Author Topic: Admins/Webmaster - Is Anyone Else Clicking on Posts and Being Redirected to Ads (Read 8222 times)

Another Reader · « **on:** August 20, 2014, 12:56:31 PM »

An annoying problem with the forum site has developed in the last couple of days. Occasionally clicking on a post causes redirection to an ad or to a site demanding I update some software I am not familiar with. Running a complete virus scan shows nothing on my computer. Is this a problem on my end, or are instructions imbedded somewhere in the pages that are directing my browser to another site? Thanks for your help in resolving this.

slugline · « **Reply #1 on:** August 20, 2014, 12:58:33 PM »

Same started happening to me today. I didn't connect it to the MMM forum until just now....

Cwadda · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2014, 12:59:20 PM »

Just happened to me.

Eric · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2014, 01:36:32 PM »

I've gotten this a couple of times too. It opens up a new window with spammy links, but I haven't taken the time to study what they were.

Threshkin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2014, 01:49:59 PM »

Yes, I started seeing this happen a couple of days ago.

fallstoclimb · « **Reply #5 on:** August 20, 2014, 01:57:40 PM »

Yes! I thought I had a virus.

ArbitraryGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 20, 2014, 04:38:29 PM »

Here, too. Glad to know it's not just me...

brizna · « **Reply #7 on:** August 20, 2014, 07:18:08 PM »

Quote from: fallstoclimb on August 20, 2014, 01:57:40 PM

Yes! I thought I had a virus.

totally.

thanks for making the thread OP.

daverobev · « **Reply #8 on:** August 20, 2014, 07:40:47 PM »

Adblock Plus... It's like mustachianism for browsers!

Middlesbrough · « **Reply #9 on:** August 20, 2014, 07:48:19 PM »

Quote from: daverobev on August 20, 2014, 07:40:47 PM

Adblock Plus... It's like mustachianism for browsers!

I discovered this about 4 years ago. It is almost excruciating using someone else's computer after you get used to it.

Another Reader · « **Reply #10 on:** August 20, 2014, 07:57:21 PM »

This is not pop up ads opening in a different window. This is page redirection. I would not expect pop up ads here anyway.

Janie · « **Reply #11 on:** August 20, 2014, 09:44:57 PM »

Haven't experienced this. I have Adblock (which isn't just for pop up ads BTW)

dragoncar · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2014, 10:27:31 PM »

I just had a million-dollar idea that would be worth a billion dollars if there was any way to commercialize it.

Anyways, what if they made an adblock extension that automatically loaded and clicked (followed) ads in a sandbox never seen by the user? That way you would support websites without having to actually see ads. This would be click-fraud if actually endorsed by the website, but on your own it's just good sense.

Grid · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2014, 09:19:04 AM »

Same. The website that pops up for me is adexchange.com + long url, and gives me a pop-up warning that says my Flash player is out of date. Beneath the pop-up, on the actual site page is a license agreement, but after I close the pop-up box, a second box pops up asking to install Flash. I close out of what was the MMM forum after that.

daverobev · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2014, 10:35:50 AM »

Has this happened anywhere else than MMM?

It sounds like you may have malware... I click on posts and it takes me to the post, nowhere else. Sounds like something on your browser or maybe your hosts file is doing something nasty.

I'm a little out of date with adware checking, but Spybot Search and Destroy always used to be good.

Grid · « **Reply #15 on:** August 21, 2014, 10:44:07 AM »

Quote from: daverobev on August 21, 2014, 10:35:50 AM

Has this happened anywhere else than MMM?

It sounds like you may have malware... I click on posts and it takes me to the post, nowhere else. Sounds like something on your browser or maybe your hosts file is doing something nasty.

I'm a little out of date with adware checking, but Spybot Search and Destroy always used to be good.

It may happen once in every 100 clicks on the forum, and has happened on 2 separate computers in a very short timeframe just for me, and is also happening to the above forum-goers as well. It's doubtful it's anything else but strictly internet-related.

daverobev · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2014, 11:44:23 AM »

Quote from: Grid on August 21, 2014, 10:44:07 AM

Quote from: daverobev on August 21, 2014, 10:35:50 AM
Has this happened anywhere else than MMM?

It sounds like you may have malware... I click on posts and it takes me to the post, nowhere else. Sounds like something on your browser or maybe your hosts file is doing something nasty.

