Is anyone else finding that they occasionally get sent to a new, random window when they click on a link on the FWW website?
Perhaps every 10-20th time I click on a link or button I get a new tab opening on various sites, currently gaming sites I never visit. It’s very unpredictable.
It is of course possible as Taunton suggest that it is a problem with my computer, but it only ever happens on the FWW site, never on any other. I run decent anti virus software.
So, has anyone else here been noticing that, or am I all alone in this?
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You are not alone. It's usually a site selling something.
It's also happened to me a number of times on this site, mostly when I click a topic on this discussion forum.
You definitely are not alone - I've experienced this too. For me it's not been so much from the discussion forum, but from the FWW site in general.
Just now, trying to open this post I wound up on a celeb gossip site.
Happens frequently when opening images attached to forum posts and it is really annoying by the bye
Do you see ads?? If so, it could be an a specific ad(s) causing the redirect and since they rotate and are random... the redirection would look random to the user..
Only thing I can offer is to disable pop-ups and use an Ad-blocker. Doing both and not experiencing and unwanted exits off the information superhighway..
Never happens to me
I've had it happen a couple of times.
I’m a web designer and have noticed this happening as well. It’s spam and needs to be addressed by FineWoodworking
But who is "Fine Woodworking" now? We know the editor and the writers of articles, as well as Mr Strano who has a job title that indicates some sort of responsibility for the web-based content ..... but not for wider policies such as user redirects to other "services" of a suspect or intrusive (certainly spurious) nature.
The core service of woodworking information production & provision remains high quality. .......
Who decides underlying company policies, including the outsourcing of the website production (not content) inclusive of policies that: collect our data for selling-on; make the inept structuring of the "service" elements such as cranky subscription renewals; apparently promote spam or other lucrative (to FWW) abuse of it's customers on behalf of various predatory advertisers and those intent on selling damaging stuff such as gambling websites?
It's a growing trend with many on-line service offerings, in websites such as those efflorescing from printed magazines into a wider media; and many other kinds of website. It makes them more money. And it is abuse of their customers.
I know - we don't have to subscribe or come here. Some of us won't, no doubt.
Personally I would prefer it if FWW got a grip and stopped the rot. It's still a great magazine, including the extra web-based content. Why pollute it with spam et al just for a few dollars more if the stink is going to put many customers off?
Lataxe
It’s actually not “spam” in the typical way we think of spam, such as email spam. It is malicious pop-ups and every time it happens you should clear your browser history and cookies.
I can't imagine it's anything that FWW did intentionally. It would be beyond foolish, and they aren't fools. But it seems it might be a coding issue or vulnerability on their end, which they should fix.
I doubt there is a single company their size, or even quite a bit bigger, that does all of their coding and tech in house.
Hey all,
I need to start gathering more information on this problem so we can hunt it down. I doubt anybody uses the site more than I do, but if I'm not getting bad redirects on my particular platform, I don't know they exist.
A couple of months ago there was an issue tied to free video on mobile. Once I was able to duplicate it we were able to go after it.
So if you've had a bad ad like that, please let me know your operating system (mac, windows...) your browser (chrome, firefox, netscape...), and if possible what page you were on that triggered it. The holy grail for me is that information and a screenshot of the page... but beggars can't be choosers.
You can email me at [email protected].
Thanks everyone.
I’ve only seen this happen on my iOS (iPhone) device.
It's happened on my Android tablet, using Chrome. I can't give more details than that. If/when it happens again, I'll send you better info, such as what I clicked, and where it went.
As well on Android tablet/Chrome
Several Times! No pattern though.
Always when clicking on a link from https://www.finewoodworking.com/discussion-forum Never from any of the discussions.
Firefox and Linux Mint OS.
Never really paid any attention the ad, just hit back and it go the thread I had clicked on. I assumed it was on purpose.
You clicked on a link, and it took you somewhere you weren't supposed to go? Oddly enough, I may have had this happen as well and you just jogged my memory. I took it as a mis-click.
Yeah, that's what happens. Click a link and go elsewhere. Couldn't even say where, as I also hit back, and get out of it.
Clicked on one of the Thread Subject lines. Redirected to another web site. Not in a new window and I could hit back and go back to the index. So I assumed it was advertising on the site.
That is what I thought the first time, but it has been persistent. None since this post tho! I use Windows10 and Firefox. Always run paid full version of AV software.
Thanks for the thoughtful, helpful response, Ben. I’ve experienced it 2 or 3 times—on a PC running Win 10 Pro, Chrome browser, no apparent pattern, of course, given the small N. Until I stumbled upon this thread, I thought it might be the particular machine I was using, and so I did some cleaning, etc., and haven’t experienced it since. But...I’ve also changed work/device use patterns, so...anyway, if I come across something that looks potentially helpful, I’ll share.
