I'm getting auto open spam websites while using PokemonDB

Question

For the last few weeks, I been getting these spam websites that auto open when I try to use PokemonDB website. I would search something and within 30 seconds the ad will auto open and force me off PokemonDB website then take me to a sketchy/unsafe website. I don't use extensions or adblockers. This only happens on PokemonDB website... I don't want to install an adblocker just for PokemonDB and ruin your ad revenue for you, but I need a fix for this. Here's a video of it happening and it happens quite often. Youtube

Comments

There’s ads on db? Anyway I’m pretty sure the ads only get money if you specifically buy their product so if you have a ad blocker or simply ignore it they get the same end result. So if you’re ignoring them it’s the same as a ad blocker. (Can someone more skilled in tech/existingatafundamentallevel tell me if I’m wrong?) also since pm is dead the only real way to get rid of them is an ad blocker

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I think that this is a you problem, unfortunately; I think we would have heard about it if it was happening to anyone else. That makes me think it's a virus, but the fact that it only happens on this site is kind of odd.  Either way, I'd suggest getting an adblock extension. The per-person ad revenue isn't likely to be that high, anyway, so you shouldn't be cheating the webmaster out of much anyway... and it makes browsing the internet much more pleasant in general. It'd probably also be good to run some sort of antivirus scan, just to be sure. Unfortunately the webmaster is inactive, and getting his attention is generally difficult.

@Stoutland Fan ad revenue is obtained by allowing companies to run ads on your website. The concern is not with the companies running ads getting money, but rather with Pokemaster getting money from the ads he's running lol

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Yeah pm is already running them (assuming the ads aren’t a virus) so blocking ads will only “punish” the people displaying the ads, as you aren’t buying their product.

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@Hellfire Taco - I have already done a full system scan with windows defender, and it came back with zero virus. It only happens on PokemonDB website which makes me think it's one of his advertisers has an untrustworthy ad on the PokemonDB website. Everyone gets different ads since ads target a specific region or personalize ads.

I don't want to use adblockers and try to set it up to only remove ads on PokemonDB. I don't have a problem with regular ads... I have a problem with phishing website auto opening when I didn't click on them.

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If I'm not mistaken, sites that run ads are paid per view of the ad and not simple for allowing the ad to be on their website.

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Moo I would honestly just set up a ad blocker since you don’t have a virus

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I even took a step further and cleared all my browser cache & cookies and I still get those phishing websites that auto open themself when I'm on PokemonDB. Hopefully the owner of the site can double check their ads because one of them is malicious.

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Does this still happen if you use a different browser or a different device?

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1. What do you see inside edge://settings/content/notifications?
2. Does this happen on other browsers and devices?
3. If you right-click the page -> Inspect -> Network, you may see what initiates the redirect to the spam website. Can you get a video/screenshot of the spam website appearing while the Network tab is open? Make sure "Preserve log" is ticked and the video includes all the rows that appear.

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@Fizz Here a video of my Notification settings and When I had the network developer tools open the phishing website will never pop up, but If i have the developer tools closed the phishing website will pop up after like 5-10 searches on PokemonDB website. As soon as I open the developer tools the Phishing website quickly goes to google.com even though Bing is my default home page/search engine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GukuIUA5LEY
I don't have another browser installed or have an extra computer to test on.

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@Fizz @Hexahedron It also happens on my Samsung S24 ultra phone while using Microsoft edge browser with my phone turned landscaped with desktop mode turned on. Also on the same wifi network. So it's not a virus. That rules it out completely since on a different device.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwDDe6V_eZs

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Thanks for all the videos. I agree the issue is likely with ads on PokemonDB even though I've been unable to reproduce it. I'll see if I can get the admin's attention.
In the meantime, I suggest you get uBlock Origin. You aren't a charity, no need to put up with this.

Answer 1

I’ve just replied to your email but to repeat here - I’ve contacted my ad provider, hopefully they’ll be able to remove the dodgy ads soon.

I’m also trying to find out how it was able to happen at all, since the ads are supposed to be isolated and not able to do anything like that.

Comments

POKEMASTER SIGHTING OMG HES ALIVE

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HE ALIVE!!!!!! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH