It's probably been a while since you signed up for internet service, but you should have an idea of how fast your plan is. If not, give your ISP a call. Write down your plan's maximum download and upload speeds. You can then use these speed-testing websites to see just your wifi's actual performance stacks up to what you're theoretically paying for.

If you aren't checking your Internet speeds on a weekly basis, you might not know when there's a problem. You aren't likely to notice a difference between 150 Mbps and 80 Mbps download speeds when you're browsing websites, watching (1080p) YouTube, or chatting with friends, but if you're downloading a huge Fortnite update, why drive in the slow lane?

In 2016, the Federal Court ordered ISPs to block five popular torrent websites including The Pirate Bay, TorrentHound and IsoHunt within 15 business days. Since then, a swathe of additional sites have been added to the block list in a bid to eradicate piracy.

Torrenting itself is completely legal of course, and it's not all that difficult to circumvent ISP blocking of torrent websites. For instance, you can do it through a VPN, which often requires a monthly subscription fee. Here are some ways to gain access to blocked torrent sites for free.

I'm about three weeks away from moving house which means I need to start getting serious about choosing service providers for my core utilities: water, gas, electricity, internet access and telephony. I'm happy with my existing electricity retailer so I'll be taking them with me when I move and the phone is covered as I haven't had a landline for about five years. I'll shop around for a gas deal and I have no choice when it comes to water. But the one that has me most concerned is internet access.

Given the NBN isn't likely to hit my new address for about 18 months and it will most likely be over HFC what do I need to think about?

We have received inside reports that iiNet's Melbourne office is shutting down today. Here's everything we know.

In December 2016, the Federal Court ordered Australian ISPs to block five torrent sites, including Pirate Bay, in a copyright case brought on by Village Roadshow. The ruling allowed the local film distributor to seek to add more websites to the block list. Village Roadshow is doing just that.

Last week, the Federal Court of Australia ordered internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to five major torrent websites. This was a result of court action taken by rights holders Foxtel and Village Roadshow in their desperate fight against piracy. But here's the thing: it's incredibly easy to bypass any site-blocking implemented by ISPs. So is it legal for Australians to access the blocked websites locally? Let's find out.

TPG currently stands as the second largest internet service provider (ISP) in Australia and is a force to be reckoned with in the telecommunications industry. Its rapid growth is mainly attributed to strategic acquisitions it has made in recent years. One of those acquisitions was iiNet, an ISP that boasted high customer satisfaction rates and was well-respected in the telco community.

It has been over a year since TPG bought iiNet and the situation looks bleak for the ISP that was once the darling of the telco industry. Most recently, iiNet's Sydney office was shut down and most of the staff were made redundant. We spoke to former iiNet employees to get the insider story on the aftermath of the TPG acquisition. We also spoke with iiNet to get its side of the story.

Mac: There are plenty of browser tools out there for testing your internet speed, but they're usually filled with obnoxious ads. If you'd prefer a native app, Speedster is free and does its job well.

Consumer advocacy group Choice has released results from its Internet Service Provider (ISP) Satisfaction Survey which shows the best - and worst - ISPs when it comes to keeping their customers happy. Here's the verdict.

Our Lifehacker Awards nominations keep on trucking. This morning, we want your nominations for best internet service provider (ISP).

Dear Lifehacker, I'm moving house in a few months: do I need to get a new Internet plan or can I continue using my current one? Is there anything I should know about NBN in my area? Thanks, Moving Connection

Good news everybody! We're paying less for ISP access than we used to. Bad news, everybody! The rate of price decline is slowing down, pointing to a lack of overall competition.

If something goes wrong, you're going to want to get hold of your phone company or ISP as quickly as possible, but that can be tricky if the support number is hidden on an obstinate webpage, or you're not sure what the exact Twitter support account is. Planhacker rounds up what's on offer for individual customers.

Foxtel's download service, which offers free 7-day downloads to existing subscribers, went live today after a few teething glitches. Here's a first look at what it offers.