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Those of you who join us via a mobile device – either phone or tablet – may have suffered the indignity of having your browser hijacked and redirected to the Apple Store or some other site in an effort to get you to buy some kind of game. After much forensic work, we believe this was due to malicious code piggy-backing on an ad served by one of our ad partners. That code should now be eliminated. If you’re still being redirected, please let us know if the comments below (we know that you will). In the mean time, we apologize for the inconvenience and will work to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Thanks.

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103 COMMENTS

  5. Another major annoyance is the delayed-action video startup. Sound suddenly coming on with some idiot advertisement is teaching me to avoid this site in certain circumstances, and that is unfortunate.

    It is more annoying when you have offered us an interesting video — and the second video launches during the intended one’s playback, rendering the audio both annoying and useless.

    ===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

    • I thought most portable devices had an option to turn off all autoplay videos?

      Pretty sure the Apple stuff does; my son has told me about it. Check your device settings; sometimes it’s on/off or allow/don’t allow, but occasionally there is an “ask me before autoplaying” option.

      • I’m on a PC running Windows 7. And at this moment, the system is furiously communicating with this site’s ads’ DefyMedia home base, as I stopped the site from setting several dozen new cookies.

        ===|==============/ Keith DeHavelle

  8. There are apps for your phone that can cause these issues too. I got the cracked reader app and it was redirecting so I uninstalled it and started using the browser instead.

  9. Hmmm…my phone has been broken for several days buy yeah it was driving me nuts. Thanks for the fix( I hope).

  10. IOS8, available later this month has a fix for this issue. Hopefully my new Ipad mini with retina display, virtually new, can use the new ios. I know that redirecting BS really pisses a person off something fierce. As far as my LG70 Droid that I’m using out here in the sticks, has not been a victim of that problem. However I certainly understand TTAGs need for advertising revenue.

  13. Uh, Ok, thanks Dan- sounds like a mobile browser issue- IOS?

    no problemo on a Verizon Samsung with Windows 8, with settings =
    Do Not Track – On
    Cookies – block all
    Smart Screen Filter – on
    Allow sites to store files- no

  14. THIS SAME THING happened to me 3 months ago when I attempted to download a new version of Drudge Report. It happened again a few days later on Apple iTunes!

  15. How about a DIRECT link for the mobile version!

    Since the “upgrade”, the auto-redirect to the mobile version for my phone has never worked forcing the full web version on to my phone.

    This version is painfull to use on a phone with the main page loading 4+ times before allowing a story link to be selected. The page will load more times if a redirect happens. And the same number of page reloads for each story.

    And the comment editing on Android hasn’t worked propetly since the upgrade either with no predictive text or auto-capitalization.

    It is only that I enjoy the TTAG site so much that I persist with these problems.

  17. Just got redirected on my iPad2 with iOS 7.1.2 and Safari.

    Interesting of note, WeaselZippers is having the same problem.

  23. Using mobile FF on Android wit Adblock. No redirects ever.

    Used to get them on my old iPhone if I used Safari. ICab Mobile with Adblock solved that.

    Sorry guys for viewing your site with adblock, but I simply NEVER click on ads, so I sure as hell am not going to bother wasting bandwidth on them.

    Get a new ad service.

  25. I’ll join the chorus: it also just happened to me while reading this very article on my ipad. I appreciate that you’re trying to fix it at least.

  27. These ads have been nothing but a pain in the ass.

    I can’t recommend this site unless the person has adblock on chrome.

    Seriously, it rivals porn sites in the amount of ads and redirects. Whenever I click on a ttag article, adblock blocks over 10 ads.

    I get you need ad revenue. But it is getting ridiculous.

  28. never happened here. samsung gs3 in chrome browser. all of this ios stuff makes me glad i didnt go with apple. that and the dedicated back button and expandable memory.

    • +1, I actually stopped visiting ttag for a bit. This is coming from a guy who clicked on TTAG car adds last year while new car shopping to help support TTAG.

  31. Are all of you iOS users using safari? Cause safari is terrible. I use Dolphin, it’s free ( I don’t work for them ) and I never get redirected. I always keep it in private browsing mode and that may have something to do with it. I used to use Opera, also free, and never had a problem. Just waiting for StartPage to release a browser……

    • Yes, iOS using safari on my iPad, redirected every few minutes. On my laptop, using windows 8 and explorer… No issues whatsoever.

      Edit: also, safari crashes while loading the page, 4 out of 5 times. I have to thumb wrestle my wife for the laptop if I want to read anything on ttag

  33. The one major issue I have is with the fucking auto play ads. They piss me off to no end since I am typically listening to music in the background on my computer and they just start playing. It’s even worst if the page is not the tap your actively viewing because the sound just a constant split seconds of audio. Most of them don’t even give you an option to pause or mute the ad. It pisses me off to no end. I have never used any ad block programs in my life before because ads typically don’t bother me, but I am seriously considering one purely for this site alone because of it suddenly playing audio so often. Hell I wouldn’t care if the stupid video played in the ad as long as there was no sound.

    • I keep the sound turned off, sure seems like more would like that solution! A couple times a week I find a reason to turn on the speakers for a few moments.

  34. Just happened while using safari on my iPad. “World of tanks” opened in the App Store.

    Change advertisers. The one you have now is lying to you.

  35. It’s never happened for me, but I never upgraded to iOS 7. I thought it looked dumb. So far I think I’ve made the right choice.

