Deceptive Patterns
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McAfee: Confirmshaming employed to pressure users into buying

Author
Dark Patterns Tip Line
Date
21 Apr 2021

“Upon setting up a new computer, this advertisement popped up showing a service to protect against dangerous hackers, viruses and more. “Get protection” was highlighted an emphasized as the primary button option. Very small, linked underneath read “Accept risk,” which shamed me to continue without buying their service.”

McAfee was reported to the Deceptive Design Tip Line over an advertisement that used confirmshaming. According to the report, when setting up a new computer an advertisement appeared promoting a service to protect against hackers, viruses and more, with “Get protection” highlighted and emphasised as the primary button. Underneath, a very small link read “Accept risk”, which the reporter said shamed them into continuing without buying the service.