I'm a little out of date with adware checking, but Spybot Search and Destroy always used to be good.

It may happen once in every 100 clicks on the forum, and has happened on 2 separate computers in a very short timeframe just for me, and is also happening to the above forum-goers as well. It's doubtful it's anything else but strictly internet-related.

Why isn't it happening to everyone, then..?

daverobev · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2014, 11:45:26 AM »

Maybe everyone who's had the problem could post the operating system and browser they are using.

Grid · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2014, 11:55:49 AM »

Quote from: daverobev on August 21, 2014, 11:45:26 AM

Maybe everyone who's had the problem could post the operating system and browser they are using.

Sure. And I assume it's simply because I've been on more frequently, there's a better chance it will happen repeatedly to me. We really don't have much data yet about the issue as it is. Anyway, for the 2 computers I've been using:

1. Windows 7 with Chrome Browser
2. Windows 8 with Chrome Browser

oldladystache · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2014, 12:12:03 PM »

It just happened to me for the first time. Windows 7, chrome.

fallstoclimb · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2014, 12:34:13 PM »

Chrome, although I can't remember if it happened at home (Mac OS X) or at work (Windows 7)

Eric · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2014, 12:37:21 PM »

Windows 7
Firefox 31.0

Philociraptor · « **Reply #22 on:** August 21, 2014, 12:39:19 PM »

IE7 on XP.

Thegoblinchief · « **Reply #23 on:** August 21, 2014, 01:58:00 PM »

Happened a number of times to me. Guessing it's an issue with the ad server MMM uses. Sometimes those places go hinky.

Chrome on iOS 7.0.2

Threshkin · « **Reply #24 on:** August 21, 2014, 02:34:41 PM »

Firefox V31.0 No unknown or new extensions.

RWD · « **Reply #25 on:** August 21, 2014, 04:23:24 PM »

I'm not experiencing any redirection on either Windows XP or Linux, both running Firefox with Adblock Plus.

Quote from: dragoncar on August 20, 2014, 10:27:31 PM

I just had a million-dollar idea that would be worth a billion dollars if there was any way to commercialize it.

Anyways, what if they made an adblock extension that automatically loaded and clicked (followed) ads in a sandbox never seen by the user? That way you would support websites without having to actually see ads. This would be click-fraud if actually endorsed by the website, but on your own it's just good sense.

More than likely the advertisers would just start paying less per click if something like this took off.

gimp · « **Reply #26 on:** August 21, 2014, 05:35:50 PM »

http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/forum-information-faqs/bad-ads/

Yep.

cdub · « **Reply #27 on:** August 21, 2014, 05:44:59 PM »

Quote from: daverobev on August 21, 2014, 10:35:50 AM

Has this happened anywhere else than MMM?

It sounds like you may have malware... I click on posts and it takes me to the post, nowhere else. Sounds like something on your browser or maybe your hosts file is doing something nasty.

I'm a little out of date with adware checking, but Spybot Search and Destroy always used to be good.

Nope - it happened to me too and I'm on a Chromebook - no malware possible. Something's up with the site.

daverobev · « **Reply #28 on:** August 21, 2014, 06:12:13 PM »

Ok, it does indeed sound like something's up, then :-/

SingleMomDebt · « **Reply #29 on:** August 21, 2014, 06:54:37 PM »

Install the AdBlock extension - eliminate problem on users end
Tell MMM to stop the ad type he is using (prob Pop up - you make more money in affiliate ads but is also more bothersome)

Should fix prob.

gimp · « **Reply #30 on:** August 21, 2014, 06:57:58 PM »

Some of us purposefully leave this site whitelisted on adblock. It's a bit of a silly suggestion - I feel like everyone knows it exists; if it's an issue, it's because we're trying to support the site, not because we're ignorant. You know? I'd rather the fix be on the site's end than mine, as only one of those solutions continues to pay the bills.

arebelspy · « **Reply #31 on:** August 21, 2014, 07:28:52 PM »

MOD NOTE: Thanks for the info. Passing it higher up the chain.

arebelspy · « **Reply #32 on:** September 15, 2014, 12:48:05 PM »

This is hopefully fixed. Let us know if you're still experiencing it.

News:

Author Topic: Admins/Webmaster - Is Anyone Else Clicking on Posts and Being Redirected to Ads (Read 8222 times)

Janie

Thegoblinchief

SingleMomDebt