[ RESOLVED ] Browser guard causing high protracted CPU usage in firefox

[jsljustin]

Hi,

I can confirm that the Malwarebytes Browser guard is causing high protracted CPU usage in firefox, especially when a few tabs are open. No way now to fix it except by not using the browser guard extension. Firefox, 128-130 versions, running Windows 11.

Through my own testing by starting firefox in troubleshooting mode, had no issues. Then, one by one I disabled add-ons (I only currently have 2 or 3 active) it became clear that the Malwarebytes browser guard was doing the following, when typically a few firefox tabs are open:

* High CPU (>10 or 20 percent, sometimes 50 percent) that is protracted; that is, the CPU usage remains high for many minutes if not indefinitely until I kill firefox in taskmanager.

* Some tabs never load in firefox. They load quickly and easily when I disable the browser guard extension or start firefox in troubleshoot mode

* Firefox browser is rendered useless in these cases; no longer responds to mouse or keyboard, the only solution is to kill firefox via taskmanager then restart and disable Malwarebytes browser guard.

To be honest, treat this as a bug report, unless there is something else I can do to resolve this, then my only option is to disable the browser guard.

Thanks - Justin.

[Porthos]

@jsljustin 

 

If you're having issues with Malwarebytes Browser Guard you may want to try to update the program manually.

• Click on the extension icon 

  If you can not see the Browser Guard icon in the browser toolbar, click the puzzle icon and unhide or pin the icon.

• Click the Kebab Menu -> then Support
• Click the Check for database updates button
• If still having an issue then click Clear Browser Guard Storage, Restart the Browser, and check for Database Updates again

 

 

 

[jsljustin]

Hi Porthos,

thanks very much for the fast reply.

I don't know which of the above you suggested fixed the issue, but anyway, I checked for database updates, then decided to clear the browser storage. Either way, and without having to restart firefox, I opened a group of about 30 tabs and the issue was gone.

Out of curiosity, which of those two steps likely fixed this issue, the updating the database or clearing the storage? And is this something that needs to be done regularly?

Anyway, thanks, I really like malwarebytes and am a lot happier now that I can keep the Malwarebytes guard running instead of having to disable it.

Thanks!

Justin

[Porthos]

1 minute ago, jsljustin said:

which of those two steps likely fixed this issue, the updating the database or clearing the storage?

Clearing the storage.

Do not know what CPU and how much RAM you have but as a Firefox user myself since Win 98, I can say the browser is the biggest resource user of any program.

 

[jsljustin]

Thanks Porthos.

32GB Ram on this machine, intel 11th? Gen i9 with 8 cores / 16 threads.

But strangely this issue only started happening this last 3 or 4 weeks, concomittant with Firefox 128-130.

Anyway, will remember to clear the storage next time if I run into the same issue.

[Porthos]

Closing this topic as it's been resolved.