Have we made our smartphones stupid?
September 12, 2013 6:25 AM Subscribe
My husband and I have recently started using smartphones. We have each installed the Twitter app, and it worked great for several days. This morning, any link we click diverts us to a site called Linkbucks. Has this happened to any of you, and do you know of any fixes? We do have the pre-loaded, free version of Lookout on our phones and it has not helped so far.
This problem only occurs with links clicked via Twitter. Links through other sites work fine at this point. Also, if it matters, we are have LG Optimus L9 phones. Any help is appreciated.
This problem only occurs with links clicked via Twitter. Links through other sites work fine at this point. Also, if it matters, we are have LG Optimus L9 phones. Any help is appreciated.
This could be something in your twitter account. Open a browser on your computer (not phone) and look for anything Linkbucks-related or otherwise unknown in the Apps section of your Twitter settings.
It sounds as though something has hijacked with the Link Shortening function in your Twitter app, but I'm not sure how, or where that's set.
Also head into Settings -> Apps, Display all, and look for anything that's Linkbucks related. Stop (if necessary) the app and uninstall it.
posted by Sunburnt at 7:03 AM on September 12, 2013
It sounds as though something has hijacked with the Link Shortening function in your Twitter app, but I'm not sure how, or where that's set.
Also head into Settings -> Apps, Display all, and look for anything that's Linkbucks related. Stop (if necessary) the app and uninstall it.
posted by Sunburnt at 7:03 AM on September 12, 2013
Do non-shortened URLs get redirected to Linkbucks, too? If not then the problem is with the links you're following, not your phone/browser/Twitter.
Linkbucks offers shortened URLs and pays referrers per-click. They make their money by showing ads to anyone that clicks the shortened links before sending you to your desired URL.
posted by mountmccabe at 7:05 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Linkbucks offers shortened URLs and pays referrers per-click. They make their money by showing ads to anyone that clicks the shortened links before sending you to your desired URL.
posted by mountmccabe at 7:05 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm thinking this has a lot to do with the source of the links you prefer to click. Does this happen with ALL Twitter-based links? Linkbucks is a link-monetization service. It's becoming big with Tumblr users, too.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:12 AM on September 12, 2013
posted by Thorzdad at 8:12 AM on September 12, 2013
There's a solution suggested here:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/305261-linkbucks-ad-fly-ruined-my-phone.html
"Close the google chrome app, go to settings and select Google Chrome. Force stop, then clear cache and clear data."
posted by Mo Nickels at 1:22 PM on September 12, 2013
http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one/305261-linkbucks-ad-fly-ruined-my-phone.html
"Close the google chrome app, go to settings and select Google Chrome. Force stop, then clear cache and clear data."
posted by Mo Nickels at 1:22 PM on September 12, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by oceanjesse at 6:47 AM on September 12, 2013