Why does Matlab installer have ads?

When I try to install MatLab R2020b I get presented with ads like this and installer seems to be idle. Is this normal?

[Image Analyst]

I've never seen ads on any of their installers, not even for Mathworks products. Your screenshot doesn't even show the MATLAB installer. Are you saying the installer launches your web browser to your startup page for some reason? It does not do that for us.

[Jordan Smith]

Yes it launches two ads assocaited with MatLab window (not on a browser or other program) and installer sits idle. It just seems very strange to me this is happening and I have only ever seen this when trying to install Matlab 2020b.

I have tested now with 2019b installer and had no issue.

[Star Strider]

I’ve never seen it either.

I also avoid Yahoo like the plague it is. Most likely it’s the problem, not MathWorks.

[Walter Roberson]

I have never seen this, ever.

[John D'Errico]

Nor me. What OS are you using?

It looks like you are getting a web browser started up for you, and it is then bouncing you into Yahoo? Is that the browser homepage I assume? (I do agree with Star about Yahoo.)

Hmm. Maybe, if you set the browser home page to MATLAB Central. Then see if when you start the install, it drops you here instead? That would tell you if it is somehow using the browser setting.

[Jordan Smith]

Not my browser homepage. I have deleted installer now, seemed really suss that I was getting this.

[Steven Lord]

Did you download the Installer from the MathWorks website, from your company's or school's IT department, or somewhere else?

If you downloaded it from (or was sent it by) your IT department, you should probably ask them to give it a quick virus scan and/or to download it fresh from the MathWorks website and compare the downloads.

If you downloaded it from MathWorks, I'm quite surprised that it brought up ads in the Installer. In this case I'll alert the appropriate staff members.

[Jordan Smith]

Downloaded thorugh MathWorks website, but I am using a school associated account if that could have any impact.

[Image Analyst]

Ask other students if they also saw ads. I also agree with the test John said about (temporarily) changing your startup pages for your browser.