Sydney, Australia – Bitdefender has launched an AI-powered browser extension designed to help consumers identify online scams, phishing attempts and fraudulent websites as cybercriminals increasingly use sophisticated techniques to target everyday browsing activities.
The new tool, called Web Sage, analyses webpages, search results and online advertisements to identify potential threats and provide users with guidance on how to respond.
The launch follows a global survey of 7,000 consumers, in which one in seven respondents said they had fallen victim to an online scam in the previous 12 months. Some 21% reported being scammed through an online advertisement.
Web Sage is available as a standalone extension for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Brave. It checks webpages against Bitdefender’s global threat intelligence, while its premium capabilities use AI-powered analysis to assess page behaviour and content, including domains, URLs and scripts.
The extension is offered in two tiers. The free Standard version, which requires a Bitdefender account, includes malicious page blocking, search advisory features and privacy protection.
The Premium version adds AI-powered security guidance, in-browser scam protection, enhanced search analysis, shopping protection, ad fraud detection and financial fraud safeguards. It is included with Bitdefender Total Security, Premium Security and Ultimate Security subscriptions.
Among its capabilities, Web Sage explains why a webpage or link may be dangerous and guides in plain language. It is designed to identify phishing attempts, impersonation attacks and spoofed websites, as well as flag potentially harmful search listings and sponsored links before users access them.
The extension also checks online retailers for suspicious activity, identifies deceptive advertisements across websites and social platforms, and detects fraudulent banking portals and investment schemes.
“AI is helping cybercriminals build convincing scams and run fraud operations at scale, making the browser the front line of consumer security,” said Ciprian Istrate, Senior Vice President of Operations, Consumer Solutions Group at Bitdefender.
“A fake store or cloned banking page can now be nearly impossible to tell apart from the real thing, and a vague warning does little to help make informed decisions. Bitdefender Web Sage acts as a trusted companion, showing users in simple language why a page or link is dangerous and how to respond. The result is a safer, smarter way to browse,” Istrate continued.
Web Sage is available now and replaces the company’s TrafficLight browser extension. Existing TrafficLight users will retain its core protection, with additional capabilities intended to address newer forms of online scams and fraud.
