The warning comes as a result of a copycat website for the popular Windows app Notepad++ that has been climbing up the Google search rankings. The official website for Notepad++ is notepad-plus-plus.org, but the copycat site is registered at notepad.plus.
Although the copycat site does link back to the official site for downloading the software, Notepad++’s developer, Don Ho, warns that this is no innocent fan site. The site contains malicious advertisements that aim to deceive users into clicking on them, potentially leading to security risks for those unsuspecting users who believe it to be the official site.
The fear is that the copycat site could engage in “bait and switch” tactics, swapping the official download links for links to malicious software containing malware. The ownership of the copycat site is hidden in Whois lookup results, with only the information that the domain was registered in 2019 via namecheap.com being available.
A disclaimer on the copycat site states that it is not affiliated with or endorsed by Don Ho in any way and is only created for general information and educational purposes. The developer is urging users to help get the copycat site removed from search rankings by reporting it as malicious software using Google’s reporting tool in order to protect the Notepad++ community and create a safer internet environment for all users.
Despite the warning from the Notepad++ developer, there is no visible evidence of misleading advertisements or attempts to deceive visitors on the copycat site when visited. However, the potential security risks posed by the site and the fact that it could potentially lead to malware infections for unsuspecting users is a cause for concern.
As of now, the copycat site sits fourth in the Google search rankings for Notepad++, behind two official site listings and the Notepad++ Wikipedia page. The developer’s call to action to report the website as malicious software is aimed at protecting users and maintaining a safe internet environment for all who use the Notepad++ software.
