Google popup (spam)

[Captain Halliday]

In the past week or so when viewing AFF on my phone via the browser I get this popup.



It doesn’t happen with any other website.

Is it an AFF thing, or has my phone been hacked?

If it’s not an AFF thing, any idea why it only happens when I’m on AFF?

 

[SuperSaeen]

+1 have been getting this annoying ad on iPhone and iPad. Started about a week back or so on the old forums and I am still getting it on the new one.

So definitely not unique to the new forums.

 

[deejo77]

Yes constant only on AFF - husband is an IT geek and is just about to block AFF from my iPhone as he feels it’s a security risk as it is only happening on it, not happy Jan.

 

[support]

Yes constant only on AFF - husband is an IT geek and is just about to block AFF from my iPhone as he feels it’s a security risk as it is only happening on it, not happy Jan.

Below is a link to a thread on a much larger Australian site that also faces the same problem. They have over 58 million posts, while we are approaching our 2 millionth! This problem is affecting the whole internet and there are some who think this will never be fixed.

Scam Ads

Just earlier I had an ad takeover the page talking about a chance to win an iPhone or Samsung or whatever. I couldn’t click off the ad without clicking on OK which takes you further into the scam. I had to shutdown the page. Latest advice 6/3/19: There is lots of discussion about this issue...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[admin]

Please bear with us as we try to trouble shot this problem. As support says its not isolated to AFF (although I do realise that some members only see the ads on AFF) but a much wider internet problem. It looks like the ads are coming from an ad network. I will contact our main ad network provider (again!) tomorrow to see if they have an explanation. Will post the outcome tomorrow on this thread.

Apologies again.

 

[admin]

OK, our main Ad Network provider has come back to me. But before getting into that, its probably useful to briefly explain how AFF sources most of it's ads.

AFF (like most internet publishers) use Ad Network providers. The Ad Network provider supplies us with code which we place on AFF - this code displays the ad which you see. The Ad itself could come from one of many companies, agencies (or even other Ad networks) our main Ad Provider has a relationship with. We advise our Network provider what types of ads are not suitable for AFF, and they screen out unacceptable ads. Unfortunately, given the complexity of the supply chain, this is not a trivial task - nor is it fool-proof.

Our Ad Provider has advised that the spam ads some members are seeing, were coming from one of the networks they were using. They have been in contact with the network who have pulled the ad. Please message me if you continue to see them from this afternoon. That said, there is unfortunately no guarantee that the ad (or a variation of it) won't appear again with that or another network!

Regarding a long-term solution: I'm not sure if there is one! Spammers are smart people with big budgets. We can close one door, only for them to open another. Please bear in mind that this is an internet issue and not just AFF. As you can see from the posts in this thread not everyone is effected. Some see them on AFF only, others on other sites, and some members don't see them at all. I guess it depends on how the spammers have set up the ad, and possibly your browsing habits and history.

Also remember that our paid members don't see ads so are not impacted by this. You can purchase a SILVER subscription for just $50 a year ($4.17 a month or less than 14c a day) and avoid all this.

Hope this helps...

 

[Stealthflyer]

I don't know about anyone else, but this browser hijacking seems to be happening to me more than ever. It only occurs on my phone or ipad. If I'm not on wifi it comes up with "Dear Optus user". I really only read AFF on my ipad or phone, so I've ended up staying away from the website. However, as a newish member, I've been really enjoying the site so far (other than the predatory ads) and want to stick around; however I can't risk security and I also don't want to have to keep clearing cookies/history etc.
I know AFF admin says that it's a wider internet issue, but this is the only website that has ever hijacked my browser. Paid access isn't really a solution.

Is it time to buy advertising packages through another company, AFF?

 

[support]

Is it time to buy advertising packages through another company, AFF?

Like spam in my inbox, these tend to come in waves. At certain points you will receive more emails/hijacking-ads and then things will quieten down for a bit. And then the next wave comes. While I don't know the exact cause for this behaviour, I presume it is because the fraudulent ads get reported and removed, before coming back in a new form.

It certainly does happen on other websites, I have experienced it on many, and I can understand your frustration... imagine the drama it causes myself or a Moderator when we are trying to sort out a troublesome thread and get redirected away from it.

Regarding your note that paid access isn't a solution, a Silver membership costs less than 14¢ a day. When I first signed up as a personal member (not this account) I immediately paid for access and have reaped the rewards. It might not be for everyone, but it's certainly not expensive... and the pages look great without ads. That said, while working I view AFF with ads just like you.

 

[AisleSeat]

I don't know about anyone else, but this browser hijacking seems to be happening to me more than ever. It only occurs on my phone or ipad. If I'm not on wifi it comes up with "Dear Optus user". I really only read AFF on my ipad or phone, so I've ended up staying away from the website. However, as a newish member, I've been really enjoying the site so far (other than the predatory ads) and want to stick around; however I can't risk security and I also don't want to have to keep clearing cookies/history etc.
I know AFF admin says that it's a wider internet issue, but this is the only website that has ever hijacked my browser. Paid access isn't really a solution.

Is it time to buy advertising packages through another company, AFF?

View attachment 182325

It seems this pop-up occurs most for users who are using Safari on iOS. Have you tried Firefox as an alternative browser?
Also, is your pop-up blocker enabled for Safari on your iOS devices?

 

[Stealthflyer]

It seems this pop-up occurs most for users who are using Safari on iOS. Have you tried Firefox as an alternative browser?
Also, is your pop-up blocker enabled for Safari on your iOS devices?

I haven't tried Firefox yet. I'll give that a go. My pop-up blocker is enabled. Unfortunately AFF won't work without Javascript, otherwise I'd disable that too.

 

[rainbowgirl]

I haven't tried Firefox yet. I'll give that a go. My pop-up blocker is enabled. Unfortunately AFF won't work without Javascript, otherwise I'd disable that too.

AFF used to work really well without Javascript but changes in the last few years meant I've got to run it all the time instead of just when I want to like a comment. I have Javascript disabled on all sites unless I give it permission to run. Good luck finding a solution to the pop up problem.

 

[Stealthflyer]

It seems this pop-up occurs most for users who are using Safari on iOS. Have you tried Firefox as an alternative browser?

Good luck finding a solution to the pop up problem.

It looks like the Firefox Focus app is a solution. I used it last night without being hijacked. So far so good. Thanks, aisleseat!

 

[support]

Good luck finding a solution to the pop up problem.

To be fair, it's not really a pop-up but rather a malicious ad that when loaded on the page, redirects the current page to a fake page. Strangely, it only seems to happen on mobile devices. I've never experienced it on my desktop, touch wood.

I have found that on my iPhone if you just click "back" you can't exit its pull as it seems to redirect you several times, but if you hold down on the back button to look at the previous few pages, you can click back to the AFF one and so long as the ad doesn't load again, you're safe to continue about your business.

It is definitely an inconvenience, but I can generally get on with what I was doing – or attempting to do – fairly fast.

 

[AisleSeat]

It looks like the Firefox Focus app is a solution. I used it last night without being hijacked. So far so good. Thanks, aisleseat!

No worries. Regular Firefox would have been fine as well. Focus is good, but can be restrictive due to its mega privacy function. Just don't hit the clear button!

 

[Stealthflyer]

No worries. Regular Firefox would have been fine as well. Focus is good, but can be restrictive due to its mega privacy function. Just don't hit the clear button!

I might have been over cautious. I’ll give regular Firefox a go. I use it for my desktop. I think I just got lazy with my phone and settled for Safari. Thanks for you me advice