Staying Safe Online · Scams & Fake Pop-ups · Lesson 3 of 5

Real vs Fake Download Buttons

Tell real download links from ads, and get apps from safe places.

Big green buttons that are really ads

You want a free program, so you go to a download page. You see three big green buttons that all say DOWNLOAD. Which one is real?

Often, none of the big ones are. They are ads, paid pictures from other companies placed on the page. Some are made to look exactly like download buttons. Clicking them can give you a different program, a pop-up or even harmful software.

Clues that a button is an ad:

• It is huge, bright, or flashing.
• There are several of them in different spots.
• A small word like Ad, Sponsored or an "i" in a corner sits near it.
• It doesn't mention the program's name.

The real link is often plainer. It usually names the program and its version, like "Download PlayAll 3.2 for Windows".

Searching can trick you too. The top search results are often marked Sponsored. Those are ads, and some lead to look-alike sites. Scroll past them and look for the program's own address.

On the practice computer, search for PlayAll Video Player. Skip the sponsored result, find the official site, and download the real file, not the ads.

Get apps from the right place

The safest way to get a program is from a place you can trust. There are two good choices.

1. An app store. An app store is a shop built into your computer for getting apps. On Windows it is the Microsoft Store. Open it from the Start menu. On a Mac it is the App Store, in the Dock or the Apple menu. Apps there are checked before they are listed.

2. The maker's official website. The official website is the site run by the company that made the program. Look at the address bar to make sure you are there, not on a copy with a similar name.

Be careful with sites that collect lots of free programs from other makers. Some add extra software you didn't ask for.

Before you open a file you downloaded, look at its name. A video player should be called something like PlayAll-setup.exe. If the name doesn't match what you wanted, delete it.

When the program starts to install, read each screen. Uncheck boxes that offer extra apps or toolbars. If anything asks for money or a phone call during a "free" install, stop and close it.