- Surfshark has launched a new Antiscam center for iOS users
- The new interface brings together five cybersecurity tools to streamline the fight against threats.
- The new interface is currently in a pilot phase before expanding to other platforms.
Surfshark has launched Antiscam Hub for iOS users, bringing together five cybersecurity and fingerprint management tools in a new space within the existing Surfshark app.
In its announcement post, Surfshark, one of the best VPNs available, describes the new experience as a “specialized user interface” designed to streamline users’ mobile security actions, particularly for protection against phishing, fraud, and other scams.
The announcement explains that Antiscam Hub has been designed to tackle scams that rely more on the manipulation of human behavior than purely digital methods. It does this by placing Surfshark’s suite of personal protection tools in a single area, which could theoretically make it easier to concentrate in the event of an attack.
These tools include personal email masking and alternate number, which hide the user’s email address and phone number. Also included are Dark Web Monitoring, which provides real-time notifications when personal data is leaked, and Unsafe Site Blocking, which provides a firewall against untrustworthy sites.
While the Antiscam center is available to all Surfshark users, those in the US (excluding New York State) can also access Identity Theft Coverage, which provides identity fraud insurance of up to $1 million for Surfshark One+ subscribers.
Gabriele Sinkeviciute, Product Manager at Surfshark, said: “Cyber threats are constantly changing and right now we are witnessing the highest rise in scams. In the last month alone, our unsafe site blocking feature blocked almost 1.2 million new phishing and malware sites created by bad actors.”
“Easy-to-use tools that can make you more alert to these types of threats are much more important than ever.”
A reminder, not a revolution
It’s worth noting that Antiscam Hub doesn’t bring any new features to Surfshark; It’s simply a new interface that makes it easier to find and access existing security tools.
This may not seem like a big deal to tech-savvy users. But, with VPNs becoming more integrated into the use of mainstream technology, the Antiscam hub should be a big boost for those with less mobile experience – modern scammers move quickly, so being able to access all their defensive tools at a glance could make all the difference.
Additionally, as governments around the world continue to tighten regulations on Internet use, the conversation about the impact of VPNs remains highly contentious.
While Surfshark and similar VPNs are a great option for safely keeping your browsing hidden or accessing local content, the new Antiscam hub serves as a reminder that there are other crucial aspects to think about.
Protecting personal data and raising awareness about scams is just the beginning of this, but new users may have turned a blind eye before.
Still, it would be nice to see some updates to the tools offered alongside the new interface. Surfshark has identified the Antiscam center as the starting point for a roadmap of “increasingly sophisticated” security features, but we don’t yet know what this will mean for users.
What’s more, at the time of writing, the Antiscam hub is only in a pilot phase on iOS devices before expanding to other platforms, so we could be waiting a while to see more tangible updates.
