Safari WebContent using GB of memory

Question

We have an older MacBook with 8 GB of RAM (maximum allowed) and it often gets very slow. When I check in the Activity Monitor, I often find a "com.apple.WebKit.WebContent" process using a lot of memory: 1, 2 or even once 16 GB of memory. For example, right now I see this process: com.apple.WebKit.WebContent    1.98 GB    1.94 GB    15    267    4542    user    101.0 MB    0.2    7:12.22    4    0 bytes    0 bytes    64 bit    0 bytes    0 bytes    0    0    -    No    No    0 bytes    0 bytes    No    Yes    0 bytes    No    Yes    Is there any way to stop web pages from using ridiculous amounts of memory in Safari?Thanks,     ++Eric

dominic23 · Answer

Please run EtreCheck and post the report here.    http://etresoft.com/etrecheck    Download it, open Downloads folder, click on it to open and select ”Open”.    “Choose a problem” from the popup menu box, and then “Start EtreCheck” in the dialog.    Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” .    Paste it here when you reply.

ericf2000 · Answer

Thanks for the quick reply! Here is my EtreCheck report:EtreCheck version: 2.9.13 (267)Report generated 2016-07-28 07:19:53Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.comRuntime 3:53Performance: GoodClick the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.Problem: Computer is too slowDescription:Programs take very long time to start or even switch to them when they are already running.Hardware Information: ⓘ    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011)     [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty &amp; Service]    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,1    1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 2-core    8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]        BANK 0/DIMM0            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok        BANK 1/DIMM0            4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n    Battery: Health &#x3D; Check Battery - Cycle count &#x3D; 94Video Information: ⓘ    Intel HD Graphics 3000        Color LCD 1280 x 800System Software: ⓘ    OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 (15F34) - Time since boot: about 2 days Disk Information: ⓘ    HGST HTS721010A9E630 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)        EFI (disk0s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 210 MB         Recovery HD (disk0s3) &lt;not mounted&gt;  [Recovery]: 650 MB         Macintosh (disk1) / : 998.97 GB (682.37 GB free)            Core Storage: disk0s2 999.35 GB Online    MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-898   ()USB Information: ⓘ    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver     Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)     Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad     Sunplus Innovation Technology. USB to Serial-ATA bridge 1 TB        disk2s1 (disk2s1) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 32 KB         Boot OSX (disk2s2) &lt;not mounted&gt; : 134 MB         Iomega-1TB (disk2s3) /Volumes/Iomega-1TB : 1.00 TB (133.29 GB free)    Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub         Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ    Apple Inc. thunderbolt_busGatekeeper: ⓘ    Mac App Store and identified developersKernel Extensions: ⓘ        /System/Library/Extensions    [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecDriverCore (5.2.4 (26840) - SDK 10.4 - 2016-07-18) [Support]        /System/Library/Extensions/Seagate Storage Driver.kext/Contents/PlugIns    [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_4 (5.2.4 (26840) - SDK 10.4 - 2013-09-30) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.PowSecLeafDriver_10_5 (5.2.4 (26840) - SDK 10.5 - 2013-09-30) [Support]    [not loaded]    com.seagate.driver.SeagateDriveIcons (5.2.4 (26840) - SDK 10.4 - 2013-09-30) [Support]        /Volumes/Iomega-1TB/iMac_G5-HD/Users/[redacted]/local_progs/TemperatureMonitor. app    [not loaded]    com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring (2.0 - 2011-06-17) [Support]System Launch Agents: ⓘ    [not loaded]    9 Apple tasks    [loaded]    157 Apple tasks    [running]    69 Apple tasks    [killed]    3 Apple tasks    3 processes killed due to insufficient RAMSystem Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [not loaded]    45 Apple tasks    [loaded]    154 Apple tasks    [running]    84 Apple tasks    [killed]    7 Apple tasks    7 processes killed due to insufficient RAMLaunch Agents: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]    [loaded]    com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (2009-07-28) [Support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2016-04-20) [Support]    [running]    net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist (2011-05-02) [Support]    [running]    net.juniper.pulsetray.plist (2016-03-09) [Support]    [loaded]    org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist (2016-02-03) [Support]    [loaded]    org.macports.startx.plist (2015-12-29) [Support]Launch Daemons: ⓘ    [failed]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-13) [Support]    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-07-11) [Support]    [running]    com.jungledisk.service.plist (2011-06-03) [Support]    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2012-04-02) [Support]    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-04-20) [Support]    [running]    net.juniper.AccessService.plist (2016-03-09) [Support]    [loaded]    net.juniper.UninstallPulse.plist (2016-03-09) [Support]    [running]    net.openvpn.client.plist (2014-03-03) [Support]    [not loaded]    org.freedesktop.dbus-system.plist (2016-02-03) [Support]    [loaded]    org.macports.privileged_startx.plist (2015-12-29) [Support]User Launch Agents: ⓘ    [loaded]    com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-04-29) [Support]    [running]    com.amazon.cloud-player.plist (2013-11-26) [Support]    [loaded]    com.apple.MobileMeSyncClientAgent.plist    [loaded]    com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist    [running]    com.lastpass.LastPassHelper.plist (2015-10-10) [Support]    [loaded]    net.juniper.SetupClient.plist (2016-05-27) [Support]User Login Items: ⓘ    iTunesHelper    Application  (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)Other Apps: ⓘ    [loaded]    406 Apple tasks    [running]    193 Apple tasks    [killed]    7 Apple tasksInternet Plug-ins: ⓘ    nplastpass: 3.2.11 - SDK 10.10 (2015-10-10) [Support]    Google Earth Web Plug-in: 6.2 (2012-06-28) [Support]    Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-05-17)    Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: 2.4.4.2 (2012-08-25) [Support]    net.juniper.DSSafariExtensions: Unknown (2014-07-04) [Support]    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 11.0.17 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-12) [Support]    FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.192 - SDK 10.9 (2016-06-25) [Support]    Silverlight: 5.1.30514.0 - SDK 10.6 (2014-10-12) [Support]    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-05-17)    Flash Player: 22.0.0.192 - SDK 10.9 (2016-06-25) Outdated! Update    iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2013-04-23)    SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.5 - SDK 10.6 (2016-06-22) [Support]    AdobePDFViewer: 11.0.17 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-12) [Support]    CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: 2.1.0.1 (2006-04-20) [Support]    CANONiMAGEGATEWAYLI: 2.1.0.1 (2006-04-20) [Support]    JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 91 build 14 (2016-04-20) Check versionUser internet Plug-ins: ⓘ    BSContact: 7.220 (2012-11-23) [Support]    BSVersion: 1.0.0.7 (2012-11-23) [Support]Safari Extensions: ⓘ    JS Blocker 5 - Travis Roman - http://jsblocker.toggleable.com/ (2016-04-26)    LastPass - LastPass - https://lastpass.com (2016-02-05)    TwitterSSL-1 - Simon Welsh - http://simon.geek.nz/safari-extensions/ (2012-12-18)3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ    Flash Player (2016-06-13) [Support]    Flip4Mac WMV (2012-05-15) [Support]    Java (2016-04-20) [Support]    Paragon NTFS for Mac ® OS X (2013-09-30) [Support]Time Machine: ⓘ    Skip System Files: NO    Mobile backups: ON    Auto backup: YES    Volumes being backed up:        Macintosh: Disk size: 998.97 GB Disk used: 316.60 GB    Destinations:        Iomega-1TB [Local]         Total size: 1.00 TB         Total number of backups: 76         Oldest backup: 8/8/13, 7:45 AM         Last backup: 6/26/16, 7:58 AM         Size of backup disk: Adequate            Backup size 1.00 TB &gt; (Disk used 316.60 GB X 3)Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ        58%    mds        23%    backupd        18%    Finder(2)        14%    WindowServer        11%    mds_storesTop Processes by Memory: ⓘ    1.22 GB    com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(22)    955 MB    kernel_task    565 MB    firefox    295 MB    mdworker(22)    287 MB    Mail(2)Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ    200 MB    Free RAM     7.80 GB    Used RAM (1.33 GB Cached)    2.68 GB    Swap Used Diagnostics Information: ⓘ    Jul 25, 2016, 05:49:08 PM    Self test - passed

