Comment on When Did VLC's Site Get Ads?
Brewchin@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Gonna need a bit more info than you’ve provided.
What I will note, from the information that you’ve provided, is that you shared an internet exchange screenshot showing a couple of low key ads (with the usual opt out bullshit links), so any ads are not on the VLC site - it’s on their download partner site, a la 1995 - and they’re probably the most tame ads (repeat: not benefiting VLC) that I’ve seen in 30 years.
tl;dr: Late-stage PSTN/POTS dialup configuration of binaries hosted on a third party (pre-CDN) download site -who are free to inject whatever spam they like - (but have been astonishingly restrained here) along with the download link.
brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 days ago
I wouldn’t call fake download links on a download page ‘restrained’
Brewchin@lemmy.world 2 days ago
First indication of fake I’ve seen so far, based on OP’s detail-light post. I’d assumed the FOMO timer would eventually download the genuine binary.
So, share with the class…
brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 days ago
…The picture says 'Start Now. Download."
I posted some similar ads above.
Brewchin@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Just realised that I automatically filter out obvious scams, as I genuinely didn’t register three contents of either of those spam boxes…
That arrangement has existed for over 30 years, and it’s now an unconscious scan. 😒
But I think the point remains in the middle of the page, that it will run through the standard bullshit FOMO timer, and then start downloading the expected binary.
And it’s not VLC doing any advertising. They’re just choosing to use a shit download site to host the binary for that OS and download method