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Clicking on threads is automatically downloading files to my mac

92 replies

ZeroFuchsGiven · 14/07/2022 10:25

This has happened before a few years back.

It is randomly downloading files f.txt. followed by numbers, It is currently at number 34 so 34 files have downloaded so far.

OP posts:
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Signalbox · 23/07/2022 08:37

SpindleInTheWind · 21/07/2022 06:41

Is this just in the last few days again?

I first had it when MN re-platformed. Then it improved. Now it’s back again.

Seems to be do with the quantity of ad blocks given over to be populated by google ads etc.

I had a play about online and the only other website that replicates this is the execrable Daily Mirror website, that also carries too much ad space and ruins its functionality.

Within the last week. I thought my phone was on the way out and started looking at new phones!

LilyMumsnet · 22/07/2022 18:27

TerriblyNaice · 22/07/2022 18:02

And I'm still having my MacBook overheated because of Mumsnet 😡

We're looking into this now, thank you so much for the screenshot.

TerriblyNaice · 22/07/2022 18:02

And I'm still having my MacBook overheated because of Mumsnet 😡

Clicking on threads is automatically downloading files to my mac
ChiTorpedo · 22/07/2022 17:50

ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 13:39

So now this? Completely different to what was happening but again has just downloaded straight to my Mac from the MN talk home page! This actually looks a lot more worrying to me.

If you want to prevent instant downloads, go click on Safari (top left next to the apple logo) > preferences > websites > downloads > and then set the toggle to 'deny' for MN.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 14:46

It was advertising some sort of tracker.

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 14:40

I believe it was Vodafone.

OP posts:
LilyMumsnet · 21/07/2022 14:25

ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 13:39

So now this? Completely different to what was happening but again has just downloaded straight to my Mac from the MN talk home page! This actually looks a lot more worrying to me.

Can you talk us through the ads you saw on the page prior to this message?

LilyMumsnet · 21/07/2022 14:01

We're checking that out now, OP. We'll get back to you on that - thank you for the screenshot.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 13:41

And yes to Mumsnet making my computer overheat constantly, it doesnt happen on any other site.

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/07/2022 13:39

So now this? Completely different to what was happening but again has just downloaded straight to my Mac from the MN talk home page! This actually looks a lot more worrying to me.

Clicking on threads is automatically downloading files to my mac
OP posts:
BertieBotts · 21/07/2022 07:44

I've always had the phone getting hot thing on MN. (It's more easily noticeable when the weather is hot). I can identify the ads, but there's no point me reporting them because I'm in Germany and they are generally ads for German shops so the majority of users won't be seeing them and MN tend not to do anything unless multiple people complain, which is fair.

If adblocker causes issues with catch up, you can simply whitelist those pages and allow ads on them. I've always done this for sites I want to support anyway. I would definitely do that for MN, but I can't because the ads are so spammy.

SpindleInTheWind · 21/07/2022 06:41

Signalbox · 20/07/2022 22:03

I find MN makes my phone very hot in a way that browsing a website should not do, and I'm sure it's caused by rogue ads.

I've recently noticed that my phone keeps getting really hot. I was wondering what was causing it.

Is this just in the last few days again?

I first had it when MN re-platformed. Then it improved. Now it’s back again.

Seems to be do with the quantity of ad blocks given over to be populated by google ads etc.

I had a play about online and the only other website that replicates this is the execrable Daily Mirror website, that also carries too much ad space and ruins its functionality.

Signalbox · 20/07/2022 22:03

I find MN makes my phone very hot in a way that browsing a website should not do, and I'm sure it's caused by rogue ads.

I've recently noticed that my phone keeps getting really hot. I was wondering what was causing it.

Signalbox · 20/07/2022 22:01

TheHighStreetsAreDying · 20/07/2022 16:44

Genuinely not being goady @Signalbox - but I've used an adblocker for years and years (the main one I guess most people use as an extenstion with Chrome on a laptop?) and I'm not sure what problems you are implying it might be causing? If there's something I've missed (I'm not the most tech-savvy person in the world, tbf 🙁) then I'm happy to be enlightened.

