Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

MainThread process in Linux: is it just a new name for firefox?

  • No replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 3 views
more options

In the last few days, a process called MainThread, using a lot of CPU time, has started appearing in my Ubuntu system monitor "top". I was worried that it was malware, and checked to see if it might be part of software I had recently installed. After checking with the software providers I had most recently dealt with, I didn't find any that said the MainThread process belonged to them. Then I noticed that the "firefox" process had disappeared from the system monitor. I suspect that MainThread is the new name for firefox, but I would like some confirmation of that theory. If that is the case, why change the name of the process from something recognizable to something unrecognizable? Thanks for any help you can give!

In the last few days, a process called MainThread, using a lot of CPU time, has started appearing in my Ubuntu system monitor "top". I was worried that it was malware, and checked to see if it might be part of software I had recently installed. After checking with the software providers I had most recently dealt with, I didn't find any that said the MainThread process belonged to them. Then I noticed that the "firefox" process had disappeared from the system monitor. I suspect that MainThread is the new name for firefox, but I would like some confirmation of that theory. If that is the case, why change the name of the process from something recognizable to something unrecognizable? Thanks for any help you can give!
Attached screenshots