- Duckduckgo offers improved, fraud protection in browser
- Online scams are increasing so it wants to keep users in safety
- It says scam blocks do not send tracking information to third party
Online fraud is increasing, AI allows cyber criminals to send more frequent scams that are more sophisticated than ever, and economic losses are growing increasingly common, with online fraud costing Americans $ 12.5 billion. In 2024.
Duckduckgo is looking to change this and reveal a new version of its browser with a built-in scam blocking tool that helps protect users from phishing sites, malware and other online fraud.
This now includes fake crypto -currency exchange sites, fake shopping sites and ‘Scareware’ -a type of malicious software trying to convince the victims that their device has a virus to encourage them to buy unnecessary antivirus software.
Devastating losses
Scam Blocker is available for free at DuckduckGo for mobile and for desktop, and privacy pro users can enjoy the coverage of full device even when using other browsers as long as they are logged in to Duckduckgo VPN.
The tool works by preventing scammy pages from loading if a user accidentally follows a malicious link. A warning message then allows the user to safely navigate away from the page.
The scam blocks also blocks tracker-driven ads before loading so that users are sure that ‘Malvert’ ads that can compromise on their systems.
Scam Blocker never traces searches, and it also prevents other companies from harvesting data with browser protection designed to keep your information private. It protects your anonymity by storing a ‘dangerous site list’ locally on your device, which means your browser data is not sent anywhere else.
“Most browsers use Google Tools for phishing and malware blocking and sends browser data to Google in real time,” says Brit Edwards, Senior Communications Manager, Duckduckgo.
“We don’t. We designed Scam Blocking even with data from independent cyber security company Netcraft. Our fraud protection does not require an account and we do not share your browser data with third parties.”
