I use the Google Chrome browser, on a Dell computer running Windows 7. I am located in western Canada (where our Internet service Providers have not yet throttled access to known porn sites).
I, too, had a lot of problems with re-directs & screen freezes when attempting to open thumbnail images posted at VEF (and hosted at several image-host sites). After having my computer hijacked repeatedly over a period of 4 days by bit-coin mining scripts, I added two free "Extensions" to my Chrome browser; No-Script Lite, and Anti-Miner.
I recommend these free Extensions to any Chrome user, and believe that they are also available (free of charge) in formats compatible with Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.
Since installing these Extensions I have had no problems with re-directs, etc. Even Image-Twist pictures open quickly and easily. I do not even have to add their URL to the "Whitelist" . . . although I do have to add VEF and many other forums and sites I visit (so that I can log-in).
When a site is trying to launch scripts, I receive a notification from No-Script Lite in the form of a little blue icon in the upper right hand corner of my browser.
In this example, the icon was triggered by imagebam, and I chose not to add it to my Whitelist because the photo downloads without trouble. At least I am made aware that imagebam is trying to run a script, and I have a choice.
Hope this helps!