DuckDuckGo’s browser now protects you from pretend crypto exchanges and scareware

DuckDuckGo, the privacy-focused internet browser and search engine, has expanded the scope of its Rip-off Blocker software. Along with having the ability to shield you from normal phishing and malware makes an attempt, Rip-off Blocker now additionally covers pretend e-commerce storefronts, survey websites and cyptocurrency exchanges, in addition to “scareware” pages falsely claiming that your machine is contaminated and need you to click on a button or a hyperlink to wash it.

If the software determines that you’ve got clicked on a hyperlink resulting in a type of web sites, it blocks the web page from loading altogether. As a substitute, it reveals you a warning message telling you that the web site could also be a safety danger and that it has been flagged for “attempting to control individuals into transferring cash, shopping for counterfeit items, or putting in malware.” The warning additionally enables you to safely navigate away from the rip-off web site with out loading it.

DuckDuckGo constructed Rip-off Blocker itself, and it would not depend on any Google expertise like different browsers do. The corporate mentioned it means it would not ship information to any third events and it would not monitor your actions. It continuously refreshes its record of malicious URLs from unbiased web providers supplier Netcraft and passes the updates to its browser each 20 minutes. That record of harmful websites lives domestically in your machine, and the software checks URLs you are visiting towards it to find out whether or not to point out you a warning message.

Rip-off Blocker is totally free on desktop and the online, and it is switched on by default. For those who’re paying for DuckDuckGo’s $10-a-month Privateness Professional subscription service, Rip-off Blocker will even shield you whereas utilizing different browsers.