DuckDuckGo Expands Scam Blocker as Fraud Hits $12.5B

DuckDuckGo has expanded its Scam Blocker to shield users from an increasing range of online threats such as fake e-commerce sites, phishing hubs, and scareware. The move comes as the Federal Trade Commission reported $12.5 billion in consumer fraud losses in 2024, underscoring the urgency for stronger digital defenses. DuckDuckGo expands Scam Blocker to detect rare scams often missed by conventional tools, including malware distributors and malicious ads that operate without user interaction.

Unlike rival browsers that rely on Google’s Safe Browsing, DuckDuckGo uses a proprietary system built with cybersecurity firm Netcraft. The blocker runs on a two-layer architecture: a locally stored threat list updated every 20 minutes and encrypted server-side verification for less common risks. DuckDuckGo expands Scam Blocker protections to all device traffic through its Privacy Pro subscription, which includes VPN coverage. The privacy-first approach requires no user account and activates by default.

Read the full story at https://cybersecuritynews.com/duckduckgo-new-scam-blocker/