Random forwarding to porn on iPad?
July 15, 2012 2:12 AM Subscribe
Why am I getting forwarded to porn sites using Safari on my iPad 3?
Sometimes when I visit particular sites (the main culprits seem to be Salon.com and the Huffington Post) the page loads normally, but once the page loads it forwards me to a porn site. It happens rarely (once every 20 or so visits?) and it is not always to the same porn site. my hunch is that there's something embedded in an ad that is causing it, but that's just a hunch.
It also occurs when I'm using browsers in flipboard and zite, I think.
Sometimes when I visit particular sites (the main culprits seem to be Salon.com and the Huffington Post) the page loads normally, but once the page loads it forwards me to a porn site. It happens rarely (once every 20 or so visits?) and it is not always to the same porn site. my hunch is that there's something embedded in an ad that is causing it, but that's just a hunch.
It also occurs when I'm using browsers in flipboard and zite, I think.
It happens. Pointed one out to Vulture not too long ago, and have occasionally had to deal with them on client sites. And yes, it's usually an ad(though sometimes an actual site hack). It's infrequent because 1> Such things often check who's viewing so as not too trigger too often and make themselves obvious, and 2> It's also usually on the cheapo network ads that sites run as fallback if their real advertising has served enough views and run its course.
The best thing to do is notify the site so they can get their ad/tech crew(as necessary) checking on it.
posted by Su at 3:18 AM on July 15, 2012
The best thing to do is notify the site so they can get their ad/tech crew(as necessary) checking on it.
posted by Su at 3:18 AM on July 15, 2012
Yesterday when I was browsing on my iPad 3, the App Store kept opening itself and seemingly directing to a page for some Slots-style game. It's probably some kind of code within an advert.
I suspect somebody has found a way to make ads that trip-up iPads. Watch the usual iPad/Apple news sites for details over the coming days.
posted by humblepigeon at 4:20 AM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I suspect somebody has found a way to make ads that trip-up iPads. Watch the usual iPad/Apple news sites for details over the coming days.
posted by humblepigeon at 4:20 AM on July 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
I had something similar happen in Firefox when I tried to visit Salon on my MacBook. I know nothing about anything virus or software or what-have-you, so I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox and it hasn't happened since.
posted by scratch at 9:16 AM on July 15, 2012
posted by scratch at 9:16 AM on July 15, 2012
This absolutely should not be happening. I don't see it on my iPad, although I don't use the web heavily on it.
The usual answer for this kind of problem is "malware on your computer". But as far as we all know there's no iOS malware like this. I'm assuming you haven't jailbroken your iPad?
One possibility is your router or your home network. Can you try the iPad on someone else's WiFi (say, Starbucks) or, even better, via a cellular data connection?
The other possibility is Salon, Huffington Post, etc are infected with porn redirecting ads. It's unlikely but possible. It would be a fairly large story if that's the explanation and we can document it.
A third remote possibility is an HTTP proxy configured on the iPad. Here's some instructions for checking the proxy setting on your iPad. The HTTP Proxy should be set to "Off" in most cases. If it's "Manual" or "Auto" it'd help to know more about those settings and what kind of network you're on at home.
posted by Nelson at 10:48 AM on July 15, 2012
The usual answer for this kind of problem is "malware on your computer". But as far as we all know there's no iOS malware like this. I'm assuming you haven't jailbroken your iPad?
One possibility is your router or your home network. Can you try the iPad on someone else's WiFi (say, Starbucks) or, even better, via a cellular data connection?
The other possibility is Salon, Huffington Post, etc are infected with porn redirecting ads. It's unlikely but possible. It would be a fairly large story if that's the explanation and we can document it.
A third remote possibility is an HTTP proxy configured on the iPad. Here's some instructions for checking the proxy setting on your iPad. The HTTP Proxy should be set to "Off" in most cases. If it's "Manual" or "Auto" it'd help to know more about those settings and what kind of network you're on at home.
posted by Nelson at 10:48 AM on July 15, 2012
Response by poster: Nelson, it happens on several networks (also at work, which is mostly what concerns me), and I have no proxy configured (it is off). Also, it always seems to be the same sites, even though I visit other sites more frequently.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 11:30 AM on July 15, 2012
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 11:30 AM on July 15, 2012
Response by poster: Also, I have not jailbroken it.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 11:34 AM on July 15, 2012
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 11:34 AM on July 15, 2012
« Older Help me deal with negative patterns of thinking. | How does one prepare for martial law? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by muckster at 3:07 AM on July 15, 2012