  37. It happens to me in google chrome on iOS7 (usually the redirects go to page cannot be displayed though thankfully).

    Safari seems to work ok though.

  40. Still happening and this is the ONLY site that does it.

    Really glad you are aware of it because it is reapply freakin’ annoying.

    Actually stopped coming here for a couple of days because of it.

    When the withdrawals became took bad, I came back.

    Still the same redirect to Google play.

    Androi

  41. This is ruining TTAG. I understand the need for ads but I’m constantly being redirected to Apple Store for Sims: Free Play.

    It’s happened 3 times before I could finish reading this article and comments.

    Running iOS 7.1.2 on ipad 3rd gen, Safari.

    Thanks guys. Appreciate your efforts to fix this.

  43. Electronic Arts The Sims FreePlay in the Apple Store. Safari iPad 5.1.1.

    I’ve had a problem with this site forcing safari to quit for a long time.

  45. I tried to post twice from my iPad but my posts disappeared when I hit the “Post Comment” button.

    Redirected to Apple store Electronic Arts The Sims FreePlay.

    Safari iPad 5.1.1

    Safari has frequently crashed on this site for a very long time.

    Posting from Android.

  46. Has never happened to me on either my I-pad or my Samsung s4. I was surprised to be blocked from access while traveling through Heathrow airport yesterday though.

  47. Getting worse: used to re-direct only once per session, now it happens multiple times. Divorce that ad partner!

  48. FYI it’s still happening. 6:50 am EST. Opera browser on Android. I was at the main page and got sent to Google play store just as I was scrolling down and passing the bat mobile article.

  50. I’m on a nexus 4 and I’m using chrome and I’ve never had this happen. But on chrome on my desktop I had it happen last time this issue came up.

  51. It really does sound like you need to ditch the ads. I’m on a desktop and they absolutely slaughter my performance. I block them. Otherwise I wouldn’t come here at all.

  52. this site can occasionally test your patience. i’ve had my browser hijacked twice by malware like snapdo and worse. un- installing is not the answer: do a system restore from a couple days before. and keep your fingers crossed. weird stuff happens on gunbroker too. it comes with the territory- gun haters plant secrets. once i tried to visit the keltec website and my blockers lit up like like a pinball game.
    don’t click on anything outside of the main content here.

  56. My IPad now seems to be infected with this malware as the aggressive pop ups are now happening on other sites as well.

  58. Also, while you’re fixing things, can you find the grammar error in this sentence: “Please use your real name instead of you company name or keyword spam.”

    Every time I see it, I think, “Oh, no need to comment on it. Surely many others will see it and it will be corrected soon. Not, apparently.

    • Unlikely he ever saw the grammar error (i’ve griped about it too) since he doesn’t know the definition of “passive construction” either

  59. Just got redirected to the Apple App Store while reading the latest Kroger story. (On an iPad, Dont remember which iOS) I’m going to clear my history & see if that has any effect.

  63. Cleared my history, powered the iPad down & back up. Went to today’s Kroger “quote of the day” article again to finish reading the comments & got redirected to the App Store again, for some Sims game. Around 9 a.m. Central time.

    Arghh!!!!!! Got redirected while typing this comment!!!!

  64. Everyone please also go to Apple.com/feedback/ipad.html and provide feedback – iOS should not be allowing automatic redirects to the App Store in the first place, even if someone is maliciously crafting an ad.

  65. ok, just switched to Atomic Web, another browser available in the App Store. No redirects so far. Don’t know if it is because DZ got the website fixed, or if Atomic Web doesn’t have the same problems as Safari and Chrome on iOS.

  66. I get a similar effect on desktop Windows 7(64) using Pale Moon browser with adblock. Something keeps trying to send me somewhere, the browser and adblock try to block it, and it freezes the browser until they finish fighting it out. I used to close the browser, but now I just go do something else for a few minutes while the battle is going on. Usually the site it working by then. If not, I shut down the browser [sometimes I have to use Windows task manager because the browser is totally unresponsive] and start over.

    In two words, very frustrating.

    Now if I could just convince my browser to carry, the attempted hijack might end more quickly.

  67. So far all is good, but the last few days have been really bad on my ipad. It was so bad I had to close out the tab and not come back for a few days. Hopefully it is fixed.

  69. This is why I use adblockers. It’s not because I want to deprive the staff/management/rapacious capitalist owners of TTAG a few pennies off my visit. It’s because ad networks are one of the prime vectors for malware — likely the prime vector for people who are reasonably smart about security otherwise.

    Self hosted ads aren’t (usually) blocked by adblockers.

  70. I hate ads, and adblock all my devices except my work computer. If you guys had affiliate links to places like Amazon, Brownells, and Midway USA, I’d certainly click through when making purchases to send you guys some ducats.

  71. I am sick and tired of my malware protection having to block attacks from your site TTAG. How many attacks have been missed? I am an avid visitor to TTAG. This is a great resource for the gun community. However I am loosing my patience with the operation of this site. With the redesign of the site my CPU now explodes with high usage every time I visit. That my be a sign that the site is doing bad things to my computer. If others are experiencing the same problems TTAG will be destroyed by their own ineptitude. TTAG please save yourself from the wrath of the gun community.

  72. You should get stop using Zedo’s ad network. Those guys are the sleaziest in a sleazy industry. I’m a Silicon Valley engineer and would never allow their garbage on one our sites.

    Beyond that, other commenters are correct. The security of your site is a joke. You should hire internet security consultants to assess your site’s vulnerabilities.

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