Auto-download offers are an ad type that downloads a file as soon as a user clicks on the ad. The download happens without the user’s consent. Auto-download offers can download promotional videos, random apps, inappropriate images, or other types of files.
That type of advertisement is considered to be malicious and is filtered out by many ad companies. Most of the time, it really is used for malicious and not marketing purposes. For example, it can automatically download a malicious program that will later either destroy your device or steal your data.
Users are oftentimes unable to detect auto-download offers. They look like regular pop-ups or banners. Fraud advertisers go as far as to include a closing button on the creative that seems like a legit one. However, it is just a part of the trick: it is still a part of the creative and is not clickable.
One can avoid this type of ad by installing ad blockers.
