The download page has some malicious ads.

Black Mesa Archive Website Issues
#1

I was trying to sleep last night when my little brother came in freaking out saying black mesa was a virus. I was cranky and telling him it wasn’t a virus. I got up out of bed to see what was happening to his computer. he had installed some random installer from i don’t know where. I went to the download page to see what he downloaded from here that made him do this.

and bam, a big blue “download” button is there. that wasn’t there when i downloaded it because i have adblock on firefox.

I have marked the imposter download link with a big red box. and now there is an ad at the bottom with another imposter download button.

767×464 47.4 KB

Seeing this, i see where he might have been confused and hit the big blue download button.

I would have emailed staff, but i wanted to warn other people about this as well.

#2

hahaha, theres a big download button under your post…(bottom of your thread now)

its a way for companies/hackers to make you download their stuff.

they wont be removed because the websites earn money everytime it gets an visitor because of all the add’s

#3

Unrelatedly, does anyone fall for those anymore? They feel so obvious to me.

#4

well my brother fell for it. and he downloaded it. just wanted to warn other people. not to fall for it.

#5

https://adblockplus.org/en/

It’s freakin’ 2012. Get with the program, people.

#6

Don’t we have some sort of system up where the admins can blacklist certain ads from appearing on the site?

…I thought we did.

#7

I remember when similar ads were on the frontpage, IIRC the admins blacklisted them. So yeah, I think they can.

#8

I used to do that, but then I realized that the ads help keep this place up and running. I decided to sit with them.

#9

That makes no sense. They only make money when you click them, what, do you click them (click fraud) or are you genuinely interested in the ads?

#10

https://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

#11

Not entirely true. It’s a combination of impressions (views) and clicks that determine how much is made. I’ll look into disabling the ads that have fake download buttons.

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.