Latest news with #DuckDuckGo
The Verge
2 days ago
- The Verge
Posted Jun 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM EDT
DuckDuckGo's scam blocker now covers fake ecommerce sites and more. The tool, which is built into DuckDuckGo's browser, displays a warning message when you click on potentially dangerous sites. In addition to blocking phishing sites, malware, and common online scams, DuckDuckGo has expanded the tool to protect against fake online stores, phony crypto exchanges, and those obnoxious sites that falsely claim your device has a virus.
The Verge
3 days ago
- The Verge
DuckDuckGo's scam blocker now covers fake ecommerce sites and more.
The tool, which is built into DuckDuckGo's browser, displays a warning message when you click on potentially dangerous sites. In addition to blocking phishing sites, malware, and common online scams, DuckDuckGo has expanded the tool to protect against fake online stores, phony crypto exchanges, and those obnoxious sites that falsely claim your device has a virus.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
DuckDuckGo Can Now Warn You About Fake Crypto Exchanges and Other Online Scams
DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused search engine, announced Thursday that it updated its browser's Scam Blocker to guard you against more online threats. The company said online that its Scam Blocker can now warn you about fake crypto exchanges, scam e-commerce storefronts and fraudulent virus warnings. Scam Blocker could previously help protect you against phishing sites, malware and other common online scams. Read more: DuckDuckGo Offers a VPN and More in New Privacy Subscription Service According to a report from the Federal Trade Commission, people lost about $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 -- a 25% increase from 2023 -- with online shopping scams being the second most reported type of fraud. DuckDuckGo said online that Scam Blocker is intended to help protect you from these scams while maintaining your privacy. When using Scam Blocker on your browser, you'll still see pop-ups and links to malicious sites. But according to DuckDuckGo, if you click on these links, Scam Blocker won't load them. The company wrote online that Scam Blocker will show you a warning message to let navigate away from the page safely. DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo designed Scam Blocker in-house, and the company said the feature utilizes a feed of malicious site URLs from the independent cybersecurity company Netcraft. According to DuckDuckGo, Scam Blocker maintains your anonymity by storing Netcraft's list of malicious site URLs on DuckDuckGo servers. Then, the company says it passes the list to your browser every 20 minutes to keep your list as up-to-date as possible. The list is then stored locally on your device. "Scam Blocker uses local storage to minimize the number of times your device communicates with our servers," DuckDuckGo told CNET in an email. "That, along with an anonymized hashing solution that obscures the sites you've visited, means your browsing remains anonymous. And after you load the dataset for the first time, fewer network requests make subsequent checks faster." Scam Blocker is free and available on DuckDuckGo's mobile and desktop browsers. According to the company, it's on by default, so you don't have to search through menus to enable it. For more on DuckDuckGo, here's what to know about the privacy-focused search engine, five reasons why you should use it and what to know about its VPN service.
Engadget
3 days ago
- Engadget
DuckDuckGo's browser now protects you from fake crypto exchanges and scareware
DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused web browser and search engine, has expanded the scope of its Scam Blocker tool. In addition to being able to protect you from standard phishing and malware attempts, Scam Blocker now also covers fake e-commerce storefronts, survey sites and cyptocurrency exchanges, as well as "scareware" pages falsely claiming that your device is infected and want you to click a button or a link to clean it. If the tool determines that you've clicked on a link leading to one of those websites, it blocks the page from loading altogether. Instead, it shows you a warning message telling you that the website may be a security risk and that it has been flagged for "trying to manipulate people into transferring money, buying counterfeit goods, or installing malware." The warning also lets you safely navigate away from the scam website without loading it. DuckDuckGo built Scam Blocker itself, and it doesn't rely on any Google technology like other browsers do. The company said it means it doesn't send data to any third parties and it doesn't track your activities. It constantly refreshes its list of malicious URLs from independent internet services provider Netcraft and passes the updates to its browser every 20 minutes. That list of dangerous sites lives locally on your device, and the tool checks URLs you're visiting against it to determine whether to show you a warning message. Scam Blocker is completely free on desktop and the web, and it's switched on by default. If you're paying for DuckDuckGo's $10-a-month Privacy Pro subscription service, Scam Blocker will even protect you while using other browsers.
Mint
13-06-2025
- Mint
Hidden costs of 'free' tech: Understanding data monetisation
We live in a world where free apps, streaming platforms, and social networks are built into everyday life. No sign-up fees. No monthly charges. Just convenience, on demand. But if you've ever wondered how these companies survive, let alone thrive? The answer lies in something far more valuable than your money: your data. The idea of 'free' tech is an illusion. Behind every app or service that costs nothing upfront is a business model built on monetising user behaviour. Here's what that actually means, and how to protect yourself. You've probably heard the phrase: If you're not paying for the product, you are the product. That's not just a clever line, it's the foundation of modern digital economics. The majority of 'free' apps and platforms profit through targeted advertising. Every click, scroll, and search tells these systems something about you. That data gets bundled into a profile: age, interests, browsing habits, and is used to deliver eerily relevant ads. Then there's data brokering, where companies sell your activity or preferences to third parties. This might fuel anything from ad targeting to political campaigns. Some platforms also use freemium models, offering basic services for free while nudging you toward subscriptions. And beyond ads, your data is often used to train AI systems, test features, or generate business insights. It's a quiet engine that powers an entire digital economy. It's easy to shrug this off, until you realise what's really at stake. Your privacy isn't just about what you're doing today. It's about what companies know about you tomorrow. Sensitive data can be stored indefinitely, repurposed, or exposed during data breaches, putting identities and accounts at risk. Even when it's 'secure,' that data fuels targeted advertising that follows you across devices, making it feel like the internet is reading your mind. And if you've ever struggled to opt out of tracking or delete your account completely, you've already felt the loss of control that comes with signing away your data. You don't need to ditch every free app you use, but it helps to be intentional. Review privacy settings in your apps and devices. Limit what's shared and with whom. Check permissions: does a flashlight app really need access to your contacts? Use privacy-first alternatives like Signal for messaging or DuckDuckGo for browsing. Delete what you don't use. Less clutter means less exposure. Read the fine print. Even skimming a privacy policy can reveal what data is collected, and why. A few changes here and there can significantly reduce how much of your life you're handing over. 4. Enjoy free tech—But stay informed 'Free' isn't the problem. The problem is when we stop asking what we're giving in return. Used wisely, free tech can still offer enormous value. But it's on us to use it consciously, understanding what's being tracked, and taking small steps to protect what's personal. Your data is powerful. Don't give it away without a second thought.
