Persistent German Adverts

[FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife]

Hi MNHQ

My adverts on the site have been coming through in German on and off for weeks now.

I had a run of adverts for German veterinary products, e.g. flea treatments, and now I'm getting kitchen appliances - just had an advert for a German dishwasher.

I don't browse any German websites - sadly I don't speak German well enough for that - and it's about 20 years since I last went to Germany so it isn't roaming cookies on my device or anything like that.

It doesn't matter enormously in the scheme of things, I'm just at a loss to know why it's happening and would like to understand what's causing it.

Yep, me too! I so glad that it's not just me @FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife
Are you also getting the Nintendo Switch2 ad covering 60% of the screen and header ads coming down too far?
I'm getting so irritated!

Yes, me three, and not just German, also Scandinavian. It will happen for a few days, then some days without non English ads, no apparent pattern.

Yes, the Nintendo one seems to stop all the links working until I refresh my screen, it's a nuisance.

Hi @FillerTrackOnTheAlbumOfLife ,
Sorry about this, and thanks for flagging it.
On the German (and Scandinavian) ads: many of the ads you see on Mumsnet are bought automatically in real time. Advertisers usually target by country, and that country is worked out from your internet connection rather than from your browsing. Sometimes a connection gets read as being abroad. This can happen with some mobile networks, VPNs, privacy features like iCloud Private Relay, or work networks. Once that happens, you can be shown ads meant for another country. That would also explain why it comes and goes.
Could you try clearing your cookies for Mumsnet, and turning off any VPN or private relay if you use one? Then let us know whether the ads carry on. If they do, it would really help to know:

• which device and browser you're using
• roughly when you saw the ad, and on which page
• a screenshot if you can grab one

Hi @Mothrasstillmoshing
Thanks for flagging the Nintendo Switch ad, and sorry it's been such a nuisance. An ad that covers most of the screen and stops links working until you refresh shouldn't be getting through, and we're looking into it now.
To help us track down exactly which ad it is, could you let us know:

• which device and browser you're using (e.g. iPhone/Safari, Android/Chrome, desktop)
• roughly when you saw it, and on which page or thread
• a screenshot, or a short screen recording if you can manage it

Hi @MaxSMumsnet Thanks for replying. I don't use a VPN or connect via mobile data - just bog standard home broadband from one of the main UK providers. I'm using Safari browser.

It's possible my mobile phone might have connected in the background on my work network at some point or when I had mobile data enabled - I don't actively browse MN at work or using mobile data, but I have the app on my phone and use it occasionally at home, and my phone connects automatically to my company wifi when I am in the office. I'm seeing the adverts on my laptop, though, not my phone.

I will try clearing the cache and get a screenshot if possible.

@MaxSMumsnet I can't screenshot as it's my work computer, but I'm getting the Nintendo Switch advert that stops links working, on Microsoft Edge on a desktop. Lots of times today and on multiple threads, too many to detail. Mostly those I've clicked on through the trending bar... when it works! I'm having to click back to avoid.

@MaxSMumsnet
I'm on desktop using Chrome and it's happening on every topic and virtually every thread. I have to leave the thread half read because everything freezes and I can only get out of it by clicking on the Active Threads tab and then, obviously, I lose what I was reading or writing. This is day 3 of this problem I think. I've not logged in since yesterday evening and this is still happening.
I do not use a VPN, I clear my cache every day but no, I can not provide you with a screen shot or photo.
Please could you sort this out as I'm on the point of deregistering again. The NS2 advert is operating like a giant pair of bloody curtains stuck on it's rail!

Yes, everything keeps freezing because there's so much junk loading. The only way is to come out entirely and then reload the site. What with this and the endless fake threads (some of which I'm convinced are from MN, looking for engagement), I'm pretty much ready to give up on MN.

@MaxSMumsnet
It just happened at 17.39 on Mum's friend took the piss thread 3 times from 17.38pm to 17.39pm. I'm refreshing and going back to what I was I was viewing and it happens every time now. I'm pee'd off so logging off and I will keep logging off until MN sorts it. Thanks

@MaxSMumsnet
Here we go again! 9.39am on Active threads and NS2 ad is covering with huge side banner ads and freezing my page. I have literally been logged in for 2 minutes. The header ad is blank but down too far.