The software awards scam
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Computers Technology -> subcategory Software.
The Software Awards Scam: Exposing the Truth
Summary
An intriguing experiment revealed that software download sites often hand out awards for programs, even if they don’t function. The discovery highlights the superficial nature of these recognitions and raises concerns about their validity.---
The Illusion of Recognition
Recently, I launched a new software product that remarkably received 16 awards and recommendations from various software download sites. Complimentary messages like "Great job, we're impressed!" accompanied these accolades. However, there’s a catch?"my software doesn’t run. It’s merely a text file labeled as an executable (.exe) that repeatedly reads, "this program does nothing at all." Even the name, "awardmestars," wasn’t subtle.
Despite this, it still managed to win 16 awards, which may look impressive but lack real value.
The reason behind these awards is evident: certain download sites offer recognition to every software submission, hoping recipients will display the award with a backlink. This boosts the site's traffic both directly (through clicks) and indirectly (via improved page rankings). While developers might appreciate the attention, this deceptive practice blurs the line between high-quality software and anything submitted. Both the awarding sites and those displaying these accolades are perpetuating this scam.
Unveiling the Deception
My suspicions started with the numerous five-star awards my PerfectTablePlan software received. Observing that many other applications on these sites also had five-star ratings, I noticed that even weaker competitors showcased similar accolades. Hardly any received three or four stars?"it was a red flag. Applying my scientific background, I decided to test whether a non-functional software piece could earn awards.
With Mykola Rudenko’s help from the submission service rundenko.com, "awardmestars" was submitted to 1,033 sites for free. Two weeks later, it was listed on 218 sites, pending on 394, and rejected by 421, largely because sites didn’t accept software of its genre, not for quality reasons. About 7% of the listed sites awarded it, highlighting the problem.
The Consequences of Fake Recognition
Many download sites operate on dubious ethics, utilizing fraudulent awards and content theft from PAD files to profit from Google Ads. Ideally, improving search engines will eliminate these low-quality sites, leaving only reputable ones. Good download sites have a role, but they need better quality control, categorization, and genuine user reviews to succeed. The MacOSX platform exemplifies a successful model with fewer but higher-quality sites and better user interaction.
A few site owners demonstrated integrity by contacting me with remarks like "very funny" or "stop wasting my time." They took the effort to verify submissions, earning my respect. Consider them when searching for software:
- www.filecart.com
- www.freshmeat.net
- www.download-tipp.de (German)
Lothar Jung of download-tipp.de shared insight: many sites give maximum ratings to gain backlinks, but he prioritizes user satisfaction over quantity. Only 10% of submissions receive their top award.
Trust and Download Sites
Trust is crucial in software downloads. Users need assurance that software is free from malware. Some sites provide "100% clean" logos, which I use on my PerfectTablePlan download page. While theoretically easy to scan for malware, the authenticity of these claims remains questionable unless unethical testing is performed. If anyone has reliable insights, I’d be eager to know.
Thanks to submit-everywhere.com for enabling this experiment. Their detailed service impressed me, and at $70, it’s excellent value compared to the time and hassle saved. I plan to be a paying customer in the future.
Addendum
This experiment attracted attention on platforms like Reddit, Digg, and Slashdot, resulting in significant discussion. I feel like Dr. Frankenstein, watching my experiment take on its life. Had I known the impact, I would have clarified:
- I have no prior ties to the highlighted download sites; they were selected due to their diligent submission review processes.
- I have no financial interest in the submission service mentioned, aside from my gratitude for their free assistance.
- My only commercial interest is in my software, PerfectTablePlan.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: The software awards scam.
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