dominic23 · Answer

Please remove  adware SIMBL and test.1. Use  Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac to remove adware     https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac/   Download, install , open,  and run it by clicking “Scan for Adware” button   to remove adware.   Once done, quit Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.2. Disable Extensions and test.    Safari &gt; Preferences &gt; Extensions    Disable all extensions and test.    Enable Extensions one by one and test.    To uninstall any extension, select it and click the “Uninstall” button.3. Safari &gt; Preferences &gt;  Search &gt; Search Engine :    Select your preferred   search engine.4. Safari &gt; Preferences &gt; General &gt; Homepage:     Set your Homepage.

Linc Davis · Answer

I suggest you start by taking the steps recommended in this support article.

Eric Root · Answer

SIMBL Uninstall     See solution posted by Linc Davis .

ericf2000 · Answer

Thanks for the link to the SIMBL uninstall instructions. I found the LaunchAgents/...plist file but I see now there are other pieces that are more important to remove.

Eric Root · Answer

You are welcome.

dominic23 · Answer

How to remove SIMBL?For instructions:http://www.thesafemac.com/arg-conduit/

ericf2000 · Answer

Thanks for the hints!It took a while before my wife would let me restart the computer after I removed the SIMBL malware. Now she has her usual huge number of Safari windows open again and I don&#x27;t see any of them using more than 600 MB of memory and 240 MB of real memory, so it seems like SIMBL was the cause of extreme memory usage problem. ++Eric