A computer resource hog refers to any application, process, or service that consumes an excessive amount of system resources—like CPU, RAM, disk, or network bandwidth—causing your computer to slow down or become unresponsive.

🐷 What Is a Resource Hog?

A resource hog is typically:

• A poorly optimized or buggy program
• A background service running unnecessarily
• Malware or adware
• A legitimate app doing heavy lifting (e.g., video editing, gaming, virtual machines)

These hogs can lead to:

• Laggy performance
• Freezing or crashing
• Overheating
• Shortened battery life (on laptops)

🔍 How to Identify a Resource Hog

You can use built-in tools like Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac):

🖥️ Windows:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click More details if needed.
3. Go to the Processes tab.
4. Sort by CPU, Memory, Disk, or Network to find the top consumers.

🍏 Mac:

1. Open Activity Monitor from Applications > Utilities.
2. Sort by % CPU, Memory, or Energy Impact.

For a detailed guide, check out Digital Citizen’s tutorial.

💣 Common Resource Hogs

More examples are listed in this RAM usage guide.

🛠️ How to Fix It

• Close or uninstall unnecessary apps
• Disable startup programs you don’t need
• Update software to get performance fixes
• Scan for malware using trusted antivirus tools
• Upgrade hardware if your system is consistently maxed out