# iPhone being redirected to App Store **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 19, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142 "2014-06-19T13:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/1 "2014-06-19T13:22:07Z")
I apologize if this was mentioned before but I didn’t see it in another thread. Even with the recent ad problems I never had any problem on the iPhone or iPad. In fact while the problems were being dealt with I read exclusively on the phone with no problems. Ever since the reestablishment of ads I have been randomly knocked off the browser and sent to the App Store to specific (but changing) apps. This only happens when I am here and never on any other site. Never. I read the site just through the browser and I don’t use tapa. Is it just me? Is there a way to fix it? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/2 "2014-06-19T20:44:39Z")
Same happens to me. I use the Chrome browser pretty exclusively. My wife uses Safari, and has that happen to her on other websites. I’m curious to know the reason, and if there’s a cure. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/3 "2014-06-19T20:54:12Z")
From what I’ve read it’s the ads themselves. I don’t get ads here, but I had the same thing happen to me on the ICanHazCheezburger app one day. Apparently they (or in this case SDMB Admins) have to crack the whip on their advertisers to pull the redirectors. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/4 "2014-06-19T20:56:35Z")
I’ll call this to the attention of the Tech Gods and see what he says. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/5 "2014-06-19T21:55:23Z")
It’s happened to me a couple of times in the last few days, too. I’ll be browsing the forums on Safari and get pulled out of the browser and the App Store opens. I close out of it quickly so I don’t know what apps I’m being directed to. I’ll post if it happens again. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/6 "2014-06-19T22:16:38Z")
It’s apparently pretty widespread; Apple’s announced they’re going to modify iOS to make it impossible to redirect to the app store without input (not sure if that’s an iOS 8 feature or just an upcoming update) since it’s being so abused. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/7 "2014-06-19T23:47:23Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > It’s apparently pretty widespread; Apple’s announced they’re going to modify iOS to make it impossible to redirect to the app store without input (not sure if that’s an iOS 8 feature or just an upcoming update) since it’s being so abused. I confess to be a techno-phobe, so I don’t unnerstand most of this discussion. However: does this mean that it’s an Apple problem, and I don’t need to bother Jerry with it? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/8 "2014-06-20T00:31:54Z")
It’s not an Apple problem. I’ve done some Googling and it happens to Android users, too, who get redirected to Google Play. It seems there are some malicious vendors who are targeting mobile device users with redirects, but it’s proven almost impossible to track down. I still would bring this to the attention of Jerry and/or Ed. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/9 "2014-06-20T00:51:06Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > I confess to be a techno-phobe, so I don’t unnerstand most of this discussion. However: does this mean that it’s an Apple problem, and I don’t need to bother Jerry with it? It’s the ads taking advantage of a flaw in the iOS. Apple may be able to fix it with an update, but in the meantime blocking the advertisers who are redirecting is the immediate solution. The problem like **cochrane** says is identifying the offenders. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/10 "2014-06-20T04:58:31Z")
It’s a trend by unscrupulous ad companies. You know how some sites have a link “Get our app from the App Store”? The ads seem to be using JavaScript to simulate you clicking the link. Apple obviously didn’t foresee this feature used for spam. Usually seen on joke/humor/gossip sites. I first mentioned it here: > **[Mobile Browsers Popups To App Store](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=705335)** > > Just wondering if anyone’s experienced this, or has any comments. It seems a very annoying, possibly serious issue. A good discussion is at http://productforums.google.com/d/topic/chrome/EDJTbPaW5dg/discussion What happens is when browsing a site,... Kenm’s solution using another browser: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17374667&postcount=144](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17374667&postcount=144) epbrown01 has the problem here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17456612&postcount=19](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17456612&postcount=19) And this is a dedicated thread on the topic. But I don’t really think it’s the SD’s fault, more Apple’s. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/11 "2014-06-20T05:00:21Z")
