Adguard for Mac continuously downloads data even if the computer in idle mode

[Eugene-Savenko]

Ticket: 461686

While no browsers active, Adguard starting to download excessive data which I don’t know what and why. I am having to sign off to stop this. After signing in I notice it does not continue to download.

Ticket: 1481462

Hi, 2 days back, the office IT authority flagged my MAC for hogging the bandwidth up. As soon as I got to know of it, I opened the Activity Monitor up and realized that AdGuard was the culprit, which downloaded up to 10-15 GB worth content. I don’t have a diagnostic report with me right now but would like to enquire whether this has been a reported case before. Using an 11-inch MacBook Air (Mid 2013) running MacOS Sierra 10.12. Cheers!

Application version: 1.4.0 OS: 1012 Ads Blocked: 45995 Trackers Blocked: 114820 Fishing Blocked: 19 Antibanner filter: Enabled Antiphishing filter: Enabled Parental control: Disabled Privacy protection: Enabled HTTPS: Enabled Assistant: Enabled Web of trust: Enabled Popup blocker: Enabled Filters subscriptions: ID=0 Name="User filter" Version=1.0.0.0 ID=2 Name="English filter" Version=1.1.4.70 ID=3 Name="Spyware filter" Version=1.0.9.99 ID=4 Name="Social media filter" Version=1.0.16.10 ID=14 Name="Annoyances filter" Version=1.0.8.46 ID=10 Name="Filter unblocking useful ads" Version=1.0.0.89 ID=6 Name="German filter" Version=1.0.29.91 ID=5 Name="Experimental filter" Version=1.0.26.41 ID=12 Name="Safari filter" Version=1.0.2.2 ID=101 Name="EasyList" Version=1.0.66.21 ID=118 Name="EasyPrivacy" Version=1.0.72.6 ID=123 Name="Fanboy's Social Blocking List" Version=1.0.66.23 ID=113 Name="Liste FR" Version=1.0.72.24 ID=120 Name="Norsk adblockliste" Version=1.0.0.1 ID=207 Name="Adblock Warning Removal List" Version=1.0.72.20 ID=208 Name="Malware Domains" Version=1.0.72.8

Ticket: 1389893

I've noticed that Adguard (1.3.0) sucks up a lot of bandwidth after being active for a while. Using Little Snitch 3.7 I can see that Adguard uses up to 2mbit/s of data for no apparent reason and without stopping until I disable Adguard and then re-enable it. Until I've cycled Adguard all my downloads and streams will be super slow (as I only have 10 Mbit's at home).

Application version: 1.3.0 OS: 1012 Antibanner filter: Enabled Antiphishing filter: Enabled Parental control: Disabled Privacy protection: Enabled HTTPS: Enabled Assistant: Enabled Web of trust: Disabled Popup blocker: Enabled Filters subscriptions: ID=0 Name="User filter" Version=1.0.0.0 ID=2 Name="English filter" Version=1.1.2.70 ID=3 Name="Spyware filter" Version=1.0.9.44 ID=4 Name="Social media filter" Version=1.0.15.30 ID=14 Name="Annoyances filter" Version=1.0.7.59 ID=10 Name="Filter unblocking useful ads" Version=1.0.0.89 ID=1 Name="Russian filter" Version=1.0.44.6 ID=6 Name="German filter" Version=1.0.29.18 ID=8 Name="Dutch filter" Version=1.0.9.12 ID=9 Name="Spanish/Portuguese filter" Version=1.0.86.47 ID=12 Name="Safari filter" Version=1.0.1.81 ID=101 Name="EasyList" Version=1.0.65.37 ID=106 Name="EasyList Dutch" Version=1.0.70.72 ID=109 Name="EasyList Italy" Version=1.0.70.51 ID=207 Name="Adblock Warning Removal List" Version=1.0.70.65 ID=211 Name="Anti-Adblock Killer | Reek" Version=1.0.1.68 ID=208 Name="Malware Domains" Version=1.0.70.53

1486915

[vozersky]

@evgeniy-ADG

I will give it more tests, but well, the traffic comes from some filtered app, Adguard doesn't really download anything except filter updates and it takes a really small amount of data.

For example, I've played a video on YouTube, and opened LittleSnitch's NetworkMonitor afterwards. You can see that YouTube traffic was counted as Adguard's:

Can users do the same and check what server(s) was (were) involved in those cases of high traffic\bandwidth consumption?

[june8-o]

I unchecked all applications except Safari to test. Even while the Safari not open, I see that Adguard downloads data with full bandwidth. Weird thing is; if I turn Adguard off then on again, it does not continue to download.

[Rediwed]

I have been experiencing this issue for a few months now. No problem though, I will soon get unlimited 4G internet 💯

[vozersky]

Still no luck with reproducing such issue. Would appreciate a list of involved domains etc. from any network manager.

