As a non technical guy, I assume you are clicking on an icon on your phone to get here? Delete that icon and re-enter the actual car talk address. Someone maybe just changed the address for the icon.
2 Likes
I access CarTalk via Safari web browser. It saves my password for here. So all I need to do to access here is type “ CarTalk” and I’m automatically logged in.
I logged out and re-logged to see if that solves the issue but that didn’t help.
Apple does not believe my phone has a virus. The technician said restoring my phone to factory setting likely won’t fix the issue.
Like I said, delete that automatic string, log out, and start over with the actual site address. Then log in again. Whether I’m on safari or chrome, I’m remembered and don’t have to log in. The only time I have to log in again is if I delete history. Just clear everything and start over.
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I had some free time and was able to login from my iPhone (16). No problem. And no problem logging in from my laptop or my wife’s laptop. There was a recent update on iPhone (last week). Make sure your IOS is up-to-date.
I asked ChatGPT, and here’s what it replied with. I hadn’t thought about different ads for different regions.
====================================================================
If you get the trojanwall.click popup every time you visit a specific site on iPhone Safari, but others don’t (even with similar devices and browsers), the difference likely comes down to how malicious ads are delivered based on your specific profile.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of why you’re seeing it — and others aren’t:
1. Malicious Ads Are Targeted by Region, IP, or Behavior
Malvertising (malicious advertising) networks often target users based on:
| Targeting Factor | Example Impact |
|---|---|
| Geolocation/IP Address | Some scam ads are shown only in certain cities or states |
| Device type + browser | iPhone + Safari users are often uniquely targeted |
| Browsing behavior/cookies | Previous visits or ad clicks may flag you for more aggressive ads |
| Mobile carrier or ISP | Some networks are more exposed to low-quality ad delivery |
| Time of day or ad rotation | The malicious ad may only appear at specific times or under certain conditions |
So while the site is the same, you and your friend may receive different ads — especially if you’re:
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In a different state or region
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Using a different cellular carrier (e.g. AT&T vs Verizon)
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Using mobile data vs Wi-Fi
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Visiting the site at different times
2. You May Be “Cookied” or Tagged for Retargeting
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If you’ve previously visited shady sites or clicked suspicious ads, advertisers track you via cookies or fingerprinting scripts.
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Some of these “ad trackers” mark users as more susceptible to scam ads (high click-through = profitable).
-
That means you’re more likely to get the Trojanwall redirect, while someone with a “cleaner” browsing history won’t.
Try clearing Safari data:
- Go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
3. The Site Uses Rotating Ads
Many websites rotate ads based on time, location, and audience profile. Here’s how:
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The site loads ads from third-party networks like PropellerAds, PopAds, MGID, etc.
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The ad network decides which ad to show you based on:
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Where you live
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What phone you’re using
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What you’ve clicked on before
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So even if you and your friend visit the same URL at the same time, the underlying ad experience can be different.
4. Possibility: Your iPhone Has Push Notification Permissions for a Scam Site
You might’ve previously allowed a malicious site to send Safari push notifications.
Even if you’re not currently on the bad site, a notification can pop up pretending to be from Safari or Apple — then lead you to trojanwall.click.
To check:
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Go to Settings > Notifications
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Look for Safari, or any unknown apps/sites sending notifications
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Disable any you don’t trust
1 Like
I think you have a browser extension that has been installed that is taking over your browser and redirecting you to those sites. That extension may normally be used by Cartalk and that is why it acts up only when you’re on this site. But the infection is on your side. Read this (or any number of other sites that discuss this particular trojan - https://howtoremove.guide/trojanwall-click-virus/
Good luck
2 Likes
Thanks guys for helping.
I looked at the extension in safari and I currently have no extension there. I also looked at push notification. I do not see any unwanted items in there.
I barely download anything on this phone. And I do not visit shady websites. My activity usually resolves around the NBA official website, Reddit, clublexus, Quora, yahoo, Fox.news, and CarTalk.
That’s why I’m confused how I’d get a virus.
I updated IOS yesterday. Issue still happening. I also deleted history and data.
My friend who is a computer specialist also is confused by what’s happening.
One thing is clear. The alleged “geniuses” at your local Apple emporium aren’t very knowledgeable. Perhaps you should go to one of their other locations.
When you visit a website, the ads you see are not random — they’re chosen through a fast, complex system based on real-time bidding (RTB), user profiling, and ad targeting.
I learned this a while back, but a search assistant helped to articulate it better than I could. See below:
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how ads are selected for you when your browser loads a webpage:
1. You Visit a Website
- Example: You go to example-news.com
- The site loads its content plus code that calls ad servers
2. The Site Requests Ads
- The site has ad slots (spaces for banners, popups, videos, etc.)
- Each slot sends a request to an ad exchange or ad network (like Google Ads, OpenX, Xandr, etc.)
