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How do I get rid of 'game of war' pop-up from the app store?

I was browsing reddit, clicked on a link that directed me to imgur, and after a few seconds I was redirected to the app store where Game of War popped up. Now I can't navigate away from this app pop-up in the app-store, and I really don't want to download it. I've cleared my cache and cookies, but this makes no difference. I would delete the app store and reinstall, only that's not possible.


What can I do?

iPad 2, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 21, 2014 8:39 PM

Reply
18 replies

Feb 5, 2014 12:53 PM in response to 95bulls

Hi there 95bulls. I followed your advice and I am afraid to report that a pop up still appears when I visit tennisforum. What's more is that the pop up is not just for Game of War, but also for LOVOO which must be some kind of dating service!!


What is it about tennisforum that causes this? If it's not a virus, then would me visiting the website repeatedly in the future damage my iPad (obviously it's a pain in the backside, but that's not the point)


I thought that Apple products were immune to this kind of intrusion. Disappointed.

Feb 10, 2014 9:37 AM in response to Captain_Lemon

I complained to theguardian.com - they are now blocking it. I suggest you do the same.


Here's my original email:


Dear Guardian
Virtually every time I switch to a new page on the Guardian website, the banner ad is for an Apple game called "Game Of War". Without my doing *anything*, I then get taken to Apple's store to download this.
I'm sure this must be sailing pretty close to the spam laws in the UK and New Zealand. It's really ******* me off, and I and many others would appreciate it if you would stop this - and possibly do an investigation into what's going on in your technology pages!
(You many have already done this, but I know that if I look, I'll get the spam again…)
Kia ora
Laurie


Mar 13, 2014 9:14 AM in response to Captain_Lemon

I had same problem. It's the Guardian app itself and nothing to do with iphone settings. It's about whether you have the paid or unpaid Guardian app subsription.


If you have the free subscription, you'll get the pop up ads; if you have the paid subscription you won't get the ads.


I've had paid Guardian app for years and have never had pop up ads before. But yesterday I did an Iphone restore and then must have uploaded the free Guardian app by mistake instead of the paid subscription app.This resulted in pop ups on every page of the app, until I reinstated the paid subscription app - and that has got rid of the op ups.

Apr 10, 2014 12:12 AM in response to Captain_Lemon

hi… Just came across this post. Naturally, that's because I was looking for the same solution. Unfortunately, none of the things suggested here will work. That's because this is nothing to do with cookies or defective apps or the like.


It has to do with unscrupulous advertisers.


They are clearly inserting a script that auto directs you back to the App Store. Whether it is the app developers themselves into this… Or some agency that arranges for their banner advertising… I do not know. I have seen it attributed in many other places around the web.


I am inclined to believe that it is the developers themselves, since it happens to be only two or three specific apps that do this… The ones mentioned above and game of war and one other one, which I don't recall at the moment… Though that seems incredible, considering how many times I have had to look at their stupid pop-up.


I have also seen that Apple is trying to find a way to prevent this. And I am sure that the guardian and the Huffington Post and some of the others would try to prevent… At least I hope so. Any conspiracy theorist could imagine that they would be in collusion with this company, as it would increase sales. However, it reflects so badly on both of them that I have a hard time believing that accusation.


I continue to think that it must be the app developers.


And I think that it would be great if everybody found some way to make it absolutely clear to those developers that we will not stand for any longer. It is literally ruining the experience of using many news apps, the Safari browser, or visiting several online publications and websites. I encounter it most when I am trying to read "the papers" on my iPad while eating breakfast. Infuriating!


if you are as annoying as I am, go find these websites of the app developers… And send them an angry message. You all know which ones I am talking about… Unfortunately.

Apr 10, 2014 10:49 AM in response to JTF

The other alternative is to puchasxe paid versions of apps that do not rely on advertising for their funding. and it becomes awin-win scenario for all parties involved. You don't get ads, they get revenue.

But remeber that when TIVO came out, it could eliminate those pesky commercials, but it did not take long for advertisers to find other ways to reach their target audience, the world revolves around profit. 😉

How do I get rid of 'game of war' pop-up from the app store?

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