Excessive CPU use by SiteAdvisor (stuck in loop ?)
When I do a Google search with McAfee SiteAdvisor on there is excessive CPU usage, (averaging 5 % more than would otherwise occur ), after the search has been completed, which continues as long as the Google page is open, i.e. indefinitely: it looks like one of those stuck-in-a-loop patterns of CPU usage, (see attached graph).
If I disable the McAfee SiteAdvisor add-on this excessive CPU does not occur.
If I use WOT instead of McAfee SiteAdvisor the excessive CPU does not occur.
Can anything be done to prevent this waste of CPU by McAfee SiteAdvisor ?
The exact same problem occurs with Internet Explorer and FireFox browsers.
[I’m using Windows Vista if that is relevant]
on 13/01/11 21:07:36 CST
Message was edited by: Rob A on 13/01/11 21:08:35 CSTI checked this problem with my setup and it doesn't show up on Task Manager - well, hardly at all. A minimal series of blips, barely 0.1% of CPU, and that's just SiteAdvisor checking home for site status updates I reckon.
I'm using XP SP3, IE8 for the browser. SiteAdvisor version is 3.3.0.173 (still! It should have been updated to 3.3.0.176 by now. Oh well ..)
I just Googled for "SiteAdvisor", waited for the ratings to appear on screen, then went off and watched the CPU for a bit. Nothing.
What's different about your setup?
“What's different about your setup?”
The high CPU problem occurs with both IE and FF browsers.
The only common denominators I can think of are the OS (Vista) and the antivirus which is MSSE not McAfee*.
Attached is a HJT screen grab showing all the processes running on my machine,
Since I discovered that WOT is compatible with my preferred search engine, and SiteAdvisor isn’t, then solving this problem has now become an academic point.
[* I do have a valid subscription for McAfee SecurityCenter, but I uninstalled it an replaced it with MicroSoft’s Security Essentials, so I’m (was) using the free version of Site Advisor ]
PS I've just uninstalled SiteAdvisor and noticed that a new version had been automatically installed on 12th Jan 2011,
i.e. the CPU problem may be due to this update, ( which was installed without any notification ).
Message was edited by: Rob A on 14/01/11 18:59:30 CSTAaah ... you say your SiteAdvisor was updated on the 12th?
Bingo. *That's* what's different. You've been updated to 3176, and I'm still on 3173. Thank you, I've been waiting for some feedback from someone who's got the new version - it's been tweaked to work in Chrome, and then tweaked again to work properly with Gmail. The CPU spikes may be something to do with that - or, as you say, may be because you're running (were running) SA as a standalone BHO. I'll have to wait until the updates are available here - I think it's a phased process - and then see if I can replicate the problem. If I can see it too before Monday, the SA team will be told about it then.
If you're using WOT, there is a difference in the way their ratings are achieved - WOT's appear to be based mostly on user input (but there are some dedicated site investigators working on the WOT analyses for whom I have the greatest respect). McAfee's site reviewers have only a limited influence in setting site ratings on SiteAdvisor; mostly the SA process is automated (and extremely complex. There's a White Paper about it on the McAfee site if you're interested).
Thanks for the feedback, and don't worry, I don't mind academic points at all 🙂
If ever you change your mind and return to SiteAdvisor I'd be happy to see you back on the forums.
Just reinstalled to check “saSetup3.3.0.176_p2”, the high CPU (loop?) is still there, (see attached graph) ...
Message was edited by: Rob A on 17/01/11 11:57:39 CSTUpdate 10th Feb 2011, no change : different style graphs of same CPU problem attached ...
Message was edited by: Rob A on 10/02/11 01:07:16 CSTI have been experiencing similar problem in Firefox 3.x. After a number of experimentation, I have been able to put the blame squarely on McAfee Site Advisor. In my case, I would more describe this as a CPU leak. The CPU usage keeps increasing by a few % each time I do a Google search. Here are the simple steps to reproduce the problem in Firefox:
Disable McAfee Site Advisor (either through Firefox add-ons or through Site Advisor's menu) and the CPU usage always stabilizes to around 0% in the test above.
Until this issue is fixed, I will disable McAfee Site Advisor on my machines.
For information, I am experiencing this problem on Windows XP with the latest updates from Microsoft Update, latest Firefox 3.x. I haven't tried Firefox 4. McAfee Site advisor version is 3.0.1.163, which according to the "Get Latest Version" item in Site Advisor is the latest version. I don't know where to get the versions you are talking about such as 3.3.0.176.
Message was edited by: georgesz. Fixed typo in % CPU change. on 4/2/11 5:13:30 PM CDT
Message was edited by: georgesz. Removed Windows 7 and IE on 4/2/11 6:29:47 PM CDTgeorgesz wrote:
I haven't tried Firefox 4.
Changing to FireFox 4 doesn't help Georgesz ...
Just tried the stand-alone version of SA (dated 16 March 2011 14:50:36), with FireFox4.
The high CPU problem still exists, (the "SA enabled" CPU graph does seem different from previous though) ...
The high CPU problem with SA isn’t browser specific: it also happened on IE8.
Only common denominators in my case I can think of are the OS, Vista, and the antivirus, MSE.
[ Maybe conflict between SA and MSE ? ]
Message was edited by: Snowman on 02/04/11 22:02:38 CDTNew to the forums or need help finding your way around the forums? There's a whole hub of community resources to help you.
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