Ctrl + Alt + Delete - Processes tab = how much is firefox.exe using?

Do you also see a "container-process.exe" running?
That would be for Firefox plugins like Flash. Maybe there's a Flash advertisement running on that AOL page and Norton is commenting on both processes combined???

You can uninstall (remove) Java Console extensions and disable the Java Quick Starter extension if you have them showing in Tools > Add-ons > Extensions, you do not need them to run Java applets.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions

Disable the Java Quick Starter extension: Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions

• Control Panel -> Java -> Advanced tab -> Miscellaneous -> Java Quick Starter (disable)

See http://www.java.com/en/download/help/quickstarter.xml - What is Java Quick Starter (JQS)? What is the benefit of running JQS? - 6.0

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.

See:

• Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems