Frequently recently, when I have clicked on a web link in Facebook, it gets hijacked and I get sent to a page in Chrome with stubborn pop-ups that try to make me download malware. I can't remember all the details of these pages, but one was a fake Google page and another that comes up frequently has "navalwinner" in the url. The links in Facebook that I click on that lead me to these sites are usually for respectable sites that I have visited many times in the past without problem. How can I stop these hijackings?
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Facebook web links get hijacked
- Thread starter halfbeing
- Start date
When you click on the link in the FB app it's using Chrome to open it. So the problem may well be in Chrome rather than Facebook, and Chrome, because it's the most widely-used browser, is also the main target for hijacking.
I'd try clearing the Chrome app's cache, and if that doesn't work consider clearing all of its data (make sure you have your bookmarks backed-up and have a record of your passwords somewhere else). You could also test whether Chrome is the problem by installing a different browser and making that the default (if the problem doesn't occur then but does when Chrome is the default you'll know where the problem lies).
You could also consider clearing Facebook's cache, just in case.
I'd try clearing the Chrome app's cache, and if that doesn't work consider clearing all of its data (make sure you have your bookmarks backed-up and have a record of your passwords somewhere else). You could also test whether Chrome is the problem by installing a different browser and making that the default (if the problem doesn't occur then but does when Chrome is the default you'll know where the problem lies).
You could also consider clearing Facebook's cache, just in case.
I don't see how it could be Chrome. The default behaviour of the Facebook app is to open all links internally. What I find happening is that the link I want opens in Facebook, but then the unwanted link opens in Chrome. It must be an instruction which is acted upon by Facebook's browser that takes me to Chrome. I will try clearing the Facebook data and see if that fixes it. It will take a while to be sure because the dangerous pages only get launched now and then.