META: Issues viewing site in Safari iOS browser
Hoping to uncover whether this has been a problem with other iOS users or if it's just me. Lately - and sporadically - when I visit MGoBlog on my phone, with Safari, I get instantly redirected to a doom loop of junk ads. This was happening after clearing my mobile browser AND attempting to view the site in private browsing mode.
Attached are two screen shots: the site immediately before the redirect (which is misaligned, but that's normal...unfortunately) and then the landing page post-redirect. The URL of the redirect changes every time.
This has rendered mgoblog unusable on mobile for me when it happens (maybe 1-2 times a week).
August 12th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
Yep, same for me.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:53 PM ^
Had similar issues in the past but nothing until this past week. Annoying af so I stop using the mobile access since the convos lately are a clear indication that we're still in off-season.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
Images via iPhone X:
August 12th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
Yeah, the auto YouTube is particularly annoying. I miss the HD app...
August 12th, 2019 at 3:56 PM ^
I had that same spam loop last night. I haven't had any problems today. Try closing out of the safari app and opening again or restarting your phone.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:17 PM ^
Congrats on your prize!
August 12th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
I haven't had any problems (iPhone 10X)
August 12th, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
Subtle flex
August 12th, 2019 at 3:51 PM ^
Same here. Really annoying. But guess it’s better than having a functional app. ??♂️
August 12th, 2019 at 7:46 PM ^
I still can’t believe they didn’t do an app in the first place and after all this time still haven’t rolled out at least a board app.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
Same for me, iPhone 7. Had this issue all weekend long. Today no issues.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
Seconded. Exact same phone and timeframe. Tried it on Chrome yesterday and it seemed to avoid the problem.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:31 PM ^
My suggestion as well...use a different browser.
I’m using DuckDuckGo, works fine and so far minimal interupting ads that I had with Google and iOS/Safari
August 12th, 2019 at 6:55 PM ^
Same phone. Happened to me all weekend until I did the long overdue software update. No issues since, but could just be the reboot that helped.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
IIRC, This is an Apple/Safari problem.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^
Sweet. At least nobody uses Apple/Safari, so this shouldn't be a big deal.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:54 PM ^
It's not, it's a JavaScript redirect that can impact any browser/platform, including desktop sites. You can eliminate it by disabling JavaScript in your browser, but that may render the website you're attempting to view unusable, depending on how much it relies on JavaScript.
The problem is almost definitely with an advertisement. A good ad blocker would be able to mostly eliminate the problem, but that would impact the mgoblog revenue model.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:59 PM ^
I've only had this problem when using Safari and Apple on my iPad. I've never encountered it when using windows or Android. Not to say it can't happen but it's been a 100% Apple/Safari issue.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
I do not doubt you've only seen the problem on Safari, however there are multiple potential explanations for that. Obviously if you have an ad blocker on one browser you would be far less likely to see the problem there. Alternatively, if the ad network serving the ads has different profiles on you for each of the different browsers/platforms you use, you'll see different ads depending on which browser/platform you're using. The malicious ad may only fit your profile on one of those browsers/platforms.
The gist of it is, don't blame your browser or mgoblog. Blame the ad network for not doing a better job of policing the ads they serve.
August 12th, 2019 at 8:21 PM ^
And that is why I really think Apple sucks because they know this and yet they haven't fixed it in Safari.
August 13th, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Like most problems when you look at them in detail, the solution is not that simple. If it was it would be solved.
JavaScript redirects are a legitimate part of most websites, so you can't simply prevent them all in the browser code. You can attempt to block "illegitimate" redirects, which I believe all modern browsers can at least optionally do, but depending on how aggressive the blocking is that risks either breaking some websites or missing some ads (or both).
But I get it, working to understand the nuance and details of a problem is hard, and it's much easier to simply say, "X sucks!"
August 12th, 2019 at 9:09 PM ^
It's absolutely astounding that someone as intelligent as Brian hasn't realized that one of the things he is not good at is developing a website. The fact that he's the one who is supposed to be doing all of the tweeks to the drupal settings instead of the people he paid to build this website is simply asinine. Combine that with his refusal to move away from shitty ads for income and you sometimes have to wonder how much longer this place can last in its current form.
