We occasionally get reports of ads that trigger antivirus warnings or infect computers that are browsing the wiki. This FAQ is an attempt to consolidate all the information about such things into one thread. Please read the below before reporting any incidents.
This thread may also be used to report ads that violate our policies in other ways, such as being too "adult" or NSFW, automatically playing audio/video, etc.
REPORTING: try to get a screenshot of the console as well as this will help identify where it's coming from.
REDIRECTS: Its very tricky to get the first URL of a redirect trigger because they are designed to hide where it came from. So you need a redirect plug-in
active while the redirect happens so you can find the first URL, not the last. Where you were directed to doesn't help track down the source.
- TV Tropes, as a site, does not contain malware. We are a text-and-image wiki; viruses and malware cannot be uploaded to or embedded in the articles. As always, however, beware of any external link that you don't recognize, since we cannot automatically screen edits or posts for malicious links.
- 99.99% of the time, any suspected malware will be related to the wiki advertising.
- TV Tropes does not directly control the ads that are displayed. We use third-party ad providers and we determine things like the size and placement.
- We instruct our providers not to serve ads that redirect your browser, take control of the screen from you, forcibly scroll your screen, play audio without being clicked on, install malware, "pop up" or "pop over" your screen, or in any other way interfere with your browsing experience.
- We have custom software designed to detect ads that do these things and automatically block them.
- Malicious entities are constantly trying to sneak ads through the providers' networks in violation of these instructions. As providers have little incentive to proactively detect and block them, it's up to websites to report these sorts of problems.
- We rely on our users to report ads that get through these measures.
- Just because you see a particular ad doesn't mean everyone else sees it. Ads are customized by the ad providers to your location (by IP address), the content of the page you're viewing, and your browsing profile, which is tracking data accumulated by third parties over the course of all your internet browsing.
- Just because you get a malware warning or infection that seems related to an ad on TV Tropes does not necessarily mean that it is caused by one of our ads. Pre-existing malware on your computer can intercept ads and replace them with malicious ones.
- Ads containing malware, obviously.
- Misbehaving ads, such as ones that load a pop-up or pop-under, redirect your browser to another page, hijack your screen or automatically scroll it.
- "Adult" or NSFW ads. Scantily clad women alone may or may not qualify, depending on context, but we want this site to be work-safe.
- Ads that automatically play audio — that is, the audio starts without you clicking on the ad first. Video ads are acceptable.
- Note: Political content is not grounds for rejecting an ad. However, an ad that contains or implies hate speech, disinformation, or outright falsehoods may be objectionable enough to be blocked.
- First and foremost, maintain current, updated antivirus software, and keep your operating system and browser up to date with all patches offered by the software vendors. This includes Adobe Flash, Java, and other rich media plug-ins. Turn on your software's automatic updates if they are not already on and act immediately when prompted to install them.
- Never click on pop-ups purporting to have detected a virus, offering to "tune up" your PC, or otherwise inducing you to click on a link that you were not expecting. Any genuine message of this nature would come from your antivirus software and not from a web page.
- Be careful clicking on external links. These are identified with a small icon next to them. Example: Google. TV Tropes does not endorse or control the content of external links and you open them at your own risk.
- Never respond to any email or web page that asks for personal or financial information, including passwords, unless you have verified its identity. No reputable company will ever ask you for your password(s), other than to log in.
- You may choose to opt out of having tracking information collected by ad providers. This does not stop malware but helps you maintain your online privacy. See here for additional information.
- TV Tropes requests that you do not use ad blocking software while visiting us, as this site depends on advertising revenue to operate. If you do run an ad blocker, please add tvtropes.org to its exception list, or consider donating to the site to have certain ads removed.
- We (or the ad provider) place a "Report advertisement" link next to most advertising frames. Clicking on this will generate an automatic report and is the best way to do so. If you cannot click on this link or do not see it, continue for more advice.
- Try to identify the source URL of the suspect ad (see below). You can also use the target URL (if you are redirected), but note that this may be intentionally obfuscated by the ad provider to hide the source.
- Identify the ad provider. Some ads have a small area that links to the ad provider's page (like Google or AOL). In other cases, you can tell from the referral URL or you can look it up in a search.
- Go to the ad provider's contact/abuse page and fill out their form. Below are some links to common providers' abuse pages:
- Scan your computer for viruses. If your antivirus software will not operate (many malicious programs attempt to disable your antivirus software), you can download a scanning tool on a known clean system and run it on your infected machine from a read-only CD-R or flash drive.
- If you suspect that you've been tricked into divulging personal information to a phishing attempt or other fraud, change your passwords to affected sites immediately and contact your bank, credit card companies, and the credit bureaus to request a fraud alert.
