Google Now Blocks Sites With Deceptive Download Buttons

Feb 5, 2016 - 7:50 am 7 by
Filed Under Google

Google Penalty 640

Google announced this week that they are blocking access to sites via big warnings for sites that contain deception download buttons and forms of deceptive embedded content, like social engineering ads.

The examples Google gave include:

  • 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 is the warning you would see:

click for full size

Here are examples of those ads:

click for full size click for full size

Some of the folks over at WebmasterWorld are sharing screen shots of Google AdSense ads that look to be similar to the ads above. Love it.

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: January 16, 2026

Jan 16, 2026 - 10:00 am
Google Updates

Google Search Ranking Volatility Hits January 15-16

Jan 16, 2026 - 8:41 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Personal Intelligence, Universal Commerce Protocol, Apple Picks Gemini & Ongoing Search Volatility

Jan 16, 2026 - 8:01 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google To Prioritize Removing Prediction News Content From Search & News

Jan 16, 2026 - 7:55 am
Google Maps

Google AI Overview Local Pack Leading To Huge Drops In Visibility

Jan 16, 2026 - 7:51 am
Bing Ads

Microsoft Advertising Adds Share Of Voice Metrics, Asset Group-Level URL Options, Customer Acquisition Goals...

Jan 16, 2026 - 7:41 am
 
Previous Story: Google Launches Troubleshooting Tool In News Publisher Center