August 12th, 2019 at 3:54 PM ^
Same here. On iOS, this site Rutger.
#huelstrong
August 12th, 2019 at 3:57 PM ^
Blah, blah, blah, Huel sucks, blah, blah, blah, but free Michigan content, blah, blah, blah, old site was better and I dont visit as much anymore, blah, blah, blah, but the free content, blah, blah, blah, Brian doesnt give two shits about the side board, blah, blah, blah, best Michigan sports blog, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Rinse, repeat, forever.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
you guys want to talk about Peppers being used as a running back?
/s
August 12th, 2019 at 4:46 PM ^
OK THAT'S IT I'M LEAVING. FAREWELL MGOBLOG - I JUST TRIED TO MAKE A SNARKY COMMENT AND ALL YOU GUYS ARE JUMPING ALL OVER ME FOR NO REASON SO I'M LEAVING THE BOARD FOR GOOD.
I MEAN IT.
FOR GOOD. I AM AS GOOD AS GONE.
DONT BOTHER ASKING ME TO COME BACK. I AM OTTA HERE.
LIKE THE WIND I AM GONE. BYE. GONE.
FAREWELL.
Oh wait. I'm suppose to start a thread here and not just bury my farewell magnum opus here in the comments? Damn it.
August 12th, 2019 at 7:30 PM ^
But was it Fun while it lasted?
August 12th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
Looking into it. Seems to be a new problem.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
It was a problem for awhile last year, and then it went away, and seems to have started up again a few days ago.
August 12th, 2019 at 6:55 PM ^
It’s happened to me on other sports site (my MLB fan site) also. I think the problem is a malicious advertisement that causes a redirect
August 12th, 2019 at 7:42 PM ^
It's somewhat hard to tell, as the ads often cover half the screen or more, but I don't think it's particularly new...certainly not in the last week. Maybe in the last three months?
August 12th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
i had this problem. i closed safari and then went to mgoblog, and the problem disappeared.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:24 PM ^
Unfortunately it's hit or miss. Sometimes I can close out once and come back without an issue. Sometimes it takes me five, six, seven, etc. times to finally get to the site without being redirected.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
Were you wearing your Block M Safari Bucket hat with lanyard as you were surfing?
August 12th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
I get the formatting issue but once I touch my screen, it adjusts back to normal. The spam was an issue for me a while ago that just started to pop up again within the last week.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:19 PM ^
As someone who builds large scale webservices for a living, I'm pretty confident that the mgoblog redesign was not executed well. Luckily the content is high quality and you can overlook most of the issues.
One day, I'm going to build an Android app mostly to show that's it's not hard and drives higher user engagement/ad revenue.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:34 PM ^
Where do I send my check?
August 12th, 2019 at 6:40 PM ^
This is mobile. We are strictly going Venmo
August 12th, 2019 at 7:33 PM ^
You’re the hero we need but don’t deserve.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:23 PM ^
This is happening to me too. If you try like a 4th time, it doesn't happen. I think the site has been hacked by Russians.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:25 PM ^
Time to send Hotel Putingrad to Bolivia?
August 12th, 2019 at 7:37 PM ^
I wouldn’t mind getting away for a bit.
Between pesky protestors and exploding nuclear sites, I could use some fun in the sun.
August 13th, 2019 at 8:02 AM ^
I just switched fron Safari to Geico and saved enough money to stay in a Holiday Inn last night....
August 13th, 2019 at 8:02 AM ^
I just switched fron Safari to Geico and saved enough money to stay in a Holiday Inn last night....
August 12th, 2019 at 4:26 PM ^
It stopped after I closed the safari in iOS and cleared the history.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:31 PM ^
Clear your internet history. You probably forgot to hit private the last time wifey was out of the house.
August 12th, 2019 at 4:43 PM ^
same
August 12th, 2019 at 5:15 PM ^
I visit the site on iOS and have no issues with Junk Ads.
August 12th, 2019 at 5:18 PM ^
Happened to me for the first time yesterday.