Linux Mint Forums

I have implemented a new personal security policy in which I instruct Firefox not to store history or permit tracking and don't use bookmarks or store passwords. When I want to access a website I just type its URL into the address bar or find it through a search engine search. It takes a few extra mouse clicks to get where I'm going, but I don't find it onerous.

Recently, while typing in certain URLs, I get redirected to the website of a company called Webring, which is a for-profit business that supposedly "enhances" the internet experience by intercepting URLs and offering multiple similar choices--on a page very heavy with paid advertising.

I was just wondering, does Linux Mint have some kind of financial arrangement with Webring? I really don't want to be earning adclick revenue for them unless it helps the Mint developers.

I don't think they are. They aren't listed as a sponsor, partner or as far as I can tell, donor.

In my opinion just some operation that is hijacking users for profit. Mint would never do anything like that. Clem is very up-front about his advertising/income arrangements.

tdockery97 wrote:In my opinion just some operation that is hijacking users for profit. Mint would never do anything like that. Clem is very up-front about his advertising/income arrangements.

+1

If there would have been a partnership, Clem definitely would have announced on Linux Mint Blog. As on Today, he has signed a partnership with duck-duck-go.

Try surfing with Live CD/DVD or Live USB, try the same with it. LIVE CD is like 24 carat Gold.

Alternatively, why not try Google Chrome / Chromium / Opera.

If still you want to double check, can you tell us which URL is redirecting. If the same URL redirects to Webring from many locations (IP address), then the website may be hacked. If it is only directing you, FF may be hacked. In this case, uninstall and reinstall FF.

Hope this helps

I checked with the administrators of the two URLs that were redirecting and they told me that THEY had signed up with Webring. Both had the understanding that webring would just put a link on their websites and were very upset that Webring is automatically redirecting people who try to go to their websites directly.

I found a solution to the problem myself: set Firefox Preferences not to accept redirects or reloads without my permission. That causes a problem on only a small number of legitimate websites (for example, gotransit.ca) and generally prevents me from being bounced all over the place like a ping-pong ball.

I'll mark this solved. Thanks to everyone who responded.

So finally you caught the culprit.

Please correct typo in Subject.

Change 'wtih' to 'with'

As on Today, he has signed a partnership with duck-duck-go.

Duck-duck-go is nice. You can put it in Firefox as an add-on. Seems to put the major sources at the top and the crap way back! My first choice for now.