Oh my current solution is to disable the iTunes Store. It happens in Android too, and there’s a more serious version - if you’re getting redirected to the store spontaneously, not when you’re browsing, you probably have malware. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/12 "2014-06-20T05:39:42Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > I confess to be a techno-phobe, so I don’t unnerstand most of this discussion. However: does this mean that it’s an Apple problem, and I don’t need to bother Jerry with it? The advertisers shouldn’t be doing it, so I think it’s worth mentioning. Eventually Apple and/or Android developers will probably come up with a way to fix the exploit, but who knows when that will be. I have also noticed this happening on my iPhone, just to throw in another data point. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/13 "2014-06-20T11:05:13Z")
Use this browser. > **[Browsers for every device | Opera Web Browsers | Opera](https://www.opera.com/browsers)** > > Free Opera browsers for computer, mobile, gaming, and data saving. Browse securely and privately on every device. They have overcome this diversion to App store problem. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/14 "2014-06-21T02:36:05Z")
Haven’t been having the App Store redirects on this site, but keep getting them on a couple of my local news station sites (usually to a [King.com](http://King.com) game). Thanks for the ideas for a workaround, **AaronX** , and for the heads up on Coast, **Indian**. ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/15 "2014-06-21T06:07:59Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > Haven’t been having the App Store redirects on this site, but keep getting them on a couple of my local news station sites (usually to a [King.com](http://King.com) game). Thanks for the ideas for a workaround, **AaronX** , and for the heads up on Coast, **Indian**. I had the same issue on my iPad with safari and some other browsers. Coast seems to be the only browser, so far, to overcome this. There are plenty of complaints in Apple forums about this, and may be Apple is already working on a solution. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/16 "2014-06-21T11:41:59Z")
Yes, it’s happening to me too. Only on my ipad. Only this site. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/17 "2014-06-21T12:25:45Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Yes, it’s happening to me too. Only on my ipad. Only this site. This happened to me as well. Just for fun I uninstalled and reinstalled Chrome a couple days ago and it hasn’t happened since. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/18 "2014-06-21T12:59:44Z")
I’m not using Chrome though. And installing and uninstalling software isn’t actually something I’m comfortable with, or usually successful at! At some point, all the work arounds, for searching, or tack ons like grease monkey scripts, or adblockers, tapatalk, whatever else, just amounts to too much maintenance for a site people are paying a membership fee to access. The software is over a decade old now, it seems about stretched to its limit, it’s been successfully hacked already, you can almost hear it creaking. I’ll add a ‘me too’ to these threads to confirm the OP’s observations but honestly can’t be arsed to report board performance issues anymore. I am impressed by those with the fortitude to keep pressing, as I’ve lost all motivation at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/19 "2014-06-21T13:13:23Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I’m not using Chrome though. And installing and uninstalling software isn’t actually something I’m comfortable with, or usually successful at! > > At some point, all the work arounds, for searching, or tack ons like grease monkey scripts, or adblockers, tapatalk, whatever else, just amounts to too much maintenance for a site people are paying a membership fee to access. The software is over a decade old now, it seems about stretched to its limit, it’s been successfully hacked already, you can almost hear it creaking. > > I’ll add a ‘me too’ to these threads to confirm the OP’s observations but honestly can’t be arsed to report board performance issues anymore. I am impressed by those with the fortitude to keep pressing, as I’ve lost all motivation at this point. I’m puzzled. First, this is not the SDMB’s problem. It’s a general weakness in certain browsers and multiple sites are reporting the issue. The browser people are gonna have fix this one. Two, how are you having the problem anyway? You’re a Charter Member and shouldn’t be seeing ANY ads, let alone the ones that redirect you. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2014, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142/20 "2014-06-21T13:40:24Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > I’m puzzled. First, this is not the SDMB’s problem. It’s a general weakness in certain browsers and multiple sites are reporting the issue. The browser people are gonna have fix this one. That’s only partially true. You could say the same thing about malware and say it’s a Windows problem that Microsoft has to fix. While that would certainly be nice, meanwhile it would also be nice if the ads didn’t propagate the malware in the first place. Same deal here. It would be nice if the ads the board carried didn’t auto-redirect you to a completely different app than the browser you were using to read the board. In fact, though the two problems are different, the solution is the same - serve ads from more reputable and secure sources with higher standards. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iphone-being-redirected-to-app-store/691142.md?page=2)