Thanks for looking into this, Ben. It's happened, randomly, to me for at least a couple of years when using an Android phone.
Don't know if this will help, but I'm using Linux Mint OS, Firefox, AND Adblock Plus - and never get any random redirects on this forum, or from FWW. The attached image is a report for this site.
For what it's worth it's happened to me a number of times while clicking a link to one of the discussion forum pages. I was using either a MacBook Pro or an iMac.
Yeah. I’m this close to cancelling it all.
Has happened to me - probably 1 in 15-20 clicks
Ben, I clicked on Bilyo's photo in response #12 of the "cherry /
contrast" thread and wound up here:
htt*^ww.nike.c-----giberish*
*edit by Ben
Sorry for the link... nothing I can do to break it from here.
If you read section II D of the Taunton privacy policy,
https://www.taunton.com/privacy-policy/
you'll find a clue as to how and why these redirects operate. It's part of the web "service". It's not clear whether you can opt out but it may be possible ..... if you can get Taunton to respond; or even find who or what to contact in the first place.
Personally I use an advert blocker and a facility for identifying & blocking suspect websites.
I also use another facility to automatically clean out all cookies and scripts left lying about my PC by these "services" bar those I specifically allow. It operates whenever I close the browser; or if I manually call it up to do a clean.
Use of such facilities won't keep your doings private but they will prevent spurious garbage from constantly cropping up on your screen.
Lataxe
When I first started getting them the first thought was it's definitely not random...the above clue may further confirm that. That said it's still one of the worst examples of the practice in any business period, including Facebook. When I click on an image in a forum members post e.g. I want to see the picture - not go to a local Honda dealership's webpage. I think there may be some larger systemic problems at Taunton near the top. As alluded to - trying to get satisfactory answers/information through normal c.s. channels would be basically impossible. The c.s. unit performance of Taunton is one of the worst I've ever experienced if not the worst. If not for staff like Ben you would be basically lost. Sad.
Just happened to me so I searched out this thread.
I clicked on: https://www.finewoodworking.com/forum/how-does-a-jointer-allow-you-to-select-the-best-grain
It opened a new page and sent me to: https://www.boatoutfitters.com/coosa-composites-board#211=131&215=249?utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display
I just got redirected. I had just finished reading the last post in this thread (irony) - I went to the FineWoodworking menu at the very top of the page and selected MORE then selected FORUMS.
It sent me here: https://www.hbomax.com/
I hit my browser's BACK arrow and it returned me to the FineWoodworking website.
I was using my Kindle Fire 8HD with built-in Silk browser.
Note that when I use my desktop computer - an Apple iMac (OS 10.14.6) with the Chrome browser, I have never gotten a redirect.
Mike
Thanks for this info. It seems to be a moving target.
Happened again tonight. Clicked on link in forum to https://www.finewoodworking.com/forum/bevel-sled-construction-and-use-including-5-cut-method-to-calibrate-sled and got sent to https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news/events/world-health-day?ref=adtrue.com
This is like as not some DDOS software that is hijacking clicks from the Taunton server to attack other sites, though why WHO I have no idea. It is not impossible that it is trying to generate revenue too, though the link contains no overt referrer information.
Currently running Firefox 87.0 64 bit version on Windows 10 latest version build 19042.867 with experience pack 120.2212.551.0 Total AV as antivirus. 06.45 GMT
Never happens to me while on my macbook running high sierra 10.13.6 and firefox browser. I do use AdBlock Plus though and it seems to stop a lot of junk.
Talk about ironic... I just clicked on THIS THREAD and wound up here:
https://m.facebook.com/campaign/landing.php?campaign_id=6444865191&extra_1=c%7Cc%7C376933963827%7C%7C%7Cfinewoodworking.com&placement=finewoodworking.com&creative=376933963827&keyword&partner_id=googlesem&extra_2=campaignid%3D6444865191%26adgroupid%3D79628543969%26matchtype%3D%26network%3Dd%26source%3Dnotmobile%26search_or_content%3Dc%26device%3Dc%26devicemodel%3D%26adposition%3Dnone%26target%3D%26targetid%3Daud-803682743203%26loc_physical_ms%3D1022721%26loc_interest_ms%3D%26feeditemid%3D%26param1%3D%26param2%3D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0byYwLC37wIVla-zCh1xcQ2IEAEYASAAEgIcYfD_BwE&soft=hjk
Browsing on a Samsung tablet
I don't see them either -OnePlus 8T phone and Firefox mobile for the browser, laptop and desktop both running Ubuntu.
Here what AdBlock Origin blocked on this page if that's helpful...
I have been getting them more and more and I now convinced that is Advertising supporting this site. Not something nefarious.
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