Privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo is expanding its defence against online scams. On Thursday, the company announced it has updated its browser’s Scam Blocker tool to detect and warn users about a wider range of online threats, including fake cryptocurrency exchanges, fraudulent e-commerce storefronts, and deceptive virus warnings.
The latest feature upgrade aims to provide users with real-time protection from emerging digital fraud schemes without sacrificing anonymity or requiring complicated setup. With online scams reaching new highs in recent years, the enhancement to DuckDuckGo’s already robust privacy ecosystem signals a deeper push into cybersecurity.
A Timely Update Amid Record Online Fraud
The update comes amid alarming new figures from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which reported that consumers lost a staggering $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, up 25% from the previous year. Online shopping scams were the second most reported category, a clear indicator of just how pervasive digital deception has become.
While Scam Blocker already protected users from phishing attacks, malware, and other common online traps, this new iteration is designed to tackle more complex fraud patterns. The expansion is particularly timely as fake crypto platforms and imposter e-commerce sites grow more sophisticated, often fooling even experienced internet users.
DuckDuckGo says the aim is to create a “safer browsing experience” while staying true to its core promise: privacy-first, no user tracking.
How Scam Blocker Works and Protects Anonymity
Scam Blocker doesn’t prevent scam links or pop-ups from appearing altogether. Instead, if a user clicks on a potentially dangerous link, the browser halts the connection and displays a warning message, offering users a chance to navigate away safely.
The technology powering the warnings is a blend of DuckDuckGo’s in-house development and cybersecurity data provided by Netcraft, an independent cybersecurity company. Netcraft maintains a live feed of malicious URLs, which DuckDuckGo uses to populate its Scam Blocker database.
To preserve user privacy, DuckDuckGo says it doesn’t send browsing history back to its servers. Instead, its system downloads the threat database every 20 minutes and stores it locally on the user’s device. This not only ensures faster detection but also eliminates the need for constant network communication that could risk exposing user behaviour.
“Scam Blocker uses local storage to minimise the number of times your device communicates with our servers,” the company explained in an email to CNET. “That, along with an anonymized hashing solution that obscures the sites you’ve visited, means your browsing remains anonymous.”
No Setup Required It’s On By Default
Scam Blocker is available for free across DuckDuckGo’s desktop and mobile browsers and is enabled automatically. This plug-and-play functionality means users are protected without needing to dig through settings or install additional plugins.
DuckDuckGo’s latest update also aligns with broader efforts by the company to become a full-service privacy suite. In recent months, the platform has introduced new subscription offerings that include VPN access and enhanced email protection, further blurring the line between browser and privacy utility.
Growing Need for Built-In Scam Protection
As fraudsters evolve their tactics, from crypto phishing schemes to convincing lookalike e-commerce platforms, cybersecurity defences embedded directly into browsers are becoming essential.
For privacy-conscious users, tools like Scam Blocker offer dual value: real-time protection against threats and assurance that their data isn’t being harvested in the process. DuckDuckGo’s decision to bake the feature into its ecosystem, rather than offer it as an add-on, underscores a growing philosophy that security should be standard, not optional.
With scam losses hitting record levels and digital trust harder to maintain than ever, DuckDuckGo’s upgrade to Scam Blocker may be a small but significant step towards a safer web, one pop-up at a time.
