Tumblr redirecting to spam sites

Question

Tumblr redirecting to spam sites

Hey, lately when I've been going on Tumblr on my MacBook Pro, I somehow get redirected from my dashboard to some spam websites. Usually they claim that I need to update my Flash Player. Others claim there's a Mac security issue. I don't click on them. I've deleted my history multiple times, and it still happens.

I'm not sure if this is strictly on Tumblr's side, since I have sent the staff two emails and they've failed to respond. However, I chatted with Apple Support the other day. I downloaded the Malwarebytes app and did a scan, which found nothing. The Apple Support guy looked on my computer and didn't seem to find anything wrong. We did a bunch of other things too with my preferences and caches and deleting data, but today when I logged on Tumblr, it happened again.

This is driving me crazy. I go on Tumblr at my library computer (which uses Google Chrome) and nothing happens then. But I do think I'm not the only one that's been having this issue because I've searched online and found some similar posts from other users. Could somebody help me get to the bottom of this? Or is this just going to happen until Tumblr decides to do something about it?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013), macOS Sierra (10.12.3)

Posted on Apr 23, 2017 4:16 PM

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Answer 1

thomas_r.

Level 7

32,031 points

Apr 23, 2017 5:28 PM in response to CourtneyBower

There are a few different explanations for this. The fact that you're seeing this only in certain circumstances does indicate that something unusual is going on, but it's impossible to say yet what that might be.

One easy test you can do: using the computer that you usually see the problem on, and while connected to the network you normally see the problem on, restart in recovery mode. (Hold down command-R at startup.)

When the machine enters recovery mode, there will be four options, one of which will be Get Help Online. Choose that option to open a fresh copy of Safari.

Now, browse on Tumbler just as you normally would, using that fresh copy of Safari. Does the same problem continue to occur, or does it stop? Be sure to test long enough that you can be confident in your answer.

If the problem continues even while in recovery mode, it's a network issue, probably a hacked network device. If it stops while in recovery mode and resumes when you restart normally, it's a problem with the computer, most likely some kind of adware.

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