Millennial here. The true answer is None Of The Above. The actual download button is just a blue link somewhere on the page, probably among all of the torrent info.
this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2025
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This is the correct answer. It might also be the filename shown. If you can put your cursor over that it might become underlined. All big Download buttons are not to be trusted.
It always irked me back in the day when cnet was still a useful source because they modeled their buttons that way. Then they eventually became the garbage the site appeared to be at first glance.
Came here to say this. Closest onscreen would probably be the grey "Download or Watch" button not trying to get your attention in any way.
The real download button only shows up after 30 seconds.
The file name looks like a link, it’s at least a slightly different color than the other text.
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Stop. Install your favorite ad blocker, like ublock origin. Refresh.
Work smarter not harder
Back in my day, we didn't have no fancy ublock origin
YEA! We just kept closing popups till we got the right one!!!!
And then your friend sends you a link to the "You Are An Idiot" gag site so you just have to reboot.
Forgot to turn the volume down, instant regret as the speakers on the family computer scream ”HI EVERYBODY I’M LOOKING AT GAY PORNO”
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No lie, this is how I learnt keyboard hotkeys as a kid. I'd click middle mouse to open a link on the site in a new tab, with my hand ready to go on Ctrl + W. The nanosecond I detected a fake site, I'd closer that sucker and move onto the next link.
Oh boy did I bring a lot of viruses on my computer in the process in the name of efficiency & greed (& hefty amount of stupidity).
About 2 years ago I spent most of a Christmas sorting out my MIL's new laptop, uninstalling junk and whatnot, and I tossed ublock origin on there. A few days ago I came back to sort out the Realtek audio drivers which uninstalled themselves via Windows Update. I find she has an entirely different laptop now, branded as"Acemagic" but through the magic of forced Microsoft Sign-in ublock origin synced to Edge on this new laptop, and there was no crapware installed despite the laptop clearly being in use for about 6 months already!
TL;DR install ublock origin on your parents computers to save yourself some trouble down the line
Even with uBlock Origin, some pirate sites still have this problem because the ads either are not typical ad elements or are not in the block list. Very common with sites that host pirated android apps, in my experience.
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You drag the button. If it takes with it more than just a button, it is an ad.
I just hover over and read URLs if I'm not sure.
This is the real answer
I actually didn't know that. I would mouse over and look at the url.
The ones that don't say "advertisement" under.. as a gen z that commits regular piracy
There are 3 "downloads" there without advertisement written under them. Just use the most basic looking button, it's like how the holy grail is the most plain looking one.
That or just use devtools/inspect elements.
Nah, I back out if that Frankenstein curse of a website and go somewhere else to find the download. There is no glory to be found here.
That's all fine and dandy until you're trying to download a .bin file containing a 12 year old version of the firmware that an ancient piece of tech your entire network relies on up and running again. Sometimes you do what you gotta do.
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No matter where you click, it'll open some pop-unders for the first few clicks.
In the very top right of the browser window, there should be a little 'X' button. That's the one you wanna click.
I honestly don't see one that looks right.
You click on the file name
Trick question, the link is a plain blue hyoerlink near the bottom of the page you haven't scrolled to yet
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The little grey button at the bottom of the screen
But only if that’s what your OS’s native dialog buttons look like
Jpeg of a windows dialog button while you’re using Linux? That’s a trap.
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Install an adblocker and take the guesswork away, but likely the orange one at the bottom.
It’s actually the one below that. It says “Download or watch”
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non, you wait for the donwload to start automatically, if not, update all your adblocks and try the button with no url when you hover over it
The real answer is a question - Is the timer still running ?
Bottom white one?
Curious. The only winning move is not to play.
I'll go with the small red download button in the middle.
It could be the very bottom one, but it probably says advertisement under that and it's just been cropped out.
But even the correct button is likely to launch you into a popup to try and get you to download a "downloader" of some description, as if that's not literally the sole function of a fucking web browser, and then suddenly you've been taken to livejasmin.com or a sketchy gambling site targetted at Asians.
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