3. Your Browser Sends Data (Sometimes Without You Knowing)
The ad request includes info like:
- Device type (iPhone, Android, desktop)
- Browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
- Location (via IP address or GPS if allowed)
- Language
- Time of day
- Browsing behavior (cookies, local storage, third-party trackers)
- User profile (if you’re logged into a service like Google or Facebook)
If allowed, advertisers may also access:
- Ad ID (IDFA on iPhone, GAID on Android)
- Installed apps
- Demographic inferences (age group, gender, interests)
4. Real-Time Bidding (RTB) Happens
This is where it gets fast and competitive:
- Your ad profile is sent to dozens or hundreds of advertisers in a real-time auction
- Each advertiser decides in milliseconds:
“Do I want to show this user an ad?”
“How much am I willing to pay to show it?”
- The highest bidder wins, and their ad gets shown.
- This whole auction happens in about 100–200 milliseconds (less than the blink of an eye).
5. The Winning Ad Loads in the Slot
- The ad server returns the winning ad (image, video, or script)
- Your browser displays it on the site you’re visiting
6. Your Interaction Is Tracked
If you:
- Scroll past the ad
- View it for a few seconds
- Click on it
…those interactions are recorded and sent back to advertisers and data brokers to further refine your ad profile for next time.
7. Why You See Certain Ads**
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Search history: Looked for shoes → see shoe ads
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Geolocation: In NY → see ads for NY services or events
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Device type: iPhone → see iOS app promotions
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Time of day: Late night → see food delivery ads
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Browsing history: Visited a crypto site → now see crypto ads
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Logged-in account: Google knows your interests, age, habits, etc.
8. Why You Might See Scam Ads Like trojanwall.click**
If an ad exchange or publisher doesn’t properly filter or vet advertisers:
- Scammy ad buyers may win the RTB auction
- That’s how malicious ads (like trojanwall.click) show up — especially on ad-heavy or low-quality sites
That’s why content blockers and reputable ad networks matter.
3 Likes
And this part here I can semi-relate to ad design:
Whether a moving(video) or stationary ad, ‘X’ or ‘Skip’ should = CLOSE, when tapped on a mobile, and not = direct me to the advertised product/service. Perhaps the tappable area is so tiny, or intentionally not centered with the on-screen graphic, that tapping right on the X means you’re tapping next to it..!
Combined with elements in your point #8, tapping X on such pop-ups could cause one to inadvertently catch who knows what on their device.
INNOVID, are you seeing this??
OK, so far NOTHING has worked, why not just install and or use Duck Duck Go and TRY it?? Worse case you can uninstall it…
3 Likes
Your computer is infected with a virus! Please listen to everyone who has told you that and stop grinding on and on.
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Your computer is infected with a virus! Please listen to everyone who has told you that and stop grinding on and on.
To me, it’s looking more like his iPhone does not have a virus. But rather it’s due to some things about the data sent back to the ad exchanges that provoke one of their scammy ad buyers to win the bid to send him a malicious ad.
This is a textbook case on why you want a content or ad blocker in any browser today.
[Update] The Safari browser alone cannot stop ad networks from serving malicious redirect ads.
| Feature | Safari Only | With Ad Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks basic pop-ups | |
|
| Stops known scam/phishing sites | |
|
| Blocks all ads |  |
|
| Blocks malicious ad scripts | |
|
| Prevents redirects | |
|
2 Likes
I am basically a computer idiot, but I am smart enough (I think anyway lol) to see that this all stems around having ads no matter the root cause, sooooooo get ride of the ads gets ride of the problem..
And the weird thing about this is that I’m not getting redirected anywhere else on the internet.
My phone is not freezing, slowing down and showing signs of a virus. It is only when I access CarTalk the problem is occurring.
Every other websites have ads.
I might have to go with Dave’s suggestion on using a different browser.
I’ve been here for almost ten years and never had a problem with redirection. This truly sucks.
I’m not saying I did, bu5 if you happen to click on the ads with theboretty girls, or the one advertising transparent beach wear, or the one with pics of our favorite spokesperson, you may get redirected and get into that circular thing. Ya just close out.
My computer guy provided the thumb drives to rebuild my computer if I ever got really hit for ransom. I said if that happens it would likely be cheaper just to throw the thing away after destruction and buy a new one. Just sayin is all.
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Serious question bing:
Did you notice that, in som3 of your correspondence, letters are being replaced by numer5?
(numbers appearing above are demonstrative in nature)
That depends on the keyboard used and fat fingers, on my phone 3 is directly above the e. Whereas my tablet, no numbers on letter keyboard, I have to switch keyboard to numbers and symbols.
For me: On my iPad and iPhone keyboards, the area to tap producing the letter C seems to spill over into part of F and V..!
I find myself repeatedly typing “cideo” for video, and “cood” for food! It’s like c is the biggest character on the iOS keyboards or something.