News

Microsoft Fixes Windows Defender Bug That Throttled Firefox

Windows has addressed a bug with Windows Defender which caused performance issues with the Firefox browser.

Windows Defender KneeCapping Firefox

Windows Defender is Microsofts inbuilt anti-malware service with Windows and for more than 5 years it has been causing problems with the Firefox browser. Many users have complained that Windows Defender had been putting unnecessary strain onto the CPU whilst using Firefox and causing it to become laggy and unresponsive. After 5 years Mozilla, which is behind the browser, have discovered the source of the issue and Microsoft have themselves addressed the issue.

What Caused The Issue?

The issue was discovered in March and shared on Bugzilla where it was found that MsMpEng.exe was executing a high number of calls to the OS kernel’s VirtualProtect function whilst using Firefox. Virtual Protect is a process that “Changes the protection on a region of committed pages in the virtual address space of the calling process.” and was doing a lot of useless computation upon each event. This combination caused Firefox to use more CPU than necessary and in turn slowed it down.

As of today, Microsoft has released an update that remedies this issue and Firefox users are urged to update.

Have you encountered this issue? Let us know in the comments.

Jakob Aylesbury

Disqus Comments Loading...

Recent Posts

Trust Gaming GXT 609 Zoxa 2.0 PC Speakers

SOUNDS GREAT – Full stereo sound (12W peak power) gives your setup a booming audio…

3 hours ago

PowerA Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch

Special Edition Yoshi design Ergonomic controller shape with Nintendo Switch button layout Detachable 10ft (3m)…

3 hours ago

Logitech G Saitek PRO Flight Rudder Pedals

Fluid Motion: These flight rudder pedals are smooth and accurate that enable precise control over…

3 hours ago

Logitech G Saitek Farm Sim Controller

Heavy Equipment Bundle: Includes a steering wheel for heavy machinery, gas and brake pedals, and…

3 hours ago

Razer Ornata V3 X – Low Profile Gaming Keyboard

Low-profile Keys for an ergonomic gaming experience. With slimmer keycaps and shorter switches, enjoy natural…

4 hours ago

Glorious Gaming Model O Wired Gaming Mouse

Size & style: Ambidextrous lightweight mouse for gaming. Built for speed, control and comfort, with…

4 hours ago