- Please note that TV Tropes cannot assist you with the specifics of maintaining your computer. That's your responsibility. You may request general help in the appropriate forums, but please don't post new threads in the forums dedicated to wiki operation (Wiki Talk, Frequently Asked Questions, etc.).
- Sometimes, the wiki administration can get better results from the ad providers in dealing with malicious ads. If you can identify a malicious ad by referral URL, you can post the link in this thread, but please omit the "http" component so it doesn't create a hyperlink that someone might click on inadvertently.
- For image ads, right-clicking (or a long tap on mobile devices) should give you the option to view and copy the URL that clicking on it will send you to.
- For Flash, Java, or HTML 5.0 ads, it may be difficult to identify the source or the URL by right-clicking. In these cases, you need to view the page source to identify the ad so we can report it.
- In Internet Explorer, you can right-click in a blank or text area of any web page, and choose View Source from the context menu. Firefox also has this option. In Chrome, you can use the Inspect Element menu option, which interactively highlights the portion of the page whose code you are hovering over. You can use this to identify the ad frame and its source URL.
- For embedded ads, there will be a "frame" element with a "src" parameter. Drill down until you get to the lowest level. All we need to identify the ad is the "src" URL from that frame.
for more information or to discuss the service.
Edited by kory on Nov 15th 2023 at 10:36:27 AM
now @ worldwidewoomy
Double post, sue me.
Anyway i got this one while browsing the Our avatars are in a room together thread:
flag edit: nonbinary flag but Luigi
I’ve gotten this same scam redirect repeatedly while trying to read the Adventure Zone articles, and again twice while trying to post about it on this forum lol
How sweet it is
Again, while on another tab...
...and once again, there was more to that URL.
she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
The Asker who Sees in Tropes
I’ve been getting the “congratulations” redirect as well. Gets annoying. Not sure if it does anything to your phone. Any ideas on how to block it?
Happy endings are possible. You just have to work to reach them.
Musician/Composer
I got the MacKeeper redirect link when I was browsing WesternAnimation.The Incredibles.: http://app1.letitbefaster.world/landings/99.6/?affid=mzb_312.873529.1523815293.28.mzb&utm_source=ksmd&utm_medium=cpi&utm_campaign=mk_ksmd_cpi_t1_996&utm_term=&utm_content=&userDefiner=mzb_3898&epayId=29&landId=2458&alert=13&trt=29_31981156&tid_ext=96663585-9cf8-45f8-88df-fa16c789b07a;wO4MLFLAQHO3I28D1LUE9V2B;eb9d9eb7dbb0&guid=0b7f3db3-0145-11e8-bcb3-02e10695cdfa&reqid=32bacad2ca7fcd86aa8d3388b449e3c9
The “congratulations.prize-url.xyz/your-personal-info” crap thingy is still coming back, and it also seems to collect website data in attempt to track your info. I hope you can trace down the company and beat the everloving crap out of these providers.
http://congratulations.prize-tribute.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Atlanta&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=1jiWWyzL-HU7i-IYQdExb8x5NF0fDuMZB4dmHk5mXyZQvJYPBz0gXo4O5I40UjfbQ8NcOoqZxWEvz3PpD_lZWpDGLnmgKDTW9YXT8QLWTcsshENR81kRMC06EPBexWQkz5FENqOOjQI_OJlhe0XekOORCHKeRFMrFZgerkQTyzLB_2VPZn4HldIZyPVmGk20hTcFOUAYw6JsBx7YLgbptoip5awa4X9S8NG6D2AkykwIxiZYsy2obtOFqKt_4ERkCs2aVT3eVfAbRuJEe0Wins-1099eua-3cY6CUllYNi0&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1523884415mb21884155324&n=10#
edited 16th Apr '18 11:53:02 AM by BF10
Still getting it on mobile (iOS), on pretty much any page other than the main page.
http://congratulations.prize-gratis.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Mount%20Sterling&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=akmFeSxpw8pcfwX03cpraR96fep1PNvMdAaehw0gAScYfgh1bpmMAdghJyll6bKd7DIpJ2ZQMHTtC84s22v8aw4W53pAkHnOQVFvo5WTlvXmdzLPbJnzn_xNIjNyQ5sgssOlSvZlEnY4Uu6eYh_fJ-N-nJozLu1kJ3AvJ5ToMd6myXrvSEpet5oybddIRMJsUMOM6P9_4hSBHgsECUyZgUt90Wv3fO4xg5bozb1aic77-v90UpYWRVLmoucpy1B2ouutvVKgNruBSYPIDVk2iOZloU4Vs5Q-2eNB_mRHdm0&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1523992139mb53585609633&n=10#
"It's just a show; I should really just relax"
Might be best to ban .xyz domains from ads, noting rhe urls are still the same.
