Okay, so about a month ago I noticed that occasionally when I did a Google search in my Chrome browser that I'd get re-directed to a site other than the URL that I was clicking on. I checked all of my Google Chrome settings and found nothing of concern. Upon a lot of testing I've discovered the following.
1. It always happens on a Google search. But it's intermittent. If I browse through 7 pages of Google search results, I might see an issue on the 6th page.
2. When the issue occurs, hovering over a search result on a page doesn't show the usual "hand" cursor nor a URL address on the lower left corner of my Mac screen. And then it doesn't matter where in the page I "click"; it will re-direct me to another URL.
3. Here's the kicker! The re-direct is always to a site RELATED to my search. Example. If I do a Google search on PERFUME, at some point on one of the result pages I'll notice that I lost the regular hand cursor and hovering over a link on the page show no URL address. If I then move the cursor over, say, a Kohls link result I will land on another site that sells or manufactures perfume...not Kohls.
This happens on both my MacBook Pro and on my PC. Is Google doing something questionable with Ads? And I'm using AdBlock and Ghostery. I have never ever had this happen prior to a month ago. 100% of the time whatever Google search link I clicked on would always take me to the exact URL displayed.
I'm stumped!
1. It always happens on a Google search. But it's intermittent. If I browse through 7 pages of Google search results, I might see an issue on the 6th page.
2. When the issue occurs, hovering over a search result on a page doesn't show the usual "hand" cursor nor a URL address on the lower left corner of my Mac screen. And then it doesn't matter where in the page I "click"; it will re-direct me to another URL.
3. Here's the kicker! The re-direct is always to a site RELATED to my search. Example. If I do a Google search on PERFUME, at some point on one of the result pages I'll notice that I lost the regular hand cursor and hovering over a link on the page show no URL address. If I then move the cursor over, say, a Kohls link result I will land on another site that sells or manufactures perfume...not Kohls.
This happens on both my MacBook Pro and on my PC. Is Google doing something questionable with Ads? And I'm using AdBlock and Ghostery. I have never ever had this happen prior to a month ago. 100% of the time whatever Google search link I clicked on would always take me to the exact URL displayed.
I'm stumped!