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Original poster

Invasive adverts

438 replies

cexuwaleozbu · 11/09/2016 11:24

Browsing mumsnet using the chrome browser on an android phone.

Opened a thread "www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2729635-Im-being-watched-WATCHED" on an "open in new tab" but the new tab opened with a spam advert page of the kind that tries to make you not navigate away. I presume this is an unintended hijack of some kind.

I copied the content of the navigation field in case it is of use to you but it seems to be gibberish.

data:text/html;base64,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

This seems to happen quite regularly - what kind of info will help you to stop it?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
101
SecretSpy · 24/09/2016 06:26

Just happened again. In the NW. Going from a different site straight to the active convos

notjustamum2 · 24/09/2016 06:22

Just happened to me.. I'm in the midlands

BoxofSnails · 24/09/2016 06:20

Me too. I'm in the NW.

NickMyLipple · 24/09/2016 06:01

I'm having pop ups again this morning! I am in west sussex.

Invasive adverts
CrackingTheWhip · 24/09/2016 00:28

Just had it again!

s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/latestnewsandspecials/mobile/index.html?sid=4#b

What I did find odd was that when I went back and confirmed that I wanted to go reload the page before, the second screen came up. I've not seen that one before.

Still using Amazon Fire phone, Silk browser, Thanet.

Invasive adverts
Invasive adverts
aaahhhBump · 23/09/2016 23:16

2310, Scotland, Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge.
Chrome browser.

MNHQ
LornaMumsnet · 21/09/2016 12:54

Thanks so much for your reply MrsBertMacklin.

We will be sending you a PM shortly.

MrsBertMacklin · 21/09/2016 12:25

Lorna, I'm going to be in SE1 tomorrow, but can't see where MNHQ is in your Contacts section?

MermaidofZennor · 21/09/2016 11:31

Glad it's sorted now and I can use my phone again :)

Why did you think it was a regional thing?

MNHQ
LornaMumsnet · 21/09/2016 10:29

Hello all Brew

So we seem to have sorted the latest issue... (huge thanks for all of your help). However, as this keeps happening we'd be really keen to see it.

It could potentially help us to stop this nuisance situation from happening again. We have tried (many times) to replicate the issue in the office, and we assure you that we are using all of our investigating skills, but still no joy.

Is there anyone who has had a pop-up who is London based and happy for us to come and have a look at their phone/laptop/tablet to see if we can figure out exactly what has happened and why? We'd really appreciate it, ideally a few individuals.

You could come to MNHQ or we could come to you. Please do either PM me or post below if you'd be happy to do this and we'll be in touch. Thanks in advance HUGE thanks in advance

marsybum · 19/09/2016 22:59

Haven't had it this afternoon or evening....

MNHQ
AngieMumsnet · 19/09/2016 19:00

Thanks for updating me mothersgrim

MothersGrim · 19/09/2016 18:00

Nothing this afternoon Brew

CrackingTheWhip · 19/09/2016 12:14

No, mine is just opening the link in the current tab and redirecting from there

FloatyFlo · 19/09/2016 12:06

Ooh I've had this seveal times over the past few days. Also on an android phone. I thought it was just me so glad I found this thread

MNHQ
AngieMumsnet · 19/09/2016 12:01

Hi All,

Please do not feel we are not taking this seriously, it is top priority right now.
As I have said in previous posts the fact that us or our partners cannot see the issue is making it that much harder to fix.
We are looking into Android specific set up right now and some changes were made around 5 mins ago, changes can take up to 30 mins to kick in so can I please request you post on this thread if you continue to see these popups after 12.30pm today.
Please be assured that running these ads is completely against our policies and are highly frustrating for us too.
Thanks so much for your patience and feedback so far.

flanjabelle · 19/09/2016 11:50

Nope me either.

Thanks pp for the tip re ad blocker, I'm going to install one now.

ThatIsNachoCheese · 19/09/2016 11:16

Nope. Me neither.
Haven't had it since installing the ad blocker though (fingers crossed!)

SecretSpy · 19/09/2016 11:13

I didn't open in it a new tab.

tribpot · 19/09/2016 11:08

Nope, was nothing to do with a new tab link for me.

Binglesplodge · 19/09/2016 10:51

I never open links in new tabs, sorry!

Original poster
cexuwaleozbu · 19/09/2016 10:46

Fringex I do think that mumsnet are taking this seriously!

Question for everyone: just an idea but Angiemumsnet said they had been trying to replicate the problem and couldn't. I think I've only ever seen this issue when I've done touch-and-hold to get a menu and selected "open link in new tab" - I wondered whether this was relevant if perhaps the invasive code is only triggered by the creation of a new tab rather than navigating by just clicking links in a single tab. Is anyone else able to back this up or refute it (eg if you have seen these ads and you never open links in a new tab then my idea is obviously disproved)

OP posts:
ThatIsNachoCheese · 19/09/2016 10:42

Thanks Fringex, installing one now.

Fringex · 19/09/2016 09:56

Has anyone had this problem while they are using an adblocker? If not, there's the answer. For Android, just search adblocker in the Play store: there are several reasonably good ones.

Sites like this are free because they get ad revenue, but there are limits to what users can be expected to put up with. If enough users start using adblockers to make a noticeable difference to MN's revenue, that's when they'll start taking the problem seriously.

I disable adblocking on sites that actually use ads reasonably (easy to do, while keeping ads on unfamiliar sites blocked). For MN, I plan to disable my phone's adblocker only after six months have passed without a thread like this!