(04-19-2020, 04:16 PM)qashto Wrote: If you're dumb enough to install malware on your computer you deserve the malware. The links use clk.sh a standard url shortener. A lot of packs on this forum also use them to make money. I will remove the pack from this forum entirely if I can't use the clk.sh links.
(04-19-2020, 04:28 PM)qashto Wrote: I want to clarify that they're just ads. I'm not in control of what kind of ads they show. If people get an ad to install malware and they download the malware that's their own fault. They can easily skip the ads to get the links to the texture pack. Removing the links is unfair to texture pack creators.
Ohh come on. It's your responsibility to ensure safe links are handed out. Just skip the ad redirector and link the immediate source right away. I don't see why it would be any unfair against texture pack creators. You pack is not getting censored, removed or altered in any way. The only thing that has been asked now was to provide an immediate download link that's free of any harmful activities.
It's understandable that issues like these can slip through once on a while. It seems like you weren't handed out warnings, so I am sure the staff knew it was a honest mistake. That could happen at times, and over time we start to forget which links were handed out. But don't you think it's a bit too much to threaten to immediately cancel your project? You really shouldn't do that. It's always a waste when a texture pack disappears from these forums. The pack is finished, right? So there should be no need to cancel and remove it altogether. In the worst case, if it wasn't finished you could just have stopped any future updates. It's a shame yeah, but lack of funding can cause a project to stop getting improved upon. That's definitely understandable.
It's a bit unfair to blame the user for accidentally installing malware when you are the one that links them to it. Yeah, sure, you don't directly influence which adds are shown, but given the nature of these services, malware is just realistic option, given enough time for the commercials to swap out. Many users might not be aware of how to properly go through these links and might very well accidentally click the wrong button to proceed, resulting in malware. It's not entirely clear on those sites how to proceed.
If you do need funding for your projects, why not start up a Patreon or PayPal? Users can that way directly support you. Plus, it's a lot safer. You already have linked to both of them on the main page. So that should be fine then, right? Perhaps set up your own YouTube or Discord channels for promotion? That could help you as well.