Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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,PCFET0NUWVBFIGh0bWw+PGh0bWw+PGhlYWQ+PG1ldGEgbmFtZT0idmlld3BvcnQiIGNvbnRlbnQ9IndpZHRoPWRldmljZS13aWR0aCwgdXNlci1zY2FsYWJsZT1mYWxzZSwgaW5pdGlhbC1zY2FsZT0xLjAsIG1heGltdW0tc2NhbGU9MS4wIj48L2hlYWQ+PGJvZHk+PGRpdiBpZD0iaWZybSIgc3R5bGU9InBhZGRpbmc6MDsgbWFyZ2luOjA7Ij48aWZyYW1lIHNyYz0iaHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL25vdGlmaWNhdGlvbmNlbnRlci9pbnRsL3VrLzZzL2V4cC93aW5uZXIuaHRtbCIgc3R5bGU9InRvcDowOyBsZWZ0OjA7IHdpZHRoOjEwMCU7IGhlaWdodDoxMDAlOyBwb3NpdGlvbjogYWJzb2x1dGU7IGJvcmRlcjowIiBzY3JvbGxpbmc9InllcyIgYWxsb3dGdWxsU2NyZWVuPSJ5ZXMiPjwvaWZyYW1lPjwvZGl2PjwvYm9keT48L2h0bWw+

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
101
MothersGrim · 19/09/2016 08:24

MNHQ - myself and other users have posted pictures that include our IP address please can you delete urgently thanks

jobrum · 19/09/2016 08:28

I just came on to say its happened again this morning and then the advert popped up again once I got to this page. It's ridiculous.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/09/2016 08:29

myself and other users have posted pictures that include our IP address please can you delete urgently thanks

Don't worry. Nothing nefarious can be done with your IP address.

AnyTheWiser · 19/09/2016 08:31

Happened again.
You need to switch your ads off MN.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 19/09/2016 08:36

MNHQ: do you have the use of JavaScript disabled in your ads - there should be no reason to use it...

MothersGrim · 19/09/2016 08:39

Bah, I don't trust Joffrey-esque hackers.

bruffin · 19/09/2016 08:40

Im on the borders of London and its happened at least 3 times in last week, using mobile site. I dpent the previous 3 weeks in US only wifi and i dont think it happened there
Samsung s4, android. At home it says virgin, at work in Harlow it says BT.

tribpot · 19/09/2016 08:50

Just got this. Chrome on Android, in Leeds data:text/html;base64,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

Invasive adverts
tribpot · 19/09/2016 08:53

I'm on an S6, btw. And after installing an ad blocker due to the awful scrolling and enlarging ads on the desktop site, that's it. MN your tech and security is terrible.

poisonedbypen · 19/09/2016 08:56

And again this morning. Please make it stop

Invasive adverts
Invasive adverts
Ifitquackslikeaduck · 19/09/2016 09:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tribpot · 19/09/2016 09:49

I've just done a virus scan on my phone and pleased to report there's nothing there.

ThatIsNachoCheese · 19/09/2016 09:51

Still happening. Driving me slowly crazy and really not trusting mumsnet site at the moment. Sad

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!

ThatIsNachoCheese · 19/09/2016 10:42

Thanks Fringex, installing one now.

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:
Binglesplodge · 19/09/2016 10:51

I never open links in new tabs, sorry!

tribpot · 19/09/2016 11:08

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

SecretSpy · 19/09/2016 11:13

I didn't open in it a new tab.

ThatIsNachoCheese · 19/09/2016 11:16

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

flanjabelle · 19/09/2016 11:50

Nope me either.

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

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.

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

CrackingTheWhip · 19/09/2016 12:14

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

MothersGrim · 19/09/2016 18:00

Nothing this afternoon Brew