Ads causing a location popup on iOS

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  copybot · Member · Jul 3, 2014 at 8:43 am

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  When an iOS user views my blog on their mobile, they get a popup saying “hollybrockwell.com would like to use your current location” (see screenshot: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrkIK7lIUAAxCLR.jpg).

  Using Ghostery, we’ve worked out that the problem is the MoPub advertising network (presumably through WordAds, which I have enabled on the site) and when you switch off MoPub, the problem goes away: http://imgur.com/a/UMkPL

  Please could you fix this? It’s irritating my iOS users, who are a large part of my readership.

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  jeremeylduvall · Member · Jul 3, 2014 at 5:26 pm

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  Hi Holly,

  I’m currently trying to recreate the issue. Thanks for providing such a detailed report with screenshots. It really makes this easier! A few questions:

  • Do you receive the location message every time you visit the site when MoPub is not switched off?
  • Does this happen in multiple browsers on your mobile device or only in one (Safari for example)?

  Thanks for the additional information!

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  copybot · Member · Jul 3, 2014 at 6:23 pm

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  Hello,

  1) It happens every time the page is loaded, but if you keep choosing ‘Don’t Allow’ the prompts eventually stop in that browser.

  2) I’ve reproduced in Safari, iOS Chrome, Twitter’s UIWebView, Apple iOS emulator (via BrowserStack) & Chrome iPhone emulator

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  jeremeylduvall · Member · Jul 3, 2014 at 7:57 pm

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  Hi Holly,

  Have you been able to reproduce this on a mobile device directly (you mention iOS Chrome but wasn’t sure if you were using an emulator)? I haven’t been shown this on either Safari or Chrome even after multiple refresh attempts. We suspect this might be a result of the emulator, and that the rest of your visitors using mobile browsers would not be experiencing the pop-up.

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  copybot · Member · Jul 3, 2014 at 8:59 pm

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  It was using normal Chrome on a normal iPhone that the issue was first discovered – if you look at the first screenshot you can see it’s just an iPhone, not an emulator.

  Are you in the UK? Maybe it only happens here?

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  jeremeylduvall · Member · Jul 7, 2014 at 5:49 pm

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  Hi Holly,

  We’re working on reproducing the message and narrowing down the cause. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have more information!

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  copybot · Member · Jul 7, 2014 at 6:36 pm

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  Thanks. I also found someone else having the same issue: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/blog-asking-for-user-location?replies=11

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  jeremeylduvall · Member · Jul 7, 2014 at 8:53 pm

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  Thanks Holly. We saw that as well. I’ll keep you posted!

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  rachelmcr · Member · Jul 11, 2014 at 9:40 am

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  Hi Holly,

  This should be fixed now. If you see that location pop-up again, please let us know! :)