How do I stop Norton threatdefender.com spam webpages from loading while drudge report.com is being scrolled? It only happens on drudge except the first time which was after clicking a link to a news story. I don't recall the news story or its website. I immediately clear my cookies cache, shut down Safari and restart my MacBook when it happens. I use the latest updated Tahoe.
I understand you are encountering unwanted page redirects or some equally objectionable content. Start by reading Removing "Search Marquis" / "Search Baron" / etc on your own - Apple Community. Don't pay attention to the title; it refers to an early manifestation of the problem. What we need are the three screenshots it describes. All three please, and make sure their contents are readable, including complete file names. Those important requirements are described in those instructions.
I understand you are encountering unwanted page redirects or some equally objectionable content. Start by reading Removing "Search Marquis" / "Search Baron" / etc on your own - Apple Community. Don't pay attention to the title; it refers to an early manifestation of the problem. What we need are the three screenshots it describes. All three please, and make sure their contents are readable, including complete file names. Those important requirements are described in those instructions.
Thanks. Nothing wrong there, which rules out a number of potential causes. Next step, please download and run the EtreCheck app, and post its report in a reply to this Discussion.
How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community contains the instructions to follow.
It may not reveal anything of interest either, but it will advance troubleshooting.
One more thing, since I might not be able to reply for a little while, consider the possibility that website simply isn't functioning correctly at the moment. The reason for that suspicion is what I just encountered trying to load it:
I have no idea what it means, but something obviously isn't right and it's not something you or I can fix.
EtreCheckPro version: 6.8.13 (68087)
Report generated: 2026-01-24 11:47:21
Download EtreCheckPro from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime: 2:18
Performance: Excellent
Problem: Other problem
Description:
Norton spam webpage loads without consent but only when I am scrolling
drudge.
Major Issues: None
Minor Issues:
These issues do not need immediate attention but they may indicate future problems or opportunities for improvement.
No Time Machine backup - Time Machine backup not found.
Apps with heavy CPU usage - There have been numerous cases of apps with heavy CPU usage.
Kernel extensions present - This computer has kernel extensions that may not work in the future.
Sharing enabled - This computer has sharing services enabled that could be a security risk.
Hardware Information:
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Status: Supported
MacBook Air Model: MacBookAir10,1
2.40 GHz Apple M1 (m1) CPU: 8-core
8 GB RAM - Not upgradeable
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 425
Video Information:
Apple M1
Color LCD (built-in) 2880 x 1800
Drives:
disk0 - APPLE SSD AP0256Q 251.00 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
Internal Apple Fabric NVM Express
S.M.A.R.T. Details: 1% used, 11.22 TB written, 100% health, 31 unsafe shutdowns
disk0s1 [APFS Container] 524 MB
disk2 [APFS Virtual drive] 524 MB (Shared by 4 volumes)
disk2s1 - iSCPreboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (6 MB used)
disk2s2 - xART (APFS) (6 MB used)
disk2s3 - Hardware (APFS) (2 MB used)
disk2s4 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (20 KB used)
disk0s2 [APFS Container] 245.11 GB
disk3 [APFS Virtual drive] 245.11 GB (Shared by 6 volumes)
disk3s1 (APFS) [APFS Container] (12.26 GB used)
disk3s1s1 - Macintosh HD (APFS) [APFS Snapshot] (12.26 GB used)
disk3s2 - Preboot (APFS) [APFS Preboot] (8.26 GB used)
disk3s3 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (1.24 GB used)
disk3s4 - Update (APFS) (10 MB used)
disk3s5 - Data (APFS) [APFS Virtual drive] (137.03 GB used)
disk3s6 - VM (APFS) [APFS VM] (20 KB used)
disk0s3 [APFS Container] 5.37 GB
disk1 [APFS Virtual drive] 5.37 GB (Shared by 2 volumes)
disk1s1 - Recovery (APFS) [Recovery] (2.09 GB used)
disk1s2 - Update (APFS) (3 MB used)
Mounted Volumes:
disk2s1 - iSCPreboot [APFS Preboot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/iSCPreboot
Used: 6 MB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB
disk2s2 - xART
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/xarts
Used: 6 MB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB
disk2s3 - Hardware
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Hardware
Used: 2 MB
Shared values
Size: 524 MB
Free: 505 MB
disk3s1s1 - Macintosh HD [APFS Snapshot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /
Read-only: Yes
Used: 12.26 GB
Shared values
Size: 245.11 GB
Free: 86.17 GB
Available: 128.61 GB
disk3s2 - Preboot [APFS Preboot]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Preboot
Used: 8.26 GB
Shared values
Size: 245.11 GB
Free: 86.17 GB
disk3s4 - Update
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Update
Used: 10 MB
Shared values
Size: 245.11 GB
Free: 86.17 GB
I despise targeted ads.
