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Website redirecting me to unsafe website

J

John800

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 21, 2015
5
0
Hello,

I need urgent help. I use a website called MediaSpy (about Australian TV) whenever I type into google 'MediaSpy' and click on the first link, it either takes me to URL4SHORTS or a unsafe website, such as porn etc. I have no idea why this is happening. Interesting though, it does redirect me if I type in the URL instead (www.mediaspy.org(link is external)) I don't why it only happens when I use the google search bar. Its only for that website, no other. I really hope my mac is not infected, I have ran scans etc but no threats. Can anyone confirm what is going on?

Thank you.
 
It just happened to me too. So I'm pretty sure it's the website that was hacked and it is redirecting people. Some web-site hacks only affect people coming from google, so the owner of the website doesn't catch on.

arn
 
Last edited:
arn said:
It just happened to me too. So I'm pretty sure it's the website that was hacked and it is redirecting people. Some malware only affects people coming from google, so the owner of the website doesn't catch on.

arn
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I always use this website. Is it safe to use by only using the URL?
 
John800 said:
Thanks for the reply. I always use this website. Is it safe to use by only using the URL?
Click to expand...
It depends on the methods used. If you're getting false search results (the actual URL, if you examine the link, does not go to the desired site), then typing in the actual address will likely be fine. If the site itself has been hacked in some fashion (people are using the correct URL but are being redirected to another address), then you may want to wait until the issue has been fixed (how you'll know it's fixed is another matter).
 
John800 said:
Thanks for the reply. I always use this website. Is it safe to use by only using the URL?
Click to expand...

Well, debatable. Generally just-visiting-a-web-site vulnerabilities aren't common on the Mac, though older versions of Flash and Java tend to be potentially problematic. May want to not login though, or if you do change your passwords. Definitely contact the site owner so they can take care of it. Can probably just point them to this thread.

arn
 
I have changed my password for now. Not sure why an Australian TV website would be a target.
 
OLDCODGER said:
Out of curiosity, I went direct to MediaSpy, using Omniweb, with no problems. I also Googled it - again, no problems.

Have you tried another browser?
Click to expand...

Whats Omniweb?

I've noticed that if you clear all browsing histroy and type MediaSpy into google and click the first click, it will re-direct me to another website, but If I go back and re-google it will just go to MediaSpy with no problem. I don't understand. I have contacted the website manager about this.
 
John800 said:
Whats Omniweb?

I've noticed that if you clear all browsing histroy and type MediaSpy into google and click the first click, it will re-direct me to another website, but If I go back and re-google it will just go to MediaSpy with no problem. I don't understand. I have contacted the website manager about this.
Click to expand...


Omniweb is an alternative browser, complete with page by page on-the-fly controls of settings. Since it allows me to set parameters for a particular site, I use this as my main browser.
 
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