Those fake download buttons go way back - they were around in the late 90s. In a quarter century the ad industry hasn't managed to block this easy to detect scam. I mean - how hard can it be to not allow ads that are just a big button with "download" on them? Therefore I never will deactivate my adblocker. Fuck them.
It's always like that. Try to search for a popular program for PC (as example) without ad blocker, I bet the first results are ads from totally different sites that use the program name in their title so people click thinking it's the real program. How this is not illegal is beyond me, and it's Google's fault, they allow that and they should be punished with fines
22 Comments
muelltonne@feddit.org · 47 pts · 1y
Those fake download buttons go way back - they were around in the late 90s. In a quarter century the ad industry hasn't managed to block this easy to detect scam. I mean - how hard can it be to not allow ads that are just a big button with "download" on them? Therefore I never will deactivate my adblocker. Fuck them.
Cris16228@lemmy.today · 13 pts · 1y
💰💰💰💰
I'm 99% sure it uses Google ads, they don't care if it's scam or porn, as long as they get money for the ad
dan1101@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y
It really disappoints me that Google never did anything about those. Shows how profitable they must be.
Cris16228@lemmy.today · 4 pts · 1y
It's always like that. Try to search for a popular program for PC (as example) without ad blocker, I bet the first results are ads from totally different sites that use the program name in their title so people click thinking it's the real program. How this is not illegal is beyond me, and it's Google's fault, they allow that and they should be punished with fines
Aurix@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
To be fair, there are few select sites which have tighter advertising control.
possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 1y
(Something Firefox based) + Ublock origin
Blocks ads, surveillance, scams and malware
psx_crab@lemmy.zip · 16 pts · 1y
I guess it's the top one? Kinda takes a while to take a guess, been a while i seen such mess.
Aurix@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 1y
I went for all three and got many more downloads in the background. That was the right choice.
Shawdow194@fedia.io · 16 pts · 1y
It's even worse when you're experienced enough to tell the real one
We've been indoctrinated haha
CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 1y
We all know it's actually the hyperlinked text, the buttons are a lie
codexarcanum@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 1y
This is the new captcha: only an AI would know which is the real download button.
Sabata11792@ani.social · 19 pts · 1y
I can tell you never pirated anything. It's always the smallest most boring HTML 1 looking button that is hiding out of the way not being flashy.
codexarcanum@lemmy.dbzer0.com · -1 pts · 1y
What a strangely hostile response to an obvious joke
Sabata11792@ani.social · 8 pts · 1y
Sarcasm and text failed me again.
KryptoSynth@ani.social · 8 pts · 1y
Aurix@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1y
Screenshot of my adblock disabled experience on overtake.gg a sim racing community hub.
dan1101@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 1y
Same kind of shady mess trying to download Minecraft mod packs.
NichtElias@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1y
That's why I only download those from Modrinth or CurseForge
dan1101@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y
CurseForge is what my noob ass wound up with, must have been a decent choice.
Showroom7561@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 1y
Lila_Uraraka@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 1y
It's always the smallest one
Sergio@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 1y
So don't leave us hanging... which is the real download?