The ubiquitous tech giant Google made a bold and benevolent move earlier this week by blocking websites that deceive users with false links and bogus buttons. The deceptive elements that Google seeks to block often appear near the actual download link, or take the form of pop-ups stating “your computer is infected” -while promising to “clean” your system for a fee.
Millions of websites use visual elements cleverly disguised as buttons or download links to deceive the user into clicking on them. This is basically a form of Phishing and has been around for as long as there have been images on the internet. When the user succumbs to the promise of a “free download”, or takes heed to an “urgent update” and clicks on the link, they are then re-routed to an even sketchier alley-way in the skid-row, industrial district of downtown internet.
For the Windows users and less-savvy users, this usually means increased risk of contracting malware, as well as intense confusion. So Google’s campaign to block these sites could greatly improve those users’ online experiences. For tech-savvy users, on the other hand, this move may come as more of an annoyance than a benevolent gesture. The tech savvy users often navigate these sites with great care, in order to reap the benefits of higher-hanging fruit that comes in the form of their favorite TV shows, in HD, 100% free.
Google deployed their deceptive site blocking feature as part of their Safe Browsing service, and therefore is subject to the users personal preference and can be turned on or off without closing or restarting the web browser.
This story originated at Ars Technica UK. Read more on this topic and other tech news here.