an attachment, verify with the person before opening it. A quick text saves a huge mess.

5. Update your devices… yes, really

I know, I know. Those update pop-ups always appear when you’re in the middle of something important. But updates patch vulnerabilities – the exact holes scammers love. Whether it’s Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Gmail, Outlook… keep them fresh. It’s boring but essential, like brushing your teeth.

6. Use spam filters wisely

Most email providers already have solid spam filters, but they’re not magic. Take a minute to mark suspicious emails as spam instead of just deleting them. It trains the system and keeps future junk away. And check your spam folder from time to time – you’d be surprised how often legitimate emails get lost in that digital jungle.

7. Know the three scams that hit people the most

• Phishing : fake login links to steal your credentials. Classic.
• Fake package delivery notices : those “Your parcel is waiting” messages, especially around holidays.
• Tech support scams : someone pretending to fix an issue you didn’t even know you had.

If anyone asks you to install remote-access software without a very good reason, run. Don’t walk. Run.

Conclusion : Your inbox deserves the same care as your home

Securing your mailbox isn’t about paranoia – it’s about peace of mind. A few habits, a dose of skepticism, and some digital hygiene go a long way. And honestly, once you get used to spotting scams, it becomes almost automatic.

So, next time you get that “urgent” email… will you take those extra five seconds to double-check ? Pretty sure your future self will thank you.

Step 1: Check Your Internet Service

Before you start fiddling with cables and routers, make sure the issue isn’t from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Sometimes, the problem lies beyond your control. Check if there’s an outage in your area or if your monthly bill has been paid (we’ve all missed a payment at least once, right ?).

How to check : Head over to your ISP’s website or call their customer service. They’ll usually have a status page to let you know if there are any ongoing outages. If everything seems fine on their end, it’s time to move on to the next step.

Step 2: Restart Your Router and Modem

Yes, I know-it sounds simple. But, honestly, restarting your router and modem can solve a ton of issues. This is like giving your devices a quick reset, clearing up any temporary glitches that might be slowing down your connection.

Here’s how to do it :

• Unplug your router and modem from the power source.
• Wait for about 30 seconds. This gives the devices time to reset.
• Plug them back in and wait for the lights to stabilize (it can take a minute or two).

Once everything’s back online, check if your connection has improved. Simple, but often effective !

Step 3: Move Your Router to a Better Spot

Okay, this one might surprise you, but the location of your router plays a huge role in the quality of your Wi-Fi signal. If your router is stuck in a corner of your house, buried under a pile of books, or in a room with thick walls, that signal has a tough time reaching every corner of your home.

Pro tip : Place your router in a central, open space-preferably higher up, like on a shelf. This can help your signal travel more efficiently. And if you’re in a large house, maybe consider getting a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal to further rooms.

Step 4: Check for Interference

This one is a bit tricky, but stay with me. Many devices in your home (microwaves, baby monitors, cordless phones, etc.) use the same frequencies as your Wi-Fi, which can cause interference. This can make your connection slow or spotty, even if everything else seems fine.

What you can do : Try to keep your router away from other electronic devices that might cause interference. If your router supports it, switch between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The 5 GHz band is less crowded and might give you a faster, more stable connection.

Step 5: Update Your Router’s Firmware

Believe it or not, your router’s firmware might be outdated, and that can lead to connectivity problems. Manufacturers often release updates to fix bugs or improve performance, so it’s worth checking if yours needs an update.

How to update : Log into your router’s admin panel (usually by typing its IP address into a browser), and check the settings for firmware updates. It’s usually a quick process, and it might solve your problem. If you’re not sure how to access the admin panel, just Google the model of your router and “how to update firmware.”

Wrapping It Up

And there you have it-5 simple steps to fix your Wi-Fi connection at home. I know, it’s not always as easy as it sounds, but trust me, most Wi-Fi issues can be solved with a little patience and these quick fixes. If none of this works, it might be time to call your ISP or consider upgrading your router to a more powerful one.

Have you tried any of these steps before ? What worked for you ? Let me know in the comments-I’m always curious to hear your thoughts. And remember, sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference in your connection !