You already know this but:(in the winter holidays - some are under a grog)

Standard for any browser.

Use CC (Cr@p Cleaner)
Defrag

Then go back and review your settings...somewhere...perhaps...the settings for Cache Size - programs were inadvertantly changed.

You are using a PC so use:
Control
Alt
Delete

See what is working in the background.

Keep an automatic connection log (you can dump it all the time) and examine where the persistant pestilance is pointilated on a global GPS.

Many sites (and Max is playing) have an "ET Phone Home" feature.

Have you visited a "cloud site" i.e. Chrome or a spawn of Virtacore?
(remember the old "Comit Browser?)