Google now blocks searchers from sites with deceptive download buttons

Google is now serving a big red warning to searchers before they go to websites with deceptive download buttons.

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Google announced they are now blocking searchers from accessing web sites that contain deceptive download buttons. They will show a big red warning after the user clicks on the search result that warns “deceptive site ahead.”

Here is a screen shot of the warning that the searcher may see before trying to access such a site:

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Google said, “We’re expanding Safe Browsing protection to protect you from such deceptive embedded content, like social engineering ads.”

These deceptive ads are defined by Google as those that:

  • pretend to act, or look and feel, like a trusted entity — like your own device or browser, or the website itself
  • try to trick you into doing something you’d only do for a trusted entity — like sharing a password or calling tech support

Here are some examples of these deceptive ads:

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Postscript: This turns out to be something we covered in February, Google reposted the news on the Webmaster blog today.


About the author

Barry Schwartz
Staff
Barry Schwartz is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry can be followed on Twitter here.

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