Is stags bluekai a threat to online banking?

Yorkshire_Pud

In the past a message appears on my iPad asking if I want to proceed with the server stags bluekai .com (don't click on it!) and the information says its a Californian domain that's is not trusted. Further research seems to show its a advertising/spamming/redirect site that makes money by people clicking on their links.

It only affected ebay and Gumtree sites until today when my Halifax online brought up this message about stagsbluekai server. I checked other banks sites and all fine except Lloyds and BOS bring up the same message, i.e. Lloyds Banking group sites:(

Its supposedly not a virus but I obviously feel worried about opening up these sites as I've read about possibility of third party taking over account operation.

Also read that it can be a compromised Router.

In the dark about this. Can anyone offer any sensible advice about this and what to do. Strange its just eBay and now Lloyds Banking group sites bringing up the message.

Browntoa

Whose router is it ? Talk talk were compromised

Yorkshire_Pud

It was Sky

agrinnall

Sounds like malware to me, although I've no idea if an iPad can get it, and if it can how likely it is or how you can get rid of it (although I see Malwarebytes does a Mac version so at least some Apple systems seem to be vulnerable).

Yorkshire_Pud

I don't think its malware but some kind of data platform that sells information. TBH the more I read the less I understand as malware, hacking, etc get bandied about as well as redirecting to Phishing sites and its impossible to know who to trust!

This bluekai has a Wikipedia page and seems to say its a legit company but invasively unethical to do with advertising and targeting people's ad choices.

I'm wondering if there's anyone who does actually understand the problem and any risks in say opening my online banking beyond my and others initial unqualified response.

Zanderman

Have you tried accessing these sites on anything other than your ipad? If it's malware it's on the ipad.

If you get the same problem using a pc, mac or android phone/tablet then it may be something else.

Yorkshire_Pud

Yes tried using another device and bluekai appeared on it when I went to Halifax so first time this has happened with Lloyds group, today, and on two devices.

Points to the router and Sky.

Went to local library to use wi fi and confirm as should not show up there. It closed at 2pm. Great Britain.

Shakin_Steve

I've got 'Lookout' on my iPad, download it from the App Store, plus Adblock, again in the App Store. Don't know if they'll stop it, but both free and worth a try.

Yorkshire_Pud

I spent an hour on the phone to Sky engineer, its not our Router guv.

He was helpful, we changed IP address, and a few other settings but same result.

Seems its Adware and even though IOS devices can't get malware as such it is possible to download various rubbish like this bluekai adware without realising it. He suggests I take my devices to a computer shop to see if they can help, also try my idea of using another wifi to see if it still appears and if I choose, to buy a replacement Router from Sky for about £76 delivered.

I have an Amazon kindle £49.99 (cheap works straight out of the box!) and accessed Halifax banking without any issue so I'm wondering if its a Safari browser issue especially as my IOS is out of date and I cannot upgrade which can expose more vulnerabilities over time.

Funny thing is I'm not actually getting any ads just this stupid pop up every click asking me to choose whether to accept bluekai as a server. If I accept then I don't know what happens.

agrinnall

Is there anything in this that might be of help?

https://ipadhelp.com/tutorial/iphone-ipad-remove-adwarevirus/

Yorkshire_Pud

Thanks agri already done the clear cookies cache and history and made no difference.

Used different wifi same problem so not my router.

Called in at local computer fixer and he reckons running such an old IOS v6 will leave me open to such things but to try an app called malwarebites IF I can download it and see what it tells me. Most likely I'm looking at a major upgrade to all devices OR live with the cheap and cheerful Kindle which is cheap to replace and then up to date instead of being on the Apple train, upgrade to the point of shut down slow running or don't upgrade and suffer the consequences.

Maybe look at a happy medium or go back to pen and paper and phone:(