http://congratulations.prize-gratis.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Atlanta&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=c5f0A4E4Uoid0LZeLfmT2uDwwW-CTSKjowPFMyFnkYQy02naFr3OQIEWGS8RrmMqnkPbTwIUq2a0OMnGCblPOmy1OJRi0zRn3DdrSajGIdl51zXoF7_-KNIq4SG77q7z56-dj_OIZDAXFAYIE0EdMaGiVjVgNcQEqETRTFKWqD2Cclopu6JMN7wt7uQWnowLZaEb2LXSFnKtKEmSZ_qX36CqyW_sB7qSdPI6fpsqsW1vXsWU2NJYJ2DYJtlY9MnLCh5X4q4WzwGU-HbEoTLf4G1LXV-OjZ-rN3NEmcXyYEI&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1524008090mb37848849453&n=10#
I'm only getting those ads over celular networks, not Wi-Fi.
"Can't say fork? That's bullshirt!"
This stupid ad keeps coming on cellular data making it impossible to use the website if this loads:
http://congratulations.prize-meet.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Atlanta&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=KbSYQ439mTx7izEZmUr4t0xkwxPHkXvUhm53sQ4ENGKoQHYtwOWeo9QB4DEiojBzmPSt7O526WlFf1yUlXsLVsfvFyJnCbORW5o7AwX1BsCv3LaAERlvq9t_o0cNIf7rfzKoOKlUx7f8-ee0ceFd5LGPMD2mRzbxycnC2HXpuWK60HjFVt6NB49KVMMMUUJrzGeHHd-07MLJdFhEpgjaX2LRU-_t_d4qt5TYYOO98pEbeKycyugAn4Bmhm9ijff6tpb_RmwP7-FJdoe1KuJA9FFj4MCGCkQ88uWz2qK2zp8&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1524155229mb57067138690&n=10#
The fact that you need to be punched into Wi-Fi to prevent it is seriously jank. Sometimes I just want to read some trope stuff when I’m on campus.
Count me in for the xyz ad as well. It's making this site nigh-unusable for me on cellular data.
How sweet it is
When on another tab, the TVT page I was on got redirected to trackonlinereward.com, which redirected to another page that thankfully was blocked by my antivirus.
edited 20th Apr '18 9:54:24 AM by Berrenta
she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Getting the same congratulations xyz ad everyone else is getting. It makes the site literally impossible to navigate. That’s not an exaggeration. I opened the same page link four times from four different locations and got the same redirect ad every time. It cannot be navigated away from without closing the page. It’s immensely disruptive and infuriating, especially so because it’s impossible to tell which page ad is sending me the redirect since it reloads so quickly. I really want something to be done about this.
Trope-tan is here! ➯ my pronouns are ze/hir
Another addition to the congratulations.prize-something.xyz series:
http://congratulations.prize-gratify.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Atlanta&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=vNbB4aYv-CPiCXWheWhf5AKbdBZRccwo-8B0KCY1liFR3d14lh1410hZZcOHh_KCimtLaseTikCEKPijbHV3y8lSdRpiyNku5ET_qG_2pZ7Cqvh8W7UngFNExqNJS9pjczCCAaGqeRMUEGfi0SC1scMk7sUnj_TSDPVeduEkHPhSLhOKQEJDwaX9iLdvjdX51w3ZjjvOvxc1yRTL35Gz2n59fQ6bVpxdsIaY203d65bj410Qk4zVQvdfMvFfYEZu4RNFor25-EbwoMIKOCrhDpWe4JYeY1iFcwQQOFSueW4&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1524489117mb28624874401&n=10#
This inmate decided to escape ad prison again:
http://congratulations.prize-gratify.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Atlanta&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=EN7WsA35sgsZDTjnscdANLwHfaXMAWf6Q3FhwKkTeLe3GSqlh9M5H6DYu4pyVD8MiQkAinvFWzMujzWSGKivkIh1qDi12lY9MM_WmsBZSbnf073PS7aFdnzUEfNWeLNfEWFzYxC-FWB75rJdGjeTfzUO4s9bJWxZHm_3VsBTN7HGj-Uin4QHx49gdv0GGJ_1DmNNYGJS88x-RQRnpoKYGX45Chm47hFCzkKQnWQMKWJnmJzi538Cz3pgEro_6hDaRvB1g8AVrLvU31uSGxRJ5Ecsb2D2mgp_IruxAiCkgrg&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1524607235mb23522914895&n=10#
How sweet it is
This one's got quite the package. Not only was it an auto-redirect, it plays sound and asks if I'm 18+, implying that it leads to adult content, though I haven't checked.
