Google Chrome will soon start blocking unwanted website redirects

Google has announced a few tweaks in its upcoming version of Chrome browser. The browser will start blocking various types of annoying, unwanted redirects, where a website or ad suddenly loads a new page, either because it’s been hijacked by a bad ad or because it intentionally wants to force visitors to see one.

Google’s plan to block redirects will roll out in three parts. It’ll first start blocking ads from redirecting visitors to another site when they haven’t been clicked on. When that happens, you’ll instead see a toolbar on the page noting that a redirect has been blocked.

Another problem that users have is that whenever they click on any link, the new link not only opens in a new tab but also causes the original page to navigate to a different, unintended webpage. Google says that with Chrome 65 those unwanted redirections in the main tab will be blocked and an alert notifying users of such will show up in an info bar.

Additionally, Chrome will also start detecting/blocking as many phony play buttons and invisible overlays as possible, to minimize surprises in general while browsing. Chrome's pop-up blocker will start to prevent those things from happening in early January.

In addition to the new Chrome features, Google has also released an Abusive Experiences Report, which allows website owners to see how many times their website has been reported for abusive experiences, including redirects.

Google says the changes should be released to everyone “in the first few months of 2018.”