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Original poster

Fake virus page taking over

143 replies

WingsofRain · 07/07/2025 08:56

Twice in the past twelve hours I’ve had a fake virus page appear and take over my screen while reading posts on Mumsnet. Each time it was on AIBU, but different posts.
The only way to get out of it is to close the tab.

It looks very much like a hijack or man-in-the-middle attack.

Fake virus page taking over
OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Cakewineorgin · 13/07/2025 23:45

Just had this too but quickly switched to pornographic photographs, full on vagina shots. Quickly closed down before searching directly for here. Sorry didn’t think to get other details. Off to change password.

ninjahamster · 13/07/2025 23:36

Again tonight,

MightyDandelionEsq · 13/07/2025 23:35

Tried to grab the URL but it now redirects to Walmart?

image attached from safari history

MightyDandelionEsq · 13/07/2025 23:32

Bumping this as same thing happened to me twice tonight.

SeththeSloth · 13/07/2025 23:13

I’ve just had a pop up from Vodafone take over the whole page- pic attached. I was on the teenagers forum, not in a thread.

Fake virus page taking over
Brendahollowayreconsider · 13/07/2025 19:40

3 time's yesterday.. closed page immediately.

SwedishEdith · 13/07/2025 18:49

Just had it again, have had it twice since I first posted yesterday.

Chemenger · 13/07/2025 12:41

Just happened again.

TimothyIsNotAnArmardillo · 12/07/2025 22:21

I was on the Rip Tide thread and had this page take over.
On a MacBook using safari

Fake virus page taking over
JulesJules · 12/07/2025 20:34

I've also had the fake MacAffee pop up, and MN has been incredibly slow to load, sometimes doesn't load at all.

Treesarenotforeating · 12/07/2025 20:16

I’ve just had that, looking on the ‘live aid’ thread
iPhone SE safari browser

JulySheWillFlyAndGiveNoWarningToHerFlight · 12/07/2025 18:23

And again.

My iPad has been very slow to load pages recently. I deleted most of my apps. but that didn’t help.

I did a complete factory restart, as if I were selling the tablet. When I next logged into Mumsnet things were back to normal.

However, when I looked at the ‘men in women’s toilets’ thread the fake Macafee page came up again. I instantly closed MN completely.

Now things are slow to load again.

Posted from my phone while my iPad goes to through the factory restart again.

GCAcademic · 12/07/2025 18:07

And again. Different URL this time: defendwarden.click

Minerrobin · 12/07/2025 17:33

It’s back again!

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 12/07/2025 13:50

GCAcademic · 10/07/2025 01:20

I had this twice today. URL was megadraws.click and telling me as a Google user that I had won an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy

This for me today, and then a porn site popped up when I tried to close it down. I've only just disabled my adblocker in the last week or so and I'm going to put it back on again and just take the annoyance when signing in to Mumsnet, because I do NOT want stuff like this appearing on my screen.

Helleofabore · 12/07/2025 13:43

Hollyhobbi · 12/07/2025 12:59

Are you in Ireland? I see it’s in Euro on the ad.

Show quote history

no. I am in the UK.

Hollyhobbi · 12/07/2025 12:59

Helleofabore · 07/07/2025 11:30

I just had this happen on my iMac too. But with a Vodaphone competition for Virgin mobile people. And then I copied the link and in doing so it put me through to a porn page.

I have reported your post @HebeMumsnet and copied the link that is in my history (well, the destination link because this is not the link as it appears in my history). I figured that readers did NOT want to accidentally click on that link being a scam link spoofed by a different URL.

This is the competition page screen shot below. I was on a FWR thread.

Are you in Ireland? I see it’s in Euro on the ad.

24Dogcuddler · 12/07/2025 12:55

It was defendwarden.click just looked in my history

24Dogcuddler · 12/07/2025 12:08

Just happened again just appears as if from nowhere. I don’t have McAffee on my phone.

Fake virus page taking over
Treeqp · 12/07/2025 11:47

Just had this now as well

SwedishEdith · 12/07/2025 11:14

Just had this now. On a thread about books that make you laugh out loud. I seemed to avoid seeing ads for quite a long time after they became obligatory but, Christ, they're annoying. Pages always have a delay loaded for the MN sponsored threads (no-one reads) to drop into the gaps.

MMAMPWGHAP · 11/07/2025 18:06

In the last couple of days I’ve taken Mumsnet out of my Content Blocker. Already I have this happening.
Ad Blocker will be going back on.