Hexus forum url links redirecting via ad pages?

Have hexus changes the way url links work in forum posts? The used to go direct to the link address, but I've noticed a few times recently that clicking on url links in posts, be they mine or someone else's no longer goes directly to the address but now goes via some sort of tracking and advertising intermediary:

For example my post here: http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-news/3...ml#post3706315
http : //forums . hexus . net/hexus-news/362872-dell-updates-its-xps-13-laptop-kaby-lake-22hr-battery.html#post3706315

redirects to:

go .skimresources . com/?id=372X102514&site=forums.hexus.net&xcust=skimab_forum_hexus3&xs=1&isjs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell .com%2Fuk%2Fbusiness%2Fp%2Fxps-13-9360-laptop%2Fpd%3Fref%3DPD_Family&xguid=82341306ed8539f90f9995e17c93d8fd&xuuid=c712033de5300aac2890cb6a7 fc9a63e&xsessid=&xcreo=0&xed=0&sref=http%3A%2F%2Fforums . hexus . net%2Fhexus-news%2F362872-dell-updates-its-xps-13-laptop-kaby-lake-22hr-battery.html&pref=http%3A%2F%2Fforums . hexus . net%2Fsubscription.php&xtz=-60

which then goes to:

http : //adfarm . mediaplex . com/ad/ck/2397-220366-61684-5?mpre=http://www . dell . com/uk/business/p/xps-13-9360-laptop/pd?ref=PD_Family&awc=6986_1474024230_2d2ef99c629eb4c13c8f1de8499d7cb5

and then finally arrives at the intended website.

(* addresses have a few spaces added in to make them show the full text)

This is a bit frustrating as I've had a few browsers hang on the redirect and some links won't open at work at all when the direct link that the poster placed would work even with our work firewall filtering. Sadly right-clicking copy-link-location still gives the BS address, despite the hover-over pop-up text showing the intended page address, so I can't bypass it that way.

Adblocker software - and some of us don't get a choice if in a business environment - detecting the mediaplex adfarm seems to block the address and the subsequent redirect breaks down. The result is that the end user can't get access to the intended link - and with hexus curtailing long addresses there is no way to get there by other means (copy/paste or whatever)

Please can this tracking/adfarming, or whatever its purpose is, be turned off as it is negatively affecting the ability to view the sources posted by other people.

Your example link takes me straight away to the correct address with no redirect. Have you got some nasty malware running on your system?

are you sure about that? right click on the link and copy link location /shortcut (depending on your browser) and then paste it into notepad and see what it is.

:rolleyes: good luck with sorting your problem

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ik9000

are you sure about that? right click on the link and copy link location /shortcut (depending on your browser) and then paste it into notepad and see what it is.

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Links go direct for me, I've copy/pasted a few just to check. Looks like you may have caught something nasty...

Looks similar to something I've seen before where they go and set up a referral cookie with the vendor before showing you the article. Then if you like the article, and go through to buy one - someone gets a slice of your cash.

Or it could just be innocent analytics. Though the URLs involved suggest not.

I have noticed when browsing Hexus from home (with Adblocker enabled), some links get that double blue underline and are replaced with utterly non-useful adverts. Not happened on my work system, might be using different rules.

thanks chaps - something very wrong there. Cleared cache, that didn't work. Tried ie11 - no issues there. Uninstalled and reinstalled firefox. It's stopped it happening. Now I need to do some hunting. What's the best tool for this?

I have no involvement in the web side of HEXUS, and wouldn't necessarily know if this was something they're doing. But if it is, it's news to me.

