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Summary
One of the most annoying types of ads on the internet is fake download buttons. You think you’re downloading something, but instead, you end up with malware, junkware, or phishing sites. Here are some tips to help you spot and avoid fake download buttons.
Fake download buttons are not just annoying—they can also be dangerous. These fake buttons are often deceptive ads that can expose you to all kinds of threats, such as:
In short, it’s important to know which download button is therealone. So, let’s get to the bottom of it.
Avoid Big, Flashy Buttons
The main problem with finding the correct download button is that there are often multiple fakes on the page. It might not be immediately obvious which one is the fake. One common thing that will usually give a fake away is its flamboyant appearance.
Typically, real download buttons are made to look nice on the website. They match the site’s design, or they’re small, in-line text links. A big, flashy, in-your-face download button is often trying to get your attention for a reason: it’s fake.
Simply put, a real download button won’t be labeled as an ad. You just have to remember to look for the labels before mindlessly clicking or tapping.
Test the URL Without Clicking
The image above shows a perfect example of a fake ad that looks nearly identical to the real one. However, when hovering over the buttons, the fake button shows a “doubleclick.net” URL, while the real one goes to the Mozilla Firefox download.
Go Directly to the Source
All of these tips will help you find fake download buttons, but there’s a better way to avoid them entirely. If you know exactly what you want to download—like a browser, for example—go directly to the source to download it.
The truth is many of the places where you might find fake download buttons are not trustworthy to begin with. This is certainly not always the case (APKMirrorhas lots of fake download buttons, but it’s a good website), but it’s generally an indicator of being somewhere you might not want to be.
Go forth and take these tips with you. Be careful out there.
