Photo via Amazon
Photo via Amazon

If the Wi-Fi has seemed a bit off since putting up the holiday decorations, you might want to see where you put any lights in relation to the router.

The Guardian reports that holiday lights may be disrupting your Wi-Fi. UK regulator Ofcom issued a warning about the possible effect those magical, twinkling holiday lights might have on your ability to stream, game, work and shop.

“The watchdog estimated up to six million homes and offices could improve their broadband connection, saying wireless networks were often not set up correctly or suffered ‘interference’ from electronics including baby monitors, microwave ovens and Christmas lights,” stated the Guardian about the problem in the UK.

Why is Wi-Fi affected? Electromagnetic radiation. Anything in your home that makes an electromagnetic field, which is basically everything you plug in, can cause interference.

If you’d like to see the full list of everything that might be slowing Wi-Fi in the home, the Guardian did a great follow-up on those items. The worst offenders? Microwaves and other major electrical appliances are the hardest on Wi-Fi. The best? Light upholstery, like beds and sofas, and pets will basically not affect Wi-Fi.

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