Certainly copying the link (touch/hold, copy link in Android, paste in Notepad) pastes the direct link, not the redirect. Tested several, including the sample in your post.,

It suggests, as above, a 'nasty' nay have nabbed your browser and is redirdcting. I'm time-challenged now (rush to go out) but if you don't get anywhere with this, I'll raise it with the web guys in the event they haven't already seen your post. They can certainly tell you if it's anything at HEXUS' end, and may well know what's typicalky the lijely culprits if it's a browser hijack.

hmm. mine does too.
from the OP links. http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-news/3...ml#post3706315
this link works fine. no redirects.


the link in the post that that link goes to. http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xp...?ref=PD_Family


from the link that ik9000 posted:
Edge on win 10, while logged in to hexus. goes to that adfarm address and hangs
in chrome, not logged in, goes to dell address, no redirects.


from the link I posted, no redirects in edge or chrome *EDIT*- in the preview post box THAT IS... once the post is posted, it adds the redirect adfarm :(



recently run avira, mbam, cleared all cache, cookies and temp files in the past few days.
have to say. its only that one link ik9000 posted that i've noticed any redirects. its an odd problem for sure.:undecided



edit2: DDY post further down page: thats what I get too. except DDY explained it better :)

Thanks, interesting. I tried the other browsers not logged in. I've loaded 64-bit firefox and not logged in it's fine. Logged in it's not and still goes to adfarm.mediaplex

I suggest running MBAM then ADWCleaner then JRT (Junkware Removal Tool), reboot when asked to then continue with the next ones, save the logs, you might want to have them analysed/checked if problems continue or a new one surfaces.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ < link for JRT is in the right column as well.

Just noticed the adfarm.mediaplex is blocked by Easylist, usually default with uBlock Origin (and other ad blockers) and can be used as part of a 3rd party hosts file (MVPSHosts/hpHosts, etc.).

I agree that the link is direct to Dell, maybe run Malwarebytes or whatever its called, or just Spybot ? Sounds like a bit of malware rather than a virus. Have you got an adblocker running ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ik9000

thanks chaps - something very wrong there. Cleared cache, that didn't work. Tried ie11 - no issues there. Uninstalled and reinstalled firefox. It's stopped it happening. Now I need to do some hunting. What's the best tool for this?

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I had this a year ago is and it turned out to be a plugin I had in chrome that decided to go rogue and redirect traffic via an ad server to get a few pence in his pocket. The sad thing was no changelog popped up the guy just turned into a crook, no scanner picked it up and Kaspersky ended up adding it after a submission.

Following the link at:

Code:

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http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-news/362872-dell-updates-its-xps-13-laptop-kaby-lake-22hr-battery.html#post3706315

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IE 11 and FF 48 logged out of forum takes me to:

Code:

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http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xps-13-9360-laptop/pd?ref=PD_Family

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IE 11 logged in:

Code:

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http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=6986&id=78888&clickref=skim372X102514Xc39ab53372fc3358a05edd2473d1e437&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dell.com%2Fuk%2Fbusiness%2Fp%2Fxps-13-9360-laptop%2Fpd%3Fref%3DPD_Family

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FF 48 logged in:

Code:

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http://adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/2397-220366-61684-5?mpre=http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xps-13-9360-laptop/pd?ref=PD_Family&awc=6986_1474058761_630a5aa5f844518574144f2cae81fc39

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Both IE and FF running with no add-ons.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DDY

Following the link at:

Code:

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http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-news/362872-dell-updates-its-xps-13-laptop-kaby-lake-22hr-battery.html#post3706315

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FF 48 logged out of forum takes me to:

Code:

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http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xps-13-9360-laptop/pd?ref=PD_Family

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FF 48 logged in:

Code:

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http://adfarm.mediaplex.com/ad/ck/2397-220366-61684-5?mpre=http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xps-13-9360-laptop/pd?ref=PD_Family&awc=6986_1474058761_630a5aa5f844518574144f2cae81fc39

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Same behaviour observed here with Pale Moon 26.4.1 (with various add-ons, and also with add-ons disabled). Via adfarm.mediaplex when logged in, direct when logged out.

I still get to the end page regardless (although it took an extra couple of seconds to redirect for the adfarm.mediaplex link), but I have full control over my settings anyway.

Okay, it looks like it's something added server side that I don't see because of my uBlockO/hpHOSTS.