I'm not that tech savvy either but my experience is that it causes problems with watching catch-up. Some websites seem to recognise you are running an adblocker and then block you from accessing content. It perhaps doesn't matter for most people but I don't have a TV and so my only way to watch anything is on my laptop.

BertieBotts · 20/07/2022 21:57

It's been this way ever since they swapped over to a third party ad provider, I really cannot understand why they persist in using it, as the ads it serves up are so mixed, some normal, but many dodgy ones, whether causing issues like this or a memory leak or downright spammy ads. I find MN makes my phone very hot in a way that browsing a website should not do, and I'm sure it's caused by rogue ads.

The only other sites that use this ad service are clickbait ones! It might be widely used but not on reputable sites.

For this reason I'll carry on using adblocker. I would happily whitelist MN if they drop adchoices. There are other sites that I whitelist because I want the site creators to get the benefit of the ad revenue. I don't mind ads, it's the dodgy ones I dislike.

Laughingravy · 20/07/2022 21:46

My main concern now is that from what Mumsnet have said they don't have much, if any, control over the adverts that appear on their site. If they did they'd have isolated the specific advert as soon as it was identified. As it is the actual advertiser had to withdraw it. I don't find that at all reassuring, though I expect most websites are tied into similar deals with a lack of control.

TheHighStreetsAreDying · 20/07/2022 16:44

Signalbox · 18/07/2022 09:40

Ad blockers cause other problems.

Genuinely not being goady @Signalbox - but I've used an adblocker for years and years (the main one I guess most people use as an extenstion with Chrome on a laptop?) and I'm not sure what problems you are implying it might be causing? If there's something I've missed (I'm not the most tech-savvy person in the world, tbf 🙁) then I'm happy to be enlightened.

HebeMumsnet · 20/07/2022 11:15

Morning, everyone. Thanks for all the information, screengrabs and videos. It's been a big help.

Some good news: we have spoken to the advertiser directly and now have confirmation they have paused all activity on Mumsnet so this should no longer be a problem. It's possible you may need to clear your cache so if you do spot this problem again, do try that first. Of course, if there are any further issues after that, please do let us know here but hopefully the issue is sorted now.

We also just wanted to clear up the issue about this happening on other sites too as it seems to have caused a bit of disbelief and concern. We had spoken to other sites, including an ad tech security company, about the same issue and how they were resolving it, so we knew it was occurring elsewhere. Obviously, if you didn't happen to have visited sites where this specific ad was appearing, you wouldn't have experienced the issue there. But we promise we weren't gaslighting anyone with this information, we just wanted to give you as much info as possible while we worked towards a fix.

Thanks again for your patience while we found a solution. Flowers

FictionalCharacter · 20/07/2022 02:38

hellsbells99 · 14/07/2022 10:51

I have a pop up keeps appearing asking if I want to download f.txt.js - is this part of the same problem?

I’m getting this too (ipad/Safari). Happening much more today and it’s causing the screen to freeze or sometimes stops me typing.
Please kill the offending ads!
I agree with a pp, I’d be ok with most of these ads if they were static and not full of videos, fly-ins and all that mess.

Maryberryswoodenspoon · 20/07/2022 00:15

Yes happening to me too for several days now and definitely only on MN

Rose789 · 20/07/2022 00:00

this is so annoying

Clicking on threads is automatically downloading files to my mac
Clicking on threads is automatically downloading files to my mac
SOWK · 19/07/2022 23:49

Happening again now - iphone using safari browser

iwantavuvezela · 19/07/2022 23:44

only happening to me on mumsnet - and still happening

Skinnermarink · 19/07/2022 23:15

It is specific to Mumsnet, don’t gaslight.

NoMichaelNo · 19/07/2022 22:36

Why is this taking so long to resolve? Just remove the advert.