When you browse the web on a regular basis, it can be quite dangerous, but it becomes even more dangerous when you access certain types of sites. It should come as no surprise that porn, streaming, and video hosting websites top the list of services posing the greatest risk to users' privacy and security.
Malware attacks, invasive ads, and heavy web tracking were among the threats.
That is the exclusive data gathered by NordVPN, one of the best VPN services available. In December 2022 alone, the VPN provider was able to block over 344 million web trackers, 341 million intrusive ads, and 506,000 malware infections thanks to its Threat Protection tool.
"The online world is challenging people in every single move they make," said NordVPN cybersecurity advisor Adrianus Warmenhoven.
"Want to read an article? Dozens of ads and pop-ups are ready to immediately cover your screen. Another privacy threat – malware – is lurking for you on websites and in files you are about to download. Websites you browse are also full of third-party trackers that analyze your browsing history to find out what you do online. It depends on you to stop it."
NordVPN researchers wanted to know how these cyber threats were getting to users. They did this by analysing aggregated data collected by their Threat Protection system. While this did not include any personally identifiable information about users, it did assist them in depicting the scenario that everyone faces on a daily basis online.
Malware is perhaps the most concerning of these threats. This is due to the ease with which such malicious software can infiltrate a device and damage or compromise tonnes of users' sensitive data. Adult content sites contain the most malware, including viruses, ransomware, spyware, and other threats. During the coverage period, over 60,000 domains were blocked. Cloud storage and entertainment platforms are next in line, with approximately 70,000 infected platforms discovered between the two categories.
Intrusive ads are any pop-ups or other ad pages that appear without being requested. These not only annoy people's online experiences, but they are also excellent at gathering information about users without their knowledge. As expected, free streaming platforms are the most involved, with more than 55 minion domains affected. Adult content and shopping websites appear to be close behind.
These findings highlight the importance of using a reliable ad-blocker every time you browse the web, especially when visiting certain types of websites.
"Ad blockers are essential for both security - because they block ads that can infect people’s devices - and privacy because annoying ads rely on collecting data from web activity and violating people’s privacy," explains Warmenhoven. "Also, if a website is loading slower than usual, you can blame intrusive ads. Free apps filled with unwanted ads could also drain your device’s battery faster.”
Web trackers are another major cyber threat because they compromise users' online anonymity. Video hosting services were the sites with the most web trackers. The NordVPN Threat protection tool blocked over two billion domains. Tracking was also high in cloud storage, web email, and information technology sites. As per Nord, Hong Kong and Singapore have the most web trackers in the world, with an average of 45 and 33 trackers per website. Other countries with high tracking rates include the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France.
NordVPN Threat Protection is a system that safeguards users from the aforementioned online threats. It accomplishes this by scanning all files you download and blocking all sites containing malware and dangerous ads before you open them.
Threat Protection is available on all NordVPN apps. This means that there is no additional cost to enjoy a safer online experience. All you have to do is follow these simple steps:
- Launch the latest NordVPN app on your preferred device.
- Click the shield icon on the left side of your screen.
- Activate the Threat Protection toggle.
