Start Firefox using Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Troubleshoot(Safe) Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firefox+is+already+running+but+is+not+responding

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-slow-how-make-it-faster

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-much-memory-ram

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-hangs-or-not-responding

After restarting laptop & ff high cpu usage not seen. Went into trouble shoot & ok. Was this a malicious spyware etc.

You may have ad/mal-ware. Further information can be found in this article; https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed free to use malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.

Being on Linux, malware is not very likely. Could have been a problem with a website.

If it happens again then check the Firefox Task Manager (about:performance) and about:memory pages to see what takes up the memory.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/task-manager-tabs-or-extensions-are-slowing-firefox
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-much-memory-or-cpu-resources

Can you attach your troubleshooting information ?

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-troubleshooting-information-page-fix-firefox

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

• Settings -> General: Performance
  remove checkmark: [ ] "Use recommended performance settings"
  remove checkmark: [ ] "Use hardware acceleration when available"
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/performance-settings

Close and restart Firefox after modifying the setting to make changes effective.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems