I have a new iPad pro. I keep getting browser pop up from trafficshield.xyz
cleared history, rebooted, blocked popups forced restart. How do I get rid of this?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPad Pro, iPadOS 18
I blocked the site on my iPad by doing the following:
Settings
Screen Time
Content & Privacy Restrictions (turn it on, if it isn't On already)
App store, Media, Web & Games
Web Content
Limit Adult Websites
Add Website
Now type the following: trafficshield.xyz (then tap Done)
It doesn't stop the game from trying to access the website, but instead of opening the suspicious website you will get a message saying that the site is restricted.
I blocked the site on my iPad by doing the following:
Settings
Screen Time
Content & Privacy Restrictions (turn it on, if it isn't On already)
App store, Media, Web & Games
Web Content
Limit Adult Websites
Add Website
Now type the following: trafficshield.xyz (then tap Done)
It doesn't stop the game from trying to access the website, but instead of opening the suspicious website you will get a message saying that the site is restricted.
The only way I found to block it is via screen time. I chose the “adult sites” option.
These are simply ads provided by the app/game you are playing. Tapping the ad is going to open the page in Safari. That is how they work, it is not Malware and you can navigate away from the page if you wish. You have several options:
Word with Friends if the one that displays it frequently, but it can come from any game that uses the same ad network. In reality there are only about 4 or 5 Ad companies that developers use and they are common across many apps. The developer of the game is paid for the ads and Apple receives zero money from them. It is your choice if you want to continue and support the developer by using the app.
The issue seems to be related to the service some games use to serve up ads.
You can go into your browser and block the trafficshield.xyz url, but this is only a partial solution.
If you play the game, in my case it is "Tangle Color" with ads, at some point the ad server will attempt to open your browser to that url.
I solved the problem for my iPad, I deleted the app and sent them a 1 star rating. I can find another app like the offending one.
Good luck
Efrogqrp wrote:
I solved the problem for my iPad, I deleted the app and sent them a 1 star rating. I can find another app like the offending one.
That is the correct approach and in addition to the rating, I would also include a review. Developers are much more responsive when other potential users are aware of the issue. Of course, the developer would prefer you make an in-app purchase to remove the ads, but if that is not done, the developer relies on the Ad Network for their income. The ad will need to be removed from the Ad Network, but that will require the pressure from the developers to reject the ad to satisfy their users.
The problem with the Screen Time approach is that you are still redirected to Safari out of the app, even if that page does not open. This also just allows the developer to continue what they are doing without any pushback. That will only make the problem worse with additional ads where you see the same behavior.
I had this problem worked with Apple Support. Checked all my settings as per the url they sent, they were all correct. Clear the history, cache, and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support I use Safari browser. Deleted extensions and web site data too but it continued. I noticed WWF and Safari browser on iPhone, I did not have the problem. So I deleted WWF app on my iPad and reloaded it. Didn’t lose any games or contacts since it was still on my iPhone. That seemed to resolve the problem on my iPad.
There is nothing wrong with your device and you do not have Malware. It is an ad the comes from the game you are playing. Contact them and express your displeasure. Zynga has already acknowledged the issue with the ad and is working to resolve it for their games such as Word with Friends. As you can see in the other post, the user contacted Zynga and they gave them free 24 hour use without ads. There is nothing for Apple to respond to as it is solely with the app, not your device.
The screen shot you posted is from Words with Friends and it will also come from any other app that uses the same Ad network. There are only about 8-9 ad companies that all apps use to provide ads for their apps and many of the same ads are sold to those ad companies. The same ad has also been seen on Zen Color as well.
If you close Safari with that page on the screen and open Safari again, it will open to that same page. You need to navigate away from that page or close the tab to remove it. The ad is going to have to be removed from the ad network that is providing it and the best way to get that done is to complain to the developer of the game. They get paid to present that ad to you, but without you playing their game, they will not get paid, so they have an interest to resolve the problem.
The ad comes from the Zynga Ad network. They will have to resolve it themselves. Zynga is already aware of the ad causing the problem, they just have not fixed it yet. Continue to complain to the app developer that is using the Zynga Ad network where you are seeing it or quit playing the game. Your phone does not have any Malware, and the ad is the same as any other ad that attempts to scare you into believing there is a problem, so you download their software. Many well known companies use these same scare tactics such as Total AV, Nord VPN, Bit Defender, and Avast. Zynga is paid for that ad and the only thing that is more important than the money they get for it, is the users that would leave because they find it annoying.
brown7600 wrote:
I’m having the exact same problem while playing with words with friends. It is so irritating!! Has someone figured out how to resolve this issue? I’m new to this community forum and I don’t see a place where it has answers.
Have you seen the link provided from the Developer of Words with Friends (Zynga) that they are aware of the issue with their ad network and working to resolve the problem? There was also a user who contacted Zynga and they gave them ad free service for 24 hours.
The only solution is to quit using the app until it has been fixed by Zynga or their ad service provider. You can complain to them as well and they may also give you ad free game time. There have been suggestions to add that site on your Screen Time restrictions, but you are still redirected to Safari.
This worked for me!
I blocked the site on my iPad by doing the following:
Settings
Screen Time
Content & Privacy Restrictions (turn it on, if it isn't On already)
App store, Media, Web & Games
Web Content
Limit Adult Websites
Add Website
Now type the following: https://trafficshield.xyz
(then tap Done)
Here is how I removed Trafficshield.xyz from my ipad.
Blocked by doing the following:
Select: Settings
Screen Time
Content & Privacy Restrictions (Note: turn it on, if it isn't on already
App store, Media, Web & Games (I have an iPad 13, so I selected Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Control)
Web content
Select: Limit Adult Website
Under Never Allow: trafficshield.xyz make sure you put in the full https:// before their name
same annoying problem here! I tried blocking the trafficshield.xyz on my device as Debbie_Ann helpfully suggested, but that didn’t stop Words from jumping to a browser and still opening the ad site.
what might yet work is my complaint to Zynga via the Words With Friends app‘s help/customer service feature. Someone got back to me right away and gave me a free 24-hour reprieve from all ads while they work on fixing this especially intrusive one. If everyone complaining here also takes their complaint to Zynga, maybe we can banish trafficshield entirely
Just like the rest here, my mother likes Word Serenity has the same issue as the rest.
Open's up browser's, say's here iPad is infected will fix click button, same XYZ website, has Web pages
open in the background etc... Will try what Debbie Ann said and if she still has trouble I will delete app.
The problem with this popup is that you don’t have to touch anything. I’ve had the app open with my phone not even in my hand and the browser will try to open to that website. The App Store has a lot of recent reviews that mention this problem. Zynga’s is supposedly working on the problem.
How can I remove trafficshield.xyz from my iPad Pro?
