UK’s cyber tool blocks a billion clicks from landing on malicious sites

The UK online crime disruption tool prevented a billion visits to known malicious websites – a figure that’s 14 times larger than the country’s total population.

The new UK cybercrime disruption tool, known as the “Share and Defend service,” has blocked nearly one billion attempts to access malicious websites in under a year, according to the figures from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and key partner BT.

NCSC announced the tool in May last year. It helps prevent users from falling victim in the early stages of cyberattacks and cyber-enabled fraud.

The tool collects data from threat intelligence providers, NCSC’s Protective DNS (PDNS), Takedown services, and other sources. It then shares the malicious domains and URLs with internet service providers, managed service providers, and other communication companies.

The ISPs then filter out malicious sites, making them inaccessible to customers.

The NCSC explains that the tool shares data in near real-time, allowing internet service providers to prevent customers from clicking through.

A billion clicks were prevented from reaching fake shops, phishing sites, and other malicious links, including those from emails reported to the NCSC.

“It shows we are making Britain a hard target for cybercriminals by protecting businesses and citizens on a daily basis,” said Dan Jarvis, Security Minister.

The UK is also preparing the National Cyber Action Plan, which is supposed to be published in the New Year. The plan, according to the minister, will be “business-first.”

Despite the blocked clicks, the UK has been suffering from devastating ransomware attacks in 2025. In the 12 months to August 2025, “Nationally significant” incidents more than doubled, from 89 incidents a year ago to 204 this year, causing disruptions at Marks & Spencer, the Co‑op Group, Jaguar Land Rover, and other companies.

UK cyber insurance claims soared by 230% last year.

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