http://mmoframes.com/general/test/04/index.html?vid=00&sd=1&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=a-flSJdudIhhbreyZ0gb2IaNvX4hkJQPMDBZYFn3ajBe1YFZtQi67Qj4mw7knSqjjCmErhgusdwSLCx0gciWh_5ye_GvoNDjh3RoCrFsQtebXFEgefuZF_nyhgGQkEMNV5U7-k_KSnKLL4nSqCcG1eazc0lk5flPuhkY5NlOlxiuIZIArR6x7pGemLdSLKz5cdFgo1LwFQMofBzVitrf0_JzavAavvoeDOzDb0aUbDQp9GQV8kL10M-mqaU8-8MiP08vM9a9LGFvYyA9rsZ7tw&partner_id=1367&placement=1367-b3766a67&payout=1.8&subid=6548224898945257913
she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Musician/Composer
Got this when I was on my watchlist:
http://congratulations.prize-gratify.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Medina&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=ZDTxvHqL3Ej7RJokMG98F3bkPuGS9InrFvUbvBy093PmFGfjD5J_bw2uO_DN2TAXi3X5mpkLdefNPePWer-14k3PqOQTukXcTZ67E5X8N8RYLAjI1ywAVcFWZRKTHly7DXQxU0NN2hYnb2EvUE4nvRPTT5dZfOhDwX_YSeAbkPYSYDef7SDXRaCs-ay55-Hglg0faAaEzIoq3-i2uaZKyLv40j18uRpJ0NgLZeoAhuTSePClfG0mtVug41Jpf_iCJU0euds9c4GcNAs1PhLXgemrt2cuBGe-YeSd3c8tFzE&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1524714864mb56444426988&n=10#
He/His/Him. No matter who you are, always Be Yourself.
How sweet it is
Another desktop autoredirect
http://4nqzz.23ghd.ruodz.today/?sov=93073471&hid=gkoigoqmskookkww&&cntrl=00000&pid=11895&redid=38265&gsid=68&campaign_id=20&p_id=11895&id=XNSX.USA-r38265-t68&impid=21147eee-497a-11e8-9eb4-12c26be3c49e
she/her | TRS needs your help! | Contributor of Trope Report
Another scam. This time its worse, because it isn’t an .xyz one and it occurred on Wi-fi!
http://lambda-manager.dekopokits.com/?Flow=2115244519364141&uid=7aae9e2affad2ac060700b90cc9329b8&toke=-EE2i3S7j&pagecode=1524791260.8247&actken=dgzRyglHybFowhngGNSUFMigHlXY3NUi0sVs6smQBonMAhzN4fVAgcVVirH4DMy1zOShDo3MBXkzhiSXMhiNCrH5=s2ygflL3b4g1snYINhdFd3lCo4U3bwHxwlv3gjUBdUcJgjV3fU3wb14ybETP
Let's Hop to It!
As instructed, I'm reporting a problem with a malfunctioning API script. The problem is described in this thread here so I don't really need to go into details. The problem is causing people, including myself on computers at work, to see a message telling them that they need to disable their adblocker. However, the problem happens regardless of whether or not one is enabled, or even installed.
Lost in Space
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
This issue has occurred before, and we reported it then as well. I've notified the admins and they're investigating.
Chaotic Greedy
I don't remember, is TV Tropes supposed to support HTTPS? Because when I try to connect in HTTPS, Firefox protests that it gets the certificate from Proper...
"And as long as a sack of shit is not a good thing to be, chivalry will never die."
Lost in Space
Well, we are adding an https certificate in the next major update; I didn't know it was live already. Proper.io is the site's parent.
edited 29th Apr '18 1:53:51 PM by Fighteer
"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Blegh. Got this one when trying to write a forum post.. http://congratulations.prize-carryoff.xyz/click/71137138/index.html?syn=240&ver=27&cc=US&td=open.trustclick.pro&ep2=1&sr=1&model=iPhone&brand=Apple&city=Wetumpka&salt=JgDZ9gG&voluumdata=deprecated&eda=deprecated&cep=_y_9tuxd1W_9IhKQax6MxQjRG--Xc1XVF2PljAirXJSPoU8JdEobrRUeXCA96oQrH-gvgUiimY9Kk5KX_cMqrhFbiDMQ5OVO2qJnym2vAkiAkOaLCGmIR011VULcr3oLVnEI7nBbvb-CycsgpU_p5VhWpblh4XfjTZwdSUYVDdnLxlqIRtxhH4q9Unl16AnbG7hgVsRio6IRKQTlhZXZud6A8pAW1_a1gP2X81nYDu1BPwr63BFOMzqDVTyI_zdD72ZbFpNTMfUVZcLSreMIKT8Lh6L4RkfpaCdMwkhQbug&site=d10epv46tvtropes-org&clickid=1523635457mb20482103527&n=10#
flag edit: nonbinary flag but Luigi