Google has added another security feature to keep its user safe. Now Google blocks websites which use deceptive ads or content to suggest you perform action you wouldn’t do normally. For example, there are many websites which use fake download buttons (mostly ads) around the real download button. In confusion, most of the people click on fake download button and end up downloading some kind of software or malware. Similarly, download or play kind of ads also try to trick users in downloading something they never which to download. Few ads also claim you to install plugin you never require.
These are few samples of fake download ads. Click on images to see it in full size.
Google is rolling out this feature gradually and will take time to reach to all users and list all websites involved in this kind of activity.
Google has taken this step to reduce the malware infection from these kind of websites. On mobile web, these kind of ads become so dangerous and have more chance of risk.
Google’s safe browsing tech is responsible for this new change. This is the same tech which blocks phishing and malware spreading pages by showing you a red warning page. Google already started blocking sites that used “social engineering attacks” to trick users in download fake software.
This new change will also hurt websites like cnet and sourceforge. I have seen these websites loaded with ads with text ‘download now’. Before they get some big slap, they should think about removing these kind of ads from their website.
If you are also serving this kind of ads on your pages with actual download links, you should consider taking action soon.
If we see it from user’s point of view, this is going to be a big relief. Most of the people become confuse while downloading a software on web. Most of the time, Recognizing actual download button becomes a big pain. Now, it is going to be end of fake download buttons.
