Total Newbie question, but I figure its better to ask the experts than try for hours on end.

I have comcast high-speed internet (Cable), and just recently my connection has gotten slower than molasses. I play alot of online games, and my ping seems to hover around 3000+. I have made no changes to my firewall, or any internet settings.

Now a couple questions

1. Is there any type of internet optimization software that will take care of this easily?

2. If not, what can I do to start tweaking on my system?

I have called comcast, and they said that there is nothing wrong with my connection, that the problem is on my end. Are they lying?

Also I am connected through a router, but that should not matter correct? My computer is not wireless.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

do you have firefox 

Go to http://speakeasy.net/speedtest and check your speed.

Is your router wireless ? if so make sure your network is private so people are not hijacking your connection.

Change lan cables and see if there is any change. And if worse comes to worse make comcast come check your lines.. Their phone tech support are morons most of the time. Make them send a service man/tech and he will know more than they will.

 Its also important to note how you are connected -- you said you are connecting through a router which implies generally you have a wireless rig somewhere.....if you are trying to game on a wireless connection, switch to a direct connection to see if that makes a difference at all.

Close any bandwidth hogging programs you may have open like P2P, torrenting, or messengers.....

Also its always important to know if you are on an infected computer or not -- try to go to THIS free virus scanning site

Last, try a direct connection to your Comcast modem (taking the router out of the equation). 

That's a typical response from comcast as long as they can see your modem they think your fine. My first guess would possibly be spyware or some other type of infection. If your computer is clean than I would look at other possibities. Have you added any TV's or splitter's anywhere in your home?