Google Will Block Sites With Fake Download Buttons
In a surprising turn of events, mega Internet giant Google announced that they will start blocking websites that use deceptive tactics to make money, or otherwise trick people into doing what they want. For example: ever been on a website looking for a sale, item or download? Ever click a button that you think is what you need, only to find out it leads you to a third-party site offering a sale or promo you weren’t expecting or, worse, a sticky site that infects your computer with adware? Yeah, Google’s gonna block that.
This new feature will be rolling out via Google’s Safe Browsing Tech, which you’ve probably encountered before in the form of a pop-up notification that says that the site you’re visiting might harm your computer.
Since you’ve probably seen this image before, you’re probably thinking, “what’s new about this?” Well, for starters, Google isn’t just protecting you from sites that are full of malware — they’re using the Safe Browsing Tech to force companies that use deceptive tactics to change up their devious ways.
This will affect some giants out there, like CNET and Sourceforge, and could also become problematic for webmasters who don’t necessarily have full control over third-party ad servers. But it’ll also, hopefully, save a lot of us from inadvertently doing things we didn’t want to do — like download some random software update or click through to an advertorial on the new pajama jeans.
What do you think of Google’s new security feature? Tell us @britandco!
(Photo via Getty)