DuckDuckGo's 'Scam Blocker' Just Got a Big Upgrade

When it comes to protecting your privacy online, some internet browsers are definitely safer than others, with features like built-in ad and tracking blocking and fingerprint randomizing.

While DuckDuckGo, which is known for its focus on privacy, isn't the absolute best option, it is an excellent alternative to Chrome (the worst) without some of the trade-offs of top recommendations like Tor and Brave. Its newly expanded scam blocking features make it even more attractive for users looking to keep themselves and their data safe online.

How DuckDuckGo's Scam Blocker protects against threats

DuckDuckGo's Scam Blocker has always offered built-in protection against online threats like phishing and malware sites as well as malvertising, which can initiate a download or compromise your system even if you don't click anything.

Now, the tool will cover a broader range of scams, including fraudulent cryptocurrency exchanges and investment sites, affiliate surveys with fake cash rewards, and fake e-commerce storefronts designed to harvest personal information or trick you into financial transactions. Scam Blocker can also protect against scareware: fake virus alerts that draw you into tech support scams.

Investment scams in particular are popping up everywhere, preying on emotions like fear and greed. Scareware campaigns have also become more sophisticated and spread to target more users.

Unlike phishing protections available in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, Scam Blocker doesn't rely Google Safe Browsing, which shares browsing data to Google. Instead, it downloads a list of malicious URLs—compiled by an independent cybersecurity firm—to your local device. This list is updated every 20 minutes, and as you browse, DuckDuckGo checks against that list and warns you if you land on a potentially dangerous site. Scam Blocker is anonymous and doesn't require an account, so it doesn't track user activity or send that information to a third party.

Scam Blocker is on by default within DuckDuckGo's mobile and desktop browsers. If you subscribe to Privacy Pro ($100 per year) and connect to DuckDuckGo VPN, Scam Blocker will cover other apps and browsers on your device.

Note that DuckDuckGo has both a search engine (and browser extension) and a standalone web browser—Scam Blocker is part of the latter.