[Rediwed]

I must say, I haven't noticed this issue in the past week or so. Maybe I wasn't paying attention. I'll do my best!

[ameshkov]

@evgeniy-ADG first of all, please check that all these users are on v1.4.0.

[june8-o]

v1.4.0 (But the problem was the same with v.1.3)

[ameshkov]

Summoning @Stillness-2 here. @Stillness-2, do we need logs?

[anderworx]

No response from AdGuard? I submitted a ticket on this over a week ago. AdGuard 1.4.0 is consuming almost 20GB per day while I'm away and the computer is idle, no apps running. I've had to turn off AdGuard completely to prevent going over my monthly ISP data limit.

[Revod]

1.4.0 and have the same problem

[zebrum]

@Stillness-2 thoughts? do we need logs?

[june8-o]

Logs sent already. No one knows why and where Adguard downloads excessive data when it wants to. Even its developers.

[zebrum]

@june8-o we will appreciate if you collect some statistics for us. Uncheck all apps in Preferences - Network - Automatically filter applications: use your mac as usual, but do not turn it off. and also run Activity monitor too. after 3 days send us a screenshot with network information from activity monitor.

[june8-o]

@zebrum AdGuard tech support already wanted me to do so. And I have already done this steps and sent screenshots of network activity which shows that AdGuard downloads with max bandwidth continuously.

Tech support also wanted me to disable auto macOS software updates, I also done so, but problem still continues.

So, what's next?

[zebrum]

@june8-o you disabled all applications except Safari as i recall

[june8-o]

Correct. Do you want me to disable also the Safari. If so, what should Adguard do on my system?

[zebrum]

yep, we need you to disable all applications.

we can't reproduce this issue on our side, so we want to be sure it is Adguard itself downloading data. my mistake - you don't need run Activity monitor from the beginning, just to make screenshot. the main point is do not turn off Adguard.

[june8-o]

ok, I'll do so.

[june8-o]

I finished the test. While all applications disabled, after 72 hours (3 days) AdGuard downloaded only 8.7 MB data (that should be the filter updates). During this test, I haven't noticed any continuous downloads with my max bandwidth.

[Rediwed]

Alright. So I think I've found the issue.

I was just browsing Facebook when I noticed Adguard continue downloading a lot of data after I quit browsing. I tried to figure out was would be causing the problem, and it seems (to me) that adguard contacts Facebook's content distribution Network (fbcdn.com) and never closes that connection. In this case, a video is streamed from fbcdn.com. I've been able to reproduce the continued downloading behaviour consistently by opening Facebook, then watching a video (I also clicked on it, but that might not be necessary).

I even made a little video which reproduces the issue, check it here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF8VtzeLqGQ&feature=youtu.be (sorry for the stickies, it's for privacy).

Can anyone confirm behaviour? :D 💃

[vityevato]

@Rediwed, I confirm this. Thank you very much for research! :)

[june8-o]

@Rediwed Confirmed! I tested your steps. Watched a video on Facebook (video should be watched in Facebook, not linked to another site), quitted Safari. Adguard continued download data. Turned Adguard off, turned on, download stopped.

[Rediwed]

Great!! I'm glad I was able to help!

This kind of personal support and quick fixes (i hope!! :D) makes me glad I pay for the product instead of it being a opensource thing.

[vityevato]

@june8-o @Rediwed, please check this build: https://www.dropbox.com/s/74hmh731lfotn7u/Adguard-1.4.1.beta.dmg?dl=1

[june8-o]

@Stillness-2 Thank you. I fallowed the same steps previously taken with 1.4.0. Adguard did not download anything after quitting Safari.

[vozersky]

Oh, nice! thanks a lot @Rediwed! I was trying to find the responsible domain among a bunch of video streaming services actually, but didn't check on FB vids, tbh. Now we all know that it can be a good thing to browse FB at work :)

[Rediwed]

@Stillness-2 the beta seems to work perfectly!

@vozersky haha, I wanted to say the same thing.. Didn't your network manager notice you were hogging up bandwidth from Facebook servers?

[Rediwed]

@Stillness-2 I noticed that this beta version prevents you from succesfully loging into Facebook. I had to disable adguard temporary to be able to log in.

After login, you can reenable the beta and it stays logged in.

[vozersky]

@Rediwed @Stillness-2 can't reproduce the FB thing, could please you send us some logs, so we can check your filters at least .

[june8-o]

AdGuard warns me about 1.4.0 beta. Which one is newest?

[vozersky]

@june8-o the one you already have (with a fix)

[june8-o]

I suppose, it shouldn't warn for 1.4.0 beta over 1.4.1 beta.