MetaMask’s browser extension bug triggers massive SSD writes, risking early device failure. Crypto users await a rapid solution as prolonged exposure may halve SSD lifespan, threatening both hardware integrity and user confidence.
MetaMask’s browser extension has come under fire for a major bug that aggressively writes hundreds of gigabytes per day onto users’ solid-state drives, raising alarms throughout the crypto community.
Affected users—primarily those running Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Opera—discovered after installation that their SSDs were being filled with data at a relentless rate, without any direct interaction.
One user detailed how the extension was generating 500GB of disk writes per day, tallying up to 25TB within three months. This pace far outstrips the typical endurance of modern SSDs, designed for five to ten years of use.
Crypto wallet extensions such as MetaMask usually update a local state file as part of their legitimate operation. However, this bug escalated background writes to a destructive level, steadily draining SSD lifespan.
Massive Disk Activity From MetaMask Extension Alarms Users
MetaMask users have flagged the alarming persistence of this bug for months, with multiple reports confirming abnormal disk write rates.
Several experienced total SSD lifetime drops of up to 50% after continuous use, despite the extension operating with no visible activity. “I watched my SSD lose half its lifetime just by keeping the browser open,” one community post revealed.
The cause centers on how MetaMask manages its state and background data fetches. Under certain conditions, the extension writes data at rates reaching five megabytes per second, even when idle.
Additional cases showed the plug-in causing similar issues on macOS, where a user observed 100GB written in a single day. Disabling MetaMask would immediately halt the data onslaught, proving its role in the excessive activity.
This relentless behavior extends the risk beyond inconvenience. Faster SSD wear means early failure, decreased computer performance, and the potential for catastrophic data loss. These worries are especially severe for users holding significant crypto assets, who rely on continuous hardware reliability for both trading and security.
Imminent Fix and Growing Crypto Infrastructure Concerns
Consensys, the company behind MetaMask, confirmed its teams are investigating. The company plans to release a fix that reduces write frequency and data retrievals as a priority.
“We’ve taken note of a recent observation shared by a small number of MetaMask users who reported unusually high disk activity. The team is actively working to reduce both state size and the size of each write operation,” stated a spokesperson.
The bug’s root lies in how the extension handles and logs information, which, under specific circumstances, results in excessive and unnecessary file writes. Repair efforts focus on minimizing the size and frequency of state changes, especially for users with unusually large on-chain histories or data states.
For now, affected users are urged to keep MetaMask updated and monitor their SSD health. The issue underscores the necessity for robust, frequently updated infrastructure in decentralized finance, where software missteps can inflict hardware damage with real-world costs.
Consensys’s rapid response offers hope, but the incident highlights the complexities involved in combining blockchain apps and consumer hardware at scale.
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MetaMask Bug Threatens SSDs With Massive Disk Writes
A MetaMask browser bug writes hundreds of GB daily to SSDs, risking drive lifespan. Consensys plans a fix to curb excessive background activity.