You click a harmless-looking link…
Suddenly, you’re redirected to a fake antivirus site, or worse — a scam page yelling “Your device is infected!”
That’s a malicious redirect, and it’s more common than you think.
Here’s how to block them — for good.
✅ 1. What are malicious redirects?
They’re unwanted website jumps that:
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Force you onto scam, phishing, or adult sites
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Often trigger malware downloads
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Pop up fake warnings to scare you into clicking
Usually caused by:
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Infected websites
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Bad ad networks
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Compromised browser extensions
✅ 2. Use a strong content blocker
Install one of these:
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uBlock Origin – blocks ads, redirects, trackers
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AdGuard – desktop + browser extension
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NoScript – blocks scripts unless approved (advanced users)
✅ Keep filter lists updated (EasyList, EasyPrivacy, etc.)
✅ 3. Scan for malicious extensions
If redirects happen constantly:
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Go to browser → Extensions
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Remove anything unfamiliar
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Reset browser to default settings
✅ 4. Disable pop-ups and redirects in settings
In Chrome:
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Settings → Privacy & security → Site Settings → Pop-ups and redirects → Block
In Edge/Firefox: similar path — just search “pop-up” in Settings.
✅ 5. Use secure DNS
Switch to:
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Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1)
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Google DNS (8.8.8.8)
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Quad9 (9.9.9.9)
These DNS services block known malware/phishing domains before the redirect even loads.
Key points to remember
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Malicious redirects = dangerous and annoying
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Use uBlock or AdGuard to block before they happen
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Check browser extensions regularly
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Update DNS and keep browser settings tight
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Safe browsing = smooth browsing