Service Workers may be the latest in adware/spam and the last straw in browser bloat. What can be done to take back your system memory is explored.

1. Browser Bloat & Service Workers
or why is my system getting so slow?
RCSI
7pm 3/10/20
Mark S. Zinzow
Slideshare.net/msz

2. The Problem
Browser bloat can lead to system crashes or freezing.
“In computer science, thrashing occurs when a computer's virtual
memory resources are overused, leading to a constant state of paging
and page faults, inhibiting most application-level processing.[1] This
causes the performance of the computer to degrade or collapse. The
situation can continue indefinitely until either the user closes some
running applications or the active processes free up additional virtual
memory resources.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science)

3. Web Browser Bloat for Security
Security Vulnerabilities
such as Spectre &
Meltdown, as well as
performance issues are
resulting in all modern
browsers using more
memory due to process
and site isolation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectre_(security_vulnerability)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_isolation
Increase security with site isolation
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/7623121
Sandboxing tabs
https://www.chromium.org/Home/chromium-security/site-isolation
https://www.itworld.com/article/3246210/browser-makers-build-
bulwarks-to-stump-spectre-attacks.html

4. Terms
Memory footprint refers to the amount of main memory that a
program uses or references while running.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_footprint
A service worker is a JavaScript file that operates as a type of web
worker. They work separately from the main browser thread to
handle push notifications, synchronize data in the background,
cache or retrieve resource requests, intercept network requests and
receive centralized updates.[27] Service workers are used in an
attempt to give progressive web apps the ability to provide the high
performance and rich experience of native mobile apps, with the
low storage space, real-time updates and improved search engine
visibility of traditional web apps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_web_application#Service_
workers
Subframe: an iframe page element separated from its parent page
into a unique process by site isolation.

5. Solutions
While there is no easy fix to quickly reduce browser
bloat, there are many steps that can help.
♦ Say No to notification requests when ever possible.
This is how service workers get to stay active too much
♦ Reduce Subframes with ad blockers or privacy
protection tools.
♦ Block JavaScript when practical.
♦ Use Memory Monitoring tools to find the hogs.
♦ Manage Extensions to pick small and necessary ones;
disable them when not needed.
♦ Exclude Extensions from Sync.
♦ Restart Your Browser Often.

6. Is This Browser Hijacking?
Or just the last straw?
Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software that
modifies a web browser's settings without a user's
permission, to inject unwanted advertising into the
user's browser.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browser_hijacking

7. Details in Blog & Demonstrations
http://mszinzow.blogspot.com/2019/12/BrowserBloat.html

8. Firefox Site Permissions...
Are a bit more work to find than
Chrome's site settings. Click
the padlock, then the >, then
More Information, and then
finally the Permissions tab.
While blocking JavaScript is not
on the menu, at least you can
find the notifications setting for
the current tab.

9. Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection
One of the Firefox privacy features
Chrome lacks is Tracker Identification.
When viewing the performance tab,
Firefox quickly identifies which
subframes are trackers.
“… you can see what’s being blocked
on individual pages by clicking the
shield to the left of the address bar.”
The Privacy Protections menu, or
about:protections tab allows you to set
Standard, Strict, or Custom
protections as well as exceptions.
https://support.mozilla.org/en-
US/kb/enhanced-tracking-protection-

10. Questions?
& Links
Slideshare.net/msz
mszinzow.blogspot.com