RANT (and to the MODS) -- pop up ads on this site

[bhlombardy]

Over the past couple of weeks, every time I come to the forums section here, one of the ads this site is serving throws up a FAKE "prove you arent a bot" page... which I am pretty certain is going to trigger some sort of malware to be installed if I actually click "accept".

Being an IT professional, I'm wise to these tactics... This is the only site I browse where this alert/problem exists. and as I say, being in IT, I'm pretty adept at keeping my PC squeaky clean.

I'm pretty certain this isnt intentionally being done by the site, which is why I'm convinced it's being trigged by one of the ads.

If I close the tab, and reload the forum tab, it's fine the second time around.



so A.) anyone reading this, PLEASE be careful and DONT click Accept on this fake Bot page.

B.) to any Mods reading this... you might want to look into it. It could spell doom for the users who aren't quite as savvy.


(if I think about it, I'll screen-shot the page and add it to this discussion)

[GoJays]

Oh good, I thought I was the only one. I don't even let the page load. As soon as I see the address bar change, I close the tab and try again. It always works properly on the second try

[pocketchange]

I've had the same issue a few times. As well, this morning, when I clicked on a link on the front page to get to the forum, the forum started loading, and then the link address changed to some "kinky" thing and I had to quickly close the page and clear history. Only happening with this site.

[couponlady]

I was going to ask Boo about this, thanks for bringing this up @bhlombardy

[bhlombardy]

So the re-directs have just gotten worse.... this is a screenshot I just received when I clicked the Forums tab...

(I redacted the telephone # so nobody actually calls it)

I PROMISE you, this is not a legit Microsoft page, nor message. It is ONLY coming from THIS site when I try and enter the Forums section.

[walkonby]

OH DEAR LORD!! That page ( Microsoft one ) came up yesterday morning and freaked me the hell out! The volume was so high and almost woke up my sleeping shift workers.
It did take me some time ( after I manually lowered the volume on the speakers ) to figure out wtf had happened. It was NOT from logging into Smart Canucks though, this happened when I clicked on one of the news feed stories that comes with Microsoft Edge on the bottom of my taskbar....so ???
I have no idea why this happened, but I never ever call a number suggested in emails, so I did the same with this.
Finally I figured out I just had to click on the x at the top of the screen to get rid of it.

[cath007]

@walkonby: I had that too happened to me..I was freaking out....I just close the computer....that it
It is one of the mainly reasons why I am not motivated to be online on sc too much lately..the lacking of maintenance,the pops up adds..that and the spammers...grrr

[mulock]

I've had the same thing happen....it's annoying. I know they are trying to cut down on the number of fake accounts and bots, but this prove-yourself method doesn't seem to be working. It says "click here to prove you are not a bot" and then does nothing.

[GoJays]

Still happening. Any ETA for a fix @couponlady ? I was fine when I signed on to the main page this time, but the pop up came when I clicked on the Rants button

[kenrod]

Yes, I have noticed this over the past while. I thought I was the only one, but it is comforting to know that it is a web site problem rather than a computer problem.

I really hope the moderators fix this.

[heartgirl99]

i found that when using duckduckgo as my search engine to get to this site i don't get the rude pop ups.

anyone else?

[bhlombardy]

ATTN: MODS

These dangerous pop-ups have returned.

Not exactly the same as previous screenshots, but ALWAYS the same place as before, when clicking on the FORUMS section.

I have to close my browser and restart to get past it. Then I'm good for another ~24 hours or so

I actually have added protections in place, so I dont see the screens, but I DO get blocked from entering with warnings that it's coming from an ad-space somewhere along the path.

As before, this is the ONLY site I have this issue, it's a regular occurrence, and ALWAYS with the same actions.

Tagging @couponlady as you seemed to be able to address this in the previous iteration.

[couponlady]

ATTN: MODS

These dangerous pop-ups have returned.

Not exactly the same as previous screenshots, but ALWAYS the same place as before, when clicking on the FORUMS section.

I have to close my browser and restart to get past it. Then I'm good for another ~24 hours or so

I actually have added protections in place, so I dont see the screens, but I DO get blocked from entering with warnings that it's coming from an ad-space somewhere along the path.

As before, this is the ONLY site I have this issue, it's a regular occurrence, and ALWAYS with the same actions.

Tagging @couponlady as you seemed to be able to address this in the previous iteration.

Yes, I have the same issue too. I will ask Boo Radley to look into it.