Question Why a URL automatically redirects to another URL ?

[smalltech]

In a chrome browser tab this url https://r.linksprf.com/v1/redirect?...76194b2e987f5ed9923&dch=feed&ad_t=advertiser& will auto redirect to https://pages.tmall.com/wow/a/act/t...xcqnq7R3cbBD7MG0sMDzZ3tyM-ba73yvxeWmCNV9t0BSQ then if i press the back button i will not be able to go back to the previous page https://r.linksprf.com/v1/redirect?...76194b2e987f5ed9923&dch=feed&ad_t=advertiser&

Is this a malware?
Is this done by some chrome extension malware?
How to stop it?

Thanks

 

[zinkles]

Is this done by some chrome extension malware?

Is what done by chrome extension/malware? The redirection to the other page or the inability to go back after being redirected?
You cant go back to the previous page, because that previous page redirected you through its HTML code. When this happens you cant go back, its not cause of an extension nor malware.

HOWEVER, the redirection of r.linksprf.com cannot be verified by me, since little to no info is available about this site, and many others have reported their Chrome going crazy, and they have also said that random links relating to r.linksprf.com opens randomly. Some people report its because of an extension. Go to your all extensions list and check for any odd/malicious looking extensions. See how

Upon further research, the redirection case is kinda malicious. If you go to r.linksprf.com you can see the name as SRVTRCK. If you Google about SRVTRCK, you can get some info about it. What it does is, it redirects you to advertising companies/sponsored stuff (if it wasn't obvious by now, they make money through this). This affects infected browsers. See this Bitdefender Community post about it. This post also gives info on how to remove it.

EDIT: Both r.srvtrck.com & r.linksprf.com are both identical.

I recommend installing a trusty antivirus, and scanning your computer to just be on the safe side

 

[smalltech]

Is what done by chrome extension/malware? The redirection to the other page or the inability to go back after being redirected?
You cant go back to the previous page, because that previous page redirected you through its HTML code. When this happens you cant go back, its not cause of an extension nor malware.

HOWEVER, the redirection of r.linksprf.com cannot be verified by me, since little to no info is available about this site, and many others have reported their Chrome going crazy, and they have also said that random links relating to r.linksprf.com opens randomly. Some people report its because of an extension. Go to your all extensions list and check for any odd/malicious looking extensions. See how

Upon further research, the redirection case is kinda malicious. If you go to r.linksprf.com you can see the name as SRVTRCK. If you Google about SRVTRCK, you can get some info about it. What it does is, it redirects you to advertising companies/sponsored stuff (if it wasn't obvious by now, they make money through this). This affects infected browsers. See this Bitdefender Community post about it. This post also gives info on how to remove it.

EDIT: Both r.srvtrck.com & r.linksprf.com are both identical.

I recommend installing a trusty antivirus, and scanning your computer to just be on the safe side

"Is what done by chrome extension/malware? The redirection to the other page or the inability to go back after being redirected?" > My answer, both the redirection to the other page and the inability to go back after being redirected.

Add info, the r.linksprf.com will just appear randomly in a chrome tab.

I am using Microsoft Defender Antivirus default that comes with windows, it does not detect it.

What antivirus do you recommend?

If I leave this problem alone would it be fine? Would using my browser for banking, gmail, sites that need to login with password...be safe?

Thank you.

 

[zinkles]

"Is what done by chrome extension/malware? The redirection to the other page or the inability to go back after being redirected?" > My answer, both the redirection to the other page and the inability to go back after being redirected.

Inability to go back, as I mentioned before, is normal when a site redirects you to a webpage through its HTML code. The redirection, is also part of the link (meaning the link was made to redirect), so a malware is not to blame for the redirection. HOWEVER, a malware is to blame for the appearance of the links.

Add info, the r.linksprf.com will just appear randomly in a chrome tab.

Thats definitely due to some extension. An extension is the most likely thing that can cause a random webpage to open up, ALTHOUGH if you are experiencing this even when Chrome is fully CLOSED, then the malware/redirector thing, is not in a form of an extension, rather running on your computer and redirecting you.

What antivirus do you recommend?

I personally, am running the free version of Kaspersky, which does pretty great, however any antivirus from a big company, such as Bitdefender, ESET, McAfee etc are also good for the job. Windows defender seems very vulnerable, specially in the case of big viruses (unlike the one youre experiencing), and the other AVs come with a bunch of features even in their free version that the windows defender Lacks. Also, I don't think AVs will be able to detect any suspicious extensions, unless they are in their databases, because if all the extension does is redirect you to a site, it cant really speculate if its malicious or not.

