Webpage suddenly redirects to advert page all by itself? Galaxy S9+

[Android Central Question]

Background & phone setup: I just got this phone two weeks ago (Samsung GS9+), not rooted, haven't added any particularly any apps other than a few from the Google play store (Alkido reader, Avast security, Candy Crush <yeah, I'm know>, ESPN, and Firefox beta, and a few Google and Samsung apps. No outside apps, APKs, ringtones, themes, etc. So minus disabling Bixby and a few unnecessary bloatware apps here and there, the phone is basically. Both avast and the Verizkn/Samsung built-in security scan give the phone a clean bill of health.

Problem: I will be looking at a website, scrolling thru, reading, etc., say Buzzfeed.com, (though it does happen with other websites) suddenly it will redirect me to another page; suddenly, and without me clicking or doing anything.

For example here's one place I got sent: ads.tripslelift.com/track<numbers>. Theres more numbers and I'm sure tracking info to the link but it's super long and wasn't sure if it was necessary.

I never have this issue in Firefox beta (which is why I got it actually). I have my Chrome browser set to block ads, popups and redirects are blocked, Do Not Track, safe browsing is on, third party cookies are blocked, and I clean my site storage, and browsing data virtually every time I close Chrome. I also clear both Firefox and Chrome browser/privacy data at the end of each day as well.

So I am really at a loss why these webpage redirect/changes keep happening. Especially with a brand new phone on multiple different websites.

Halp?

 

[Ncnbafan]

So I did have some time to do a little testing around in safe mode, going to the websites that I seem to remember I had the most issues with getting sent to other pages mid-read and the problem still seems to occur.
Does this mean something is wrong with my phone like I think maybe methodman might be hinting? At? or what Rukbat suggested, and it's simply the page itself (and Chrome's adblocking I guess?) fault?

Really hoping it's the pages and Chrome all things considered...

 

[methodman89]

So I did have some time to do a little testing around in safe mode, going to the websites that I seem to remember I had the most issues with getting sent to other pages mid-read and the problem still seems to occur.
Does this mean something is wrong with my phone like I think maybe methodman might be hinting? At? or what Rukbat suggested, and it's simply the page itself (and Chrome's adblocking I guess?) fault?

Really hoping it's the pages and Chrome all things considered...

This is a bummer. Unfortunately, the only thing left is a factory reset. Don't sync your apps during the process, since that may end up being the problem.
If you do, and you enter your info to use the phone, and you open Chrome the 1st time and you are redirected, you need to get a warranty ticket started or see if you can get a new one. Good luck.