Understandable. Suggestions, in no particular order.
If you use Google — for anything — don't. There isn't enough information in the EtreCheck report to determine if it is a factor in your particular case, but suffice it to say that Google exists for the sole purpose of harvesting your personal information, developing a digital representation of "you" and subsequently selling "you" as a packaged product to the highest bidder. The Internet is not free. Advertisements pay for it, and Google derives essentially all its revenue from them. They are absolute geniuses at what they do, and have achieved the equivalent of "agency capture" in that they successfully gaslighted the entire population of Earth including governments at all levels into thinking they need it. It's a lie. Google is the closest thing to a macOS virus there is or has ever been, if there were such a thing, which there isn't. People fear those nonexistent viruses yet they continue to insist upon infecting their Macs with the functional equivalent of one. It's quite astonishing on a psychological basis, disturbing even, but so are a lot of things we've seen in the past several years.
Google is like a cancer. Sometimes it cannot be avoided, but you don't have to feed it and encourage its growth. Just say "no" to Google. No Chrome, no Google Docs, no Google Mail, just NO. Enough said.
VPNs: Commercial "coffee shop" (not my terminology, but it fits) VPNs exist for many of the same reasons. To my knowledge none of them make claims that are explicitly untrue, but they are certainly guilty of alleging benefits that are dubious at best. If you value your privacy, and it seems that you do, don't use them. Read Don't use VPN services for a brief explanation.
I immediately clear my cookies cache
Clear Safari's History too: Clear your browsing history in Safari on Mac - Apple Support. You can clear the last hour or more, so experiment with what works best.
Another suggestion, possibly relevant: Stop unwanted Notifications - Apple Community
disk3s5 - Data [APFS Virtual drive]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/Data
Encrypted
FileVault Enabled
Used: 137.03 GB
Shared values
Size: 245.11 GB
Free: 86.17 GB
Available: 128.61 GB
disk3s6 - VM [APFS VM]
Filesystem: APFS
Mount point: /System/Volumes/VM
Used: 20 KB
Shared values
Size: 245.11 GB
Free: 86.17 GB
USB:
USB 3.1 Bus
<Empty>
USB 3.1 Bus
<Empty>
Network:
Interface en3: Ethernet Adapter (en3)
Interface en4: Ethernet Adapter (en4)
Interface bridge0: Thunderbolt Bridge
Interface en0: Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
Interface en5: iPhone
iCloud information is limited without Full Disk Access
Screen sharing: Enabled
Firewall:
Blocked apps: None
System Software:
macOS Tahoe 26.2 (25C56)
Installed 2026-01-10
Time since boot: About 6 hours
Security:
Gatekeeper: App Store and identified developers
System Integrity Protection: Enabled
Secure Boot: Full Security
Antivirus software: Apple
Screen sharing: Enabled
System Extensions:
[Running] ProtonVPN OpenVPN - version 4.3.0 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2024-09-02)
Application: /Applications/ProtonVPN.app - version 4.3.0 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2024-09-02)
[Running] ProtonVPN WireGuard - version 4.4.0 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2024-09-02)
Application: /Applications/ProtonVPN.app - version 4.4.0 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2024-09-02)
Your help is appreciated and I realize I didn't post the full report. I became wary of posting too much information regarding my MAC for fear it could be used for nefarious purposes. I'm already receiving targeted ads for virus et al protection that were never received before this question was posted. I despise targeted ads.
Thanks again. I'll just stay off Drudge.
Thanks for your response.
How to use the Add Text Feature When Posting Large Amounts of Text, i.e. an Etrecheck Report - Apple Community describes how to use this site's Additional Text feature.
Oh I completely understand. I'll have some more information for you later.
Stop Norton spam on Drudge in Safari on MacBook