If I leave this problem alone would it be fine? Would using my browser for banking, gmail, sites that need to login with password...be safe?

Well, yes. from all I could find, its just redirecting you to ads, and its earning revenue from it. I also read that in their website, they collect a lot of data, and they say "they cant be used to identify you specifically" that does seem a bit sus, so it might be collecting a bit too much info, specially for their ad distribution. I do not recommend leaving it there though.

 

[smalltech]

Inability to go back, as I mentioned before, is normal when a site redirects you to a webpage through its HTML code. The redirection, is also part of the link (meaning the link was made to redirect), so a malware is not to blame for the redirection. HOWEVER, a malware is to blame for the appearance of the links.


Thats definitely due to some extension. An extension is the most likely thing that can cause a random webpage to open up, ALTHOUGH if you are experiencing this even when Chrome is fully CLOSED, then the malware/redirector thing, is not in a form of an extension, rather running on your computer and redirecting you.


I personally, am running the free version of Kaspersky, which does pretty great, however any antivirus from a big company, such as Bitdefender, ESET, McAfee etc are also good for the job. Windows defender seems very vulnerable, specially in the case of big viruses (unlike the one youre experiencing), and the other AVs come with a bunch of features even in their free version that the windows defender Lacks. Also, I don't think AVs will be able to detect any suspicious extensions, unless they are in their databases, because if all the extension does is redirect you to a site, it cant really speculate if its malicious or not.


Well, yes. from all I could find, its just redirecting you to ads, and its earning revenue from it. I also read that in their website, they collect a lot of data, and they say "they cant be used to identify you specifically" that does seem a bit sus, so it might be collecting a bit too much info, specially for their ad distribution. I do not recommend leaving it there though.

I did not experience this when Chrome is fully closed, when my Chrome is fully closed it stays closed and does not suddenly open. What do you mean by experiencing this even when Chrome is fully closed? Does Chrome suddenly open byitself and load some url?
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Where did you get download free kaspersky permanently? I only found a free version for 30 days trial.
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This problem just happened again now.

Using chrome, in google.com I searched for free version of Kaspersky https://www.google.com/search?q=free+version+of+Kaspersky&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 (screenshot

https://imgur.com/ibWdDtV

View: https://i.imgur.com/ibWdDtV.png
) then I open the first result in new tab and it loaded the correct url https://www.kaspersky.com/free-antivirus listed in google search first result, I open the second result in new tab and in the new tab I saw this url (for a few seconds) https://r.linksprf.com/v1/redirect?...7f5ed9923&dch=feed&ad_t=advertiser&yk_tag=156 then it auto redirect to https://www.kaspersky.com/?reseller...mpaign&sskey=e2e29fff04424e569aa91c1dc5db6562 (which is not the same url listed in the google search second result https://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/free-antivirus )

Chrome history shows first link I clicked as www.kaspersky.com and the second link I clicked as r.linksprf.com (screenshot of history

https://imgur.com/3zsCuRT

View: https://i.imgur.com/3zsCuRT.png
)
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Update: A few mins later I redo the exact steps above, using chrome, in google.com I searched for free version of Kaspersky https://www.google.com/search?q=free+version+of+Kaspersky&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 and the first link and second link loaded correct url in new tabs, the problem seems random.

 

[zinkles]

I did not experience this when Chrome is fully closed, when my Chrome is fully closed it stays closed and does not suddenly open. What do you mean by experiencing this even when Chrome is fully closed? Does Chrome suddenly open byitself and load some url?

Yes, since Chrome doesn't randomly open and go to some URL, The culprit is probably some extension. Did you try checking your extensions first?

Where did you get download free kaspersky permanently? I only found a free version for 30 days trial.

I got it from the official website, and it says the free subscription is available for 1 year (in my account). Either way, if Kaspersky doesn't work for you, you can download some other AV too. Firstly check for your extensions and see if you find anything there. (they may not appear in the toolbar, so go to the settings>extensions or else you prolly wont see it.

I think whatever extension that is causing this, searches though their database for the site you visit, and check if they have affiliate links. The link which you said is not the URL listed in Google search, is actually a referral link, which I assume the extension/malware had altered, so any download through that link will benefit to them as its an affiliate link(?)

 

[rgd1101]

look like is an ad.