Fake Download Buttons: How to Spot Them
Shady converter sites surround the one real download button with fakes: big green "DOWNLOAD" banners that lead to ads, installers, or permission traps. This page teaches you to tell them apart in seconds.
What the real one looks like
- One button, clearly labeled, appearing after conversion completes.
- Matches the site's design: same colors, same font, same style as the rest of the page.
- Hover shows a sane URL: the site's own domain, ending in a media file or a download path.
- One click, one file. No new tabs, no prompts, no installers.
What the fakes look like
- Bigger and louder than the real button: flashing, oversized, or placed above it.
- Generic ad styling that clashes with the site's design.
- Hover shows a weird URL: ad networks, unrelated domains, or tracking links.
- Triggers a permission prompt ("Click Allow to download") instead of a file.
- Opens new tabs full of "your device is infected" scare pages.
The hover test
Before clicking any download button, hover over it and look at the URL preview in the bottom corner of your browser. If the domain does not match the site you are on, do not click it.
If you clicked one
- Close new tabs immediately.
- Decline every permission prompt. Never click Allow.
- Remove the site from your notification permissions.
- Run an antivirus scan if you downloaded or ran anything.
This tool has exactly one real button and nothing else. See why it is safe.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which download button is real?
Hover and check the URL preview. The real one links to the site's own domain; fakes link to ad networks or trigger prompts.
What should I do if I clicked a fake download button?
Close new tabs, decline every prompt, remove the site from notification permissions, and scan if you downloaded anything.