Why is Chrome on my Android doing random redirects?

[AC Question]

Chrome on Android doing random redirects

I'm surfing different sites I frequent often, and then I'll click a link to another article I'd like to read, and this page appears claiming my s4 needs some update but doesn't say what it's for. Killed Chrome right away and ran Lookout's scan to be safe.

So what is going on and how do I stop it? does Chrome have ad-block like Firefox?

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: Chrome on Android doing random redirects

Welcome to Android Central! Sounds like a popup ad associated with that webpage, and the link might possibly be malicious. But as long as you didn't tap the link or accept any installations, the phone should be safe.

Ad blockers are available for Android, but they're not on Google Play Store, because I think they violate terms of service (because they can also block legitimate ads). Since you'd have to sideload an ad blocker from some website, there would still be some theoretical risk that it's actually malicious (or is carrying something malicious).