Here are some things I have learned after having troubles with connectivity to browsers, slowing down etc. I have Windows XP and hope these tips can be useful to anyone else who may be experiencing these sorts of problems.

On a daily basis I do this:

Got to Control Panel, click on Internet Options, then a box comes up, where it says "Delete Cookies" click on it, click on OK after that. Then where it says Delete Temporary files, click on that and then click on ok. Do this from Desktop while not online.

Next, and also while not online, go to control panel, go to Add/Remove programs. If you have AOL, go to AOL Connectivity Service and click on change/remove. A screen pops up. select REPAIR CONNECTIVITY and click on OK

That should correct the problem. I also downloaded Spybot which works the best of spyware programs I have found. It also detects Ad stuff AOL implants and that AOL spyware will not clean out.

If you do not have AOL it may be a similar process, and usually you can contact a tech support from your browser and ask what to do. In my case the online chat person was no help but I got a toll free number to be connected to a live person to walk me through the above.