The Notepad++ project, developers of the popular open-source text editor, is calling on its community for help in taking down a harmful website that’s impersonating their official download source.
This “parasite website” poses a significant risk to users and undermines the reputation of the Notepad++ project.
“I’ve received numerous complaints via email, social media, and forums regarding a website that poses a significant threat to our community,” writes Don Ho, the original developer of Notepad++.
The site in question, notepad[.]plus, is no longer appearing prominently in search results. This has been confirmed by the Abijita Foundation, suggesting the site may have been deindexed by Google.
“Some users have mistakenly believed that [it] is the official Notepad++ website. This confusion has led to frustration and potential security risks,” states the dev.
The website in question does contain a clear disclaimer at the bottom spelling out that it’s “an unofficial fan website” and “not affiliated” with the project.
Notepad++ is a trademark of Don HO. Notepad[.]plus is not affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by Don HO in any ways. This is an unofficial fan website created for general information/educational purpose only. Any context found in this website is our personal opinions and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Don HO or its representatives. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
While it does currently redirect to legitimate Notepad++ downloads, the site is concerning for these reasons:
- Deceptive intent: The site masquerades as an official resource, misleading users.
- Malicious ads: The site is filled with aggressive advertisements, potentially leading to harmful clicks and downloads.
- Traffic diversion: Its main goal seems to be diverting users away from the true Notepad++ website, https://notepad-plus-plus.org.
The Notepad++ team is asking for your help in reporting https://notepad.plus/ as a malicious site. Here’s how:
- Report to Google: Use Google’s “Report malicious software” tool: https://safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_badware/?hl=en
- Spread the word: Share this information on social media and tech forums to raise awareness.
By working together, we can help shut down this harmful site and protect the Notepad++ community. Your reports make a difference in maintaining a safer and more trustworthy online environment for everyone.
Let’s stand united against online deception!
