Q: iphone 5, redirects from safari links to app store

Hi I had a similar issue when reading other websites from Facebook links. Can Apple comment why is this being ignored ?

I am having the same issue in iPhone 5s, whenever I am browsing, doesn't matter what site, suddenly out of nowhere the AppStore app opens up with a random (Candy Crush Saga and similar) game. I have iOS 7.0.4 (not jailbroken)

Apple, there are several reports of this all over these forums - this is possibly some JavaScript on sites that are forcing the AppStore to open without user clicking a link. Please take a look!!! Thanks.

I'm having the exact same problem on an ipad 4 with ios 7. It is something in Safari. I have reset the device back to factory settings, but it didn't stop the problem (although it did stop for a few days). It certainly seems to be malware. Most times it coincided with pushing a link, but several times I noticed it happen without me doing anything. Also it happens when I'm on different websites.

Nothing being described here is malware. There is no known malware currently able to infect any iOS device, unless it has been jailbroken.

This issue is nothing more than a shady marketing practice, perpetrated by web sites that either have been haccked (in which case you should alert the site owner), or they are unethical and should not be visited anymore. These sites either have links that are redirecting through a chain to an App Store link, or they are opening App Store links without user interaction through JavaScript.

It's completely normal - and intended behavior - for opening such a link to open the App Store. The solution here is not to ask Apple to eliminate a feature that allows legitimate developers to point people to the right place to download their apps, but to avoid sites that abuse this feature.

Hi Thomas

Thanks for the breakdown, however I disagree this is intended behaviour.When an unscrupulous person takes such easy advantage of a loophope (edit feature) to get you redirected to their app then something is very wrong with this so called feature/behaviour. Surely you are not saying stop visiting all the sites a person likes to visit because of apple's lax security model of opening the app store to any **** thing that requests it! call them shady if you like but alot of not so shady sites are starting to do this now. Cant apple give you the option to disable this redirect? That surely would be the simple and customer friendly option!!

I read alot of news and joke sites through facebook and sure enough 9 out of 10 of them are now doing this... I can not tell you how irratating this 'feature' is, it jumps to the app store every 5 seconds.

A fix would be nice please.

Well said boltedenergy. Would certainly be nice if Apple can provide such a feature to disable links to AppStore.

When an unscrupulous person takes such easy advantage of a loophope (edit feature) to get you redirected to their app then something is very wrong with this so called feature/behaviour.

So, if a thief breaks a window to enter your house, does that mean that there is something wrong with a window as a feature? If a pickpocket picks your pocket, should you stop wearing pants with pockets?

The fact that URLs exist that can open the App Store is nothing new. There are URLs that will open your e-mail client, the Calendar app, an RSS feed reader, an FTP client or a mapping app, among many others. This is standard, expected behavior among many apps, across all platforms. See the numerous different types of URI scheme listed here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/URI_scheme

You need to stop visiting the sites that are redirecting you anywhere every five seconds. This is entirely the fault of the site, and nobody else.

Clearly these advertisers are taking advantage of Apple allowing websites the option for users to open and install apps at the top of the page.

I'm guessing they're using JavaScript to fool iOS into thinking the user has clicked open or install.

So for me this is a bug that needs to be fixed.

iI'm guessing they're using JavaScript to fool iOS into thinking the user has clicked open or install.

There is no way at all that a web site can cause an App Store app to actually be purchased and/or installed. It can direct you to an app's page in the App Store, but it is not possible for anyone other than the user to actually start the download.

Apologies, that is what I meant, but didn't explain myself very clearly.

For me though, this is still a bug / exploit. It's like the smartphone version of the popups you used to get in old web browsers.

If I want to open the App Store it should be my call, not some advertisers.

For me though, this is still a bug / exploit.

You're welcome to believe that if you like, but that doesn't make it so. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Apple to "fix" something that they don't consider a bug and that they themselves make use of (their own web site includes links to App Store apps that will open the App Store when clicked).

Do you want some vinegar to go with that massive chip on your shoulder?

My point is I don't mind having the choice to open the link myself, but when the link opens itself and switches applications without my approval, it's a bug.

You can re-define the meaning of the word "bug" in your mind if you want, but that does not mean the true definition has been changed for everyone else.

This is NOT a bug, and as such there is no bug for Apple to fix.

The advertisers are using perfectly legitimate programming, for purposes that you don't like. Complain to the advertisers.

My point is I don't mind having the choice to open the link myself, but when the link opens itself and switches applications without my approval, it's a bug.

If you consider that a bug, that's a bug in the very core implementation of JavaScript. It has been possible for JavaScript to redirect you to any URL it wants, without your approval, for a very long time. JavaScript is a basic web technology, and not something developed by Apple, thus it is not Apple's thing to fix, even if this is something you believe needs to be fixed.

Anything can and will be abused by the wrong people. Avoid those people (or, in this case, sites that abuse JavaScript this way) and you'll be fine.