What Do We Think About NordVPN? Is It a Reliable VPN Service?

NordVPN, one of the most well-known names in the virtual private network business, offers a service with everything a customer could want. NordVPN is very quick, has many valuable features, and is easy to use. It’s based in a country that protects privacy and has all the security and privacy features that users should expect from a good VPN, plus a few extras like double-hop VPN and Onion over VPN. Even though it’s not the cheapest VPN, it’s not too expensive for what it can do.

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When you sign up for a VPN, you put a lot of faith in the VPN’s promise to keep your data safe and safe online. The fact that NordVPN says it doesn’t keep logs and has been through multiple security audits is good. Still, they need to do more when the company doesn’t offer an annual transparency report and is secretive about its partnerships and corporate structure. If NordVPN wants to stay at the top of the VPN industry and the online privacy space, it should rethink how it handles transparency.

NordVPN is the most popular VPN in the world. With great reviews all over the web that talk about the platform’s fast speeds, online security tools, ability to stream and torrent, and web browsing tools, it’s clear that this is a product you should look into.

NORDVPN SPECS

Encryption

After signing up for NordVPN and downloading the software, you can connect to any of their servers. Since this link is encrypted, no one outside can read your data. To do this, it employs the AES-256-CBC cipher, currently the best VPN cipher. NordLynx also employs the ChaCha20 protocol, which provides an extra layer of anonymity and security.

The server will grant you access using the SHA-512 hashing algorithm. It encrypts your credentials by converting them to 512 binary digits, which are meaningless jumbles of data to anyone on the outside. You’ll be granted access if these match the cryptographic hashes that were generated and stored on their servers during the account creation process.

This hash is much larger than what is typically used for VPNs. Numerous VPN services, including some competitors, rely on SHA-256 for security. Thus, NordVPN is doing innovative things that haven’t been done before. The SHA-512 hashing function is more secure, providing increased protection for its users while remaining extremely challenging to crack.

Tunneling Protocols

Tunneling protocols are used to send your data from your device to the VPN server. There are three main things you can do with NordVPN.

Protocol Best
OpenVPN            Versatile, all-around security
IKEv2/IPsec        Mobile devices, cellular/wifi data
NordLynx            Best option overall

 

OpenVPN (UDP/TCP) is an open-source VPN protocol used by many of the biggest VPN companies. It is safe and can be used on many different platforms. You can choose which option you like best on NordVPN. You can choose a method that is safer (TCP) or faster (UDP). Available on all NordVPN clients.

IKEv2/IPsec works best on phones and tablets. It uses much less CPU and is great at reconnecting, making it perfect for switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data. iOS, Windows, Linux, and macOS can all run it.

WireGuard (NordLynx) is NordVPN’s version of the next-generation VPN technology WireGuard. It’s an improvement over older protocols, with faster and safer options. Available on all NordVPN clients.

 

Provider Servers
NordVPN 5500+
IPVanish 2000+
ExpressVPN 3000+

 

Colocated servers

Most VPN service providers rent the servers they use to connect customers to the Internet. This usually means they only manage them by installing custom software, giving some control to the third party who owns the data center. This could quickly go wrong.

After a data breach at a third-party data center in 2018, NordVPN took significant steps and turned most of its rented servers into a network that it owns, maintains, and fully manages. This makes it less likely that data could be stolen from the outside.

All of their servers only store information in RAM, which means that when a server is restarted, that information is lost. You can’t save anything permanently if you don’t have a disc drive.

It’s not the first VPN service to offer colocated servers, but NordVPN is the biggest. Here’s how NordVPN compares to other services that provide the same feature.

Kill Switch

The VPN Kill Switch is a high-tech way to keep your data from getting out onto the web.

The VPN Kill Switch is a feature that stops your device from connecting to networks that are not protected. It always keeps an eye on your connection to the remote server. If it drops by accident, the VPN Kill Switch cuts your device off from the internet (or specific apps). When you use Kill Switch, your internet traffic is safer because it keeps your private information from getting out by accident. It’s the last line of defense for your VPN.

The system-wide kill switch is built into iOS and macOS apps downloaded from the App Store. It is turned on by default. You won’t see an icon, but if your VPN connection drops, it will cut off your connection. You can set up the kill switch for each app on Windows and macOS (sideload app). You can only turn on a “kill switch” on Linux and Android” for the whole system.

It wouldn’t hurt if they handled their features more uniformly. So, as a user, you get a system-wide kill switch that works on every platform. On some, you can even set it up to work with certain apps. Some platforms, like iOS, don’t even get these kinds of features very often, so that’s a technical achievement in and of itself.

Meshnet

It’s a feature of NordVPN that lets you connect to devices through encrypted private tunnels. It sounds a bit like VPN. You’re right, no doubt about it! But Meshnet doesn’t tie you to a VPN server. Instead, it lets you connect directly to other devices, no matter where they are.

Meshnet is powered by NordLynx, our flagship technology built around WireGuard (“WireGuard” is a registered trademark of Jason A. Donenfeld) and improved with privacy solutions. This foundation makes sure that all Meshnet connections between devices are very safe.

  • Private and secure point-to-point connections
  • There’s nothing to set up; it just works.
  • Helps direct traffic.

Meshnet lets you send all your Internet traffic through a different computer. You’ll use that machine’s IP address to connect to the internet. In the same way, traffic from other devices can go through yours. You can control each device’s permissions for traffic routing, so you’re always in charge of your privacy.

Threat Protection

Threat Protection is a security solution that protects you from malware and trackers, which are shared online threats. It checks your files for hazards before downloading them, then blocks them before they can hurt your device.

