This article shows you how to prevent an unwanted page containing unsolicited advertisements or content from being displayed when you click on a link within a website instead of the one you are actually expecting. You can perform the procedure described in the article using the desktop versions of Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the mobile device versions of the browsers indicated. It should be noted that the proposed solution increases the ability of the internet browser in use to identify and block false links, but unfortunately it does not guarantee a 100% success rate.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Google Chrome
Step 1. Start Google Chrome by clicking on the icon
It is a red, green and yellow colored circle with a small blue sphere in the center.
Step 2. Update Google Chrome
Access the main program menu by pressing the "⋮" button in the upper right corner of the window, choose the item Guide, then select the option Information about Google Chrome to check for new browser versions. If an update is available, it will be installed automatically and at the end of the procedure you will be asked to restart Google Chrome.
With Chrome at version 65, the redirect of any type of page is automatically blocked in your Chrome browser; unless you turned it off on purpose, it's probably on.
Step 3. Access the Google main menu by clicking on the ⋮ icon
It is located in the upper right corner of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Choose the Settings option
It is one of the items displayed at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 5. Scroll to the bottom of the "Settings" page to locate and select the Advanced ▼ item
It is the last visible item in the menu.
Step 6. Locate the "Privacy and Security" section
It is the first group of options that will be displayed after pressing the button Advanced.
Step 7. Activate the gray slider
placed next to "Protect yourself and your device from dangerous sites".
It will turn blue
to indicate that the anti-malware functionality integrated in Google Chrome is active.
If the indicated cursor is already blue, it means that redirects to unsolicited web pages are already automatically blocked by Chrome
Step 8. Use an extension
If Chrome's functionality for filtering unsolicited redirects is on, but you continue to experience this type of problem while browsing the web, you can use the "Skip Redirect" extension. To install it inside Chrome follow these instructions:
- Access the Chrome Web Store page for the Skip Redirect extension;
- Push the button + Add;
- When prompted, press Add extension.
Step 9. Restart Google Chrome
At the end of the installation, restart the browser. The extension should now be up and running. Skip Redirect is able to ignore most malicious redirects and display only the web pages actually requested.
If the redirect causes an advertisement to be displayed within the current browser tab, while the content actually requested is shown in a new tab, the Skip Redirect extension ensures that the latter is displayed in the foreground while the first tab will remain dimmed
Method 2 of 5: Firefox
Step 1. Launch Firefox
It features a blue globe icon wrapped in an orange fox.
Step 2. Click on the ☰ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the browser window. A new drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on Options
It is visible within the pop-up menu that appeared.
If you are using a Mac, you will need to select the item Preferences.
Step 4. Go to the Privacy and Security tab
It is visible within the left sidebar of the "Options" page. If you are using a Mac, the indicated item will be placed at the top of the screen.
Step 5. Scroll down to the "Permissions" section
If you are using a Mac, you can skip this step.
Step 6. Select the "Block pop-up windows" checkbox
This will prevent Firefox from displaying unsolicited pop-up windows generated by malicious redirects.
If the indicated check button is already selected, skip this step
Step 7. Locate the "Security" section of the menu
If you are using a Mac, skip this step.
Step 8. Select the "Block risky and deceptive content" checkbox
This Firefox feature filters and blocks potentially harmful redirects. Unfortunately, even in this case not all redirects will be able to be avoided.
If the indicated check button is already selected, skip this step
Step 9. Use an extension
If after having activated all the security measures offered by Firefox you continue to have this type of problem, you can use the "Skip Redirect" extension to limit its incidence. To install it on Firefox follow these instructions:
- Access the Firefox store page for the Skip Redirect extension;
- Push the button + Add to Firefox;
- When prompted, select the item Install.
- At the end of the installation press the button Restart now.
Step 10. Use the "Skip Redirect" extension
After Firefox has restarted, the extension should be up and running. Skip Redirect is able to ignore most malicious redirects and display only the web pages actually requested.
If the redirect causes an advertisement to be displayed within the current browser tab, while the actual requested content is shown in a new one, the Skip Redirect extension ensures that the latter is displayed in the foreground while the first tab will remain obscured
Method 3 of 5: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Launch Microsoft Edge
It features a blue "and" icon.
Step 2. Access the browser main menu by pressing the ⋯ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the program window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Choose the Settings option
It is one of the last items on the menu that appeared from the top. The "Settings" menu will appear within a pop-up docked on the right side of the page.
Step 4. Scroll through the appeared list to locate and press the View Advanced Settings button
It is the last item on the menu.
Step 5. Scroll to the bottom of the "Advanced Settings" window
Here you will find the option to protect your device from potentially harmful sites and content, including redirects to unsolicited web pages.
Step 6. Select the gray slider
"Protect your device from malicious sites and downloads with Windows Defender SmartScreen".
The indicated cursor will turn blue
indicating that Microsoft Edge antivirus protection is on.
- If the indicated cursor is already blue, simply skip this step.
- Unfortunately, Edge's antivirus feature can't block all malicious redirects but it can stop those potentially harmful to your system.
Step 7. Restart Microsoft Edge
At the end of the changes, restart the program to save the new configuration settings and make them effective.
Method 4 of 5: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
It features a light blue "e" icon surrounded by a yellow ring.
Step 2. Access the Internet Explorer configuration settings by clicking on the icon
It features a gear and is located in the upper right corner of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Choose the Internet Options item
It is located at the bottom of the pop-up menu that appeared. At this point the "Internet Options" system window will appear
Step 4. Go to the Advanced Settings tab
It is located in the upper right part of the "Internet Options" window.
Step 5. Scroll to the bottom of the list visible in the "Settings" box located in the center of the "Advanced Settings" tab
Step 6. Select the "Use SSL 3.0" checkbox
It is one of the last entries in the "Security" section of the list.
Step 7. Press the Apply button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Internet Options" window.
Step 8. Now press the OK button
It is visible in the lower part of the "Internet Options" window which will be closed.
Step 9. Restart Internet Explorer
At the end of the restart procedure, the browser will be able to block redirects to malicious and potentially harmful web pages for the system.
Method 5 of 5: Safari
Step 1. Launch Safari
It features a blue icon representing a compass. It is visible directly within the system dock.
Step 2. Enter the Safari menu
It's located in the upper left corner of the screen directly on the Mac menu bar. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Select the Preferences… option
It is one of the first items in the drop-down menu Safari.
Step 4. Go to the Security tab
It is located at the top of the "Preferences" window that appears.
Step 5. Select the "Warn when visiting fraudulent site" checkbox
It is visible at the top of the window in the "Fraudulent Sites" section.
If the indicated check button is already selected, skip this step
Step 6. Select the "Block pop-up windows" checkbox
It is located within the "Web Content" section visible under the "Fraudulent Sites" section.
Again, if the check button under consideration is already selected, skip this step
Step 7. Restart Safari
At the end of the reboot procedure the new settings will take effect and the program will be able to block most of the redirects to unsolicited web pages.
Advice
- The presence of Adware on your computer or installed in the browser can also be the cause of the problem. Try running a full computer scan with antivirus software and remove any extensions or add-ons from your internet browser to remove all possible causes of the problem.
- Most internet browsers, once the redirect attempt has been identified and blocked, offer the user the option to continue in case it is a legitimate redirect.
