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Original poster

Annoying pop ups

295 replies

NoWordForFluffy · 22/03/2019 09:24

I keep getting an annoying pop up which can't be closed and takes me away from the page I'm on when I 'close' it. Some dodgy, 'You have won' pop up.

I'm on the mobile site on my iPhone using Safari, iOS 12.1.2.

Can this please be sorted?

OP posts:
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17
Mememeplease · 26/03/2019 16:22

So what is the worst that they can get from us? Is our information compromised?

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 26/03/2019 15:23

I didn’t realise at first but I was getting this up until yesterday and it was every time I had a french weight watchers advert at the top of the page whenever that appeared I got one of those spam pop ups when I clicked on a thread or a picture.
It hasn’t happened today so fingers crossed it’s gone now.

AdaColeman · 26/03/2019 14:04

Tunnocks is right, the only way of getting out is to shut down the browser.
The advert has a "close" button but when you click that, it takes you further in to what looks like a BT website.

Interestingly, several posters have linked the problem to a French advert, I'm now getting a Spanish advert (for financial services!) so am apprehensive about another round of dodgy adverts.

I think it's worrying that the advert apparently has my IP address too, though I know that is changed.

whatashower · 26/03/2019 13:56

Thanks again @AnyaMumsnet

Tunnockswafer · 26/03/2019 12:48

You don’t have a choice about clicking with this though, it just redirects you and you can’t get out other than by closing the browser.

MNHQ
AnyaMumsnet · 26/03/2019 12:32

Hi there @whatashower,

We always recommend users do not click on anything suspicious and alert us immediately. We need to issue to happen on the live site so we can replicate it and kill it, otherwise we wouldn't be able to get to the bottom of it. We have now got a step by step document on what affected users can do to help us find the source, which we'll direct you to if the issue occurs again.

Obviously we can't be sure of every case for sure, but usually all these ads are trying to do is drive traffic to their websites, to enable them to make more money from ads.

We hope this explains a bit further, but let us know if you need anything else.

whatashower · 26/03/2019 11:55

Thank you @AnyaMumsnet

Do you know what the malicious code trying to achieve? Is it targetting the site databases or getting users to interact in order to download malware to their devices?

Perhaps a warning to users not to click on any elements of the rogue ads/pages would be helpful and what to do to 'escape' ......?

Appreciate the relevant people will be busy working on it but it sounds quite serious - a bit surprised MNHQ havent issued a statement or warnings, or taken the site offline to fix, tbh.

MNHQ
AnyaMumsnet · 26/03/2019 11:29

Hi there @whatashower,

Unfortunately, some fraudulent advertising buyers install malicious code and try to bypass the security systems of websites. They target users using random categories, and constantly change these categories which can make it very hard for security teams to find the source.

At Mumsnet we only work with reputable organisations, but in this case we are dealing with well-organised fraudsters, which makes it extremely hard to identify the root cause.

We appreciate all the information you send to us and we use it to help investigate and test out scenarios in an attempt to solve the problem. We are currently talking to Google's Trust and Safety teams to find out more and we'll continue to do our best to avoid these situations.

Let us know if you have any more questions about this and we'll try to answer.

chemenger · 25/03/2019 17:17

Just rated happening for me here in the US. It was a problem about a month ago. Refers to an internet provider, Verizon, that we do not use.

whatashower · 25/03/2019 14:13

It’s clear for me now Anya but I would still appreciate a proper explanation from the tech team this time.

MNHQ
AnyaMumsnet · 25/03/2019 13:28

Hi all,

Is anyone still having this issue? If so please post a screen shot when it happens - we need to see exactly what time you're seeing it, as we're tweaking quite a few things simultaneously to get it sorted as quickly as possible.

whatashower · 25/03/2019 12:13

It can’t be that difficult to identify - either your site links have been directly hijacked or your ad network has allowed in malware.

Claphands · 25/03/2019 10:33

👋🏻 It’s been a problem for a few weeks now, not consistency but this is an exact repeat-is our data safe?

MNHQ
AnyaMumsnet · 25/03/2019 10:23

Hi there all,

We're really sorry this is taking so long to sort out, thank you for your patience. We are still looking into it and trying to figure out exactly what the cause of it is. We've tried a few fixes so far but unfortunately it seems nothing has worked.

NewspP · 25/03/2019 10:22

Mine is resolved thanks Smile

GreyhoundzRool · 25/03/2019 09:35

No issues yesterday evening or this morning but justhadtwo in a row - and triuble posting too

GreyhoundzRool · 25/03/2019 09:34

Had no issues yesterday evening or this morning but just had two pop ups in a row , so its started again for me

IceRebel · 25/03/2019 07:55

but can it really be that hard to sort out if you are a tech?

I'm beginning to think I need to get a job as a MNHQ tech, it's got to be easier than my current job. This has been an issue since last Wednesday and yet they still haven't fixed it. Hmm

whatashower · 25/03/2019 07:46

@MNHQ please don’t fob us off this time.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 25/03/2019 06:15

There’s such a lack of information from Mnhq, it’s actually quite rude.

Claphands · 24/03/2019 22:40

It’s still happening, not as much as weeks ago but can it really be that hard to sort out if you are a tech?

nettie434 · 24/03/2019 22:35

Have had it since Friday when using ipad but not on my android phone or windows laptop. Have followed advice for ipad about closing safari and clearing cache but no luck. Not having the same problem on other sites.

wineoclockthanks · 24/03/2019 21:45

Only started for me tonight.
Please make it stop!

MashedSpud · 24/03/2019 21:33

It’s doing it again.....

MadSweeney · 24/03/2019 21:01

Back for me too

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