Ant Video Downloader eating up all available system memory
This started two days ago. I did not recognize what was happening, but the computer slowed to a point of complete unresponsiveness. I had to hold the power button in for a hard shutdown. Next day, I was watching a YouTube video, the video stopped playing, and the computer slowed to a snail's pace. Task Manager revealed something was using up ALL system memory. A look at running processes showed that the culprit was Firefox.
Firefox would start normally, then gobble up all system memory over a few minutes, rendering the computer almost inoperable.
Tried garbage collection, CC, and minimize memory usage under about:memory. This would temporarily reduce overhead, but then it would climb back up next time I started Firefox.
The Ant Video Downloader underwent a redesign days ago; this memory issue started exactly two days ago, on Friday evening, the 7th of January, 2022.
I disabled the add-on. At this moment, Firefox memory use is 642,716 KB of an available 12 GB. There seems to be one main process using the largest share of memory (200-300,000 KB) with 12 other firefox.exe processes running concurrently, all using smaller amounts of system memory. Firefox memory use no longer climbs until all system memory is consumed.
Is there any way to rein in memory use by Firefox add-ons short of disabling them? Are other users reporting this issue? How are add-ons vetted prior to use with the browser? There are few of these video downloaders available. Most are merely copies of a single piece of non-functioning software—but listed under different names, supported by what are clearly fake reviews. Is anyone verifying the integrity of these add-ons in addition to their developers?
In this case, the developer is based in Hong Kong.
Thank you to the community for any assistance offered in this case.
All Replies (7)
I have seen several reports of issues such as RAM usage attributable to that add-on. You could try installing an older version if you want to continue using it.
Alas, older versions are disabled as new ones appear. Unless the developer updates the current version with the RAM bug, there is no fix I know of, aside from finding a replacement.
Finding a replacement will be difficult, for reasons given, above.
See the developer comments on the review page.
You could look at video downloader software rather than a browser add-on.
cor-el said
See the developer comments on the review page.
Do you understand these instructions? I have not been able to find any "WIPE OUT AND RESET" button. I will have to do this quickly, because the system runs out of RAM within a couple minutes of enabling the extension.
Please try to reset the data at the extension menu Settings - Reset, click the WIPE OUT AND RESET button. This will delete any data in the extension storage, and reload the extension. If you still encounter the issues after this operations please contact with details about your system and browser configurations to our support here: https://www.ant.com/support_form
Modified by iamwileecoyote
cor-el said
See the developer comments on the review page.
I do not understand these instructions. I cannot find the "WIPE OUT AND RESET BUTTON," and it's not as if I have much time to do so. Once the add-on is enabled, I only have a minute or two before my system runs out of RAM and effectively locks up.
Please try to reset the data at the extension menu Settings - Reset, click the WIPE OUT AND RESET button. This will delete any data in the extension storage, and reload the extension. If you still encounter the issues after this operations please contact with details about your system and browser configurations to our support here: https://www.ant.com/support_form
The developer is having to translate their instructions to English, which may be part of the issue, where confusion arises and customers are unable to locate or operate features.
Click on the extension icon as if to begin downloading a video. At the top of the pop-up is another option for settings and such, and the option to reset the extension is hidden in there.
Thing is, it is not enough. Even if you wipe out and reset, it only lasts an hour or so. Eventually, the extension starts eating up resources, and your browser will again slow to a crawl. Web pages will not load. Links stop working. Videos will not play. You have to reset the extension over and over and over and over . . . .
This extension is a steaming pile. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't spyware, malware, or a Trojan.