CyberSec has been an extra layer of security that NordVPN has offered for years. But now, with our advanced Threat Protection feature, you can take your digital security to the next level. It makes browsing safer and more accessible by blocking trackers and annoying ads, spotting infected files, and keeping you from landing on harmful websites.

It works by blocking the following threats:

  • Malicious websites You won’t be able to visit an infected website by accident, which could infect your device with malware.
  • Online ads Are you sick of seeing a lot of ads when you go to your favorite websites? Well, Threat Protection will make sure you never have this problem again.
  • Dangerous files.  Threat Protection will scan any executable file you download less than 20 MB for malware and viruses, just like an antivirus program would.
  • Trackers With the help of trackers, websites can find out a lot about you, like your IP address and how you use the site. Lucky for them, NordVPN no longer lets them do that.

At the moment, the feature works with all NordVPN apps. You can, however, turn it on in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

Once you turn on Threat Protection in the NordVPN app settings, it will protect your browsing even when you’re not connected to a VPN server.

Monitor the Deep Web

With NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring, your private data will never again be vulnerable to hackers or cybercriminals who gain access to the dark web through compromised accounts. It constantly monitors the dark web for your credentials and notifies you of any findings so you can secure the compromised account.

dark-business

The truth hurts: it’s likely that at least some of your private data has already made its way onto underground networks. Each year, numerous data breaches expose hundreds of millions of user profiles. Social media, online banking, online shopping, public and private institutions, healthcare facilities, and online discussion forums contribute to this.

Criminals can profit from even minor data breaches because of the volume of information they contain. However, hackers often go further by assembling sets (called “full”) of as much personal information as they can find. Data stolen from these sets could include anything from names and addresses to bank account details, phone numbers, social security numbers, and even credit card information, making them particularly hazardous.

Logging

NordVPN is based in Panama, which is good for privacy. If a government wanted to see how you used the Internet, they would have to go to a Panamanian court. Since Panama has no laws about keeping data, NordVPN doesn’t have to keep any information about their users. This is why choosing a VPN service that isn’t based in a Five Eyes country or another country with a history of spying is important.

Also, NordVPN’s privacy policy says that if someone did serve the company with a warrant or take a server, there would be no useful information on it.

Their apps collect only information about crashes and how the app works. Let’s say you think this is not good enough. If so, you can easily stop using anonymized apps anytime through their client. Even so, it’s not a huge deal-breaker.

Splitting tunnels

Split tunneling is an advanced VPN feature that lets you choose which apps need VPN protection and which can go to the internet directly. The first group is safer because of the VPN’s secure tunnel, while the second group has faster speeds and access to services in their own country. The NordVPN apps for Windows, Android, and Android TV can all do split tunneling.

You can keep two connections at the same time with split tunneling. Your VPN app splits your internet traffic into two groups. One group gets encrypted and rerouted through secure VPN servers, while the other is left alone and can talk to the internet directly. In the settings of your VPN app, you can choose which apps can be trusted to get around VPN protection.

Advantages/Drawbacks of NordVPN

Advantages of NordVPN Drawbacks of NordVPN
Top-notch privacy and security Torrenting only supported on some servers
Kill switch prevents privacy compromise Terrible download times in Malaysia
Double the protection with a double VPN Difficulty connecting to servers and apps
More than 5,000 servers in 59 countries OpenVPN requires advanced technical skills to set up.
Fast and steady speeds everywhere NordVPN does not have an app for Linux. Instead, you need to use the terminal.
NordVPN has awesome price offers!
You can pay with both cryptocurrency and cash.

Is NordVPN Safe?

Regarding virtual private networks (VPNs), NordVPN is among the most reliable and secure options. NordVPN’s servers are RAM-based, and the company uses industry-leading encryption and secure tunneling protocols to keep your data safe. As the data is deleted every time the server reboots, a VPN running on a RAM server is extremely secure. Many NordVPN servers use the technology.

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Moreover, NordVPN’s privacy practices have been examined by third-party auditors. All things considered, NordVPN appears to be legally and technically secure.

Is it worth buying NordVPN?

NordVPN is one of the best VPN services you can buy. It has more than 5,200 servers in 60 countries, giving users the best possible services. NordVPN protects your browsing sessions and gives you a lot of features, like Threat Protection and a Kill Switch, for a reasonable price.

How much does NordVPN Cost? Which plan is the best?

There aren’t any complicated pricing plans or plan options with NordVPN. Only three main plans are available: Standard, Plus, and Complete. The price depends on how long you want to subscribe. You can choose between 1 month, 1 year, and 2 years.

 

Also, remember that the savings will be better the longer the plan is. Look at the price for a one-year and one-month subscription, for example:

Subscriptions Standard Plus Complete
Monthly $11.99 $12.99 $14.29
1 year $68.29 $85.31 $103.72
2 years $80.53 $108.47 $147.93
  • Standard: $4.49/month (1-year plan) and $11.99/month (1-month plan)
  • The Plus costs $5.49 a month (on a project for a year) and $12.99 (1-month plan)
  • The Complete: $6.79 per month (for a year) and $14.29 (1-month plan)

So, if you want to get the most for your money regarding features and price, NordVPN recommends the option of a 2-year subscription to the Complete plan is the best choice.

Can you get NordVPN for Free?

Yes, you can use a free 7-day trial of NordVPN to get it. Using this method, you can connect NordVPN to any device you want.

You’ll need to get NordVPN on your Android device for this to work. It’s also important that this account doesn’t already have a NordVPN account.

After you download the app and create an account, you can start your 7-day free trial. After that, you can also use NordVPN on other devices by downloading the app and logging in with the same credentials.

noed vpn

But you can use the same credentials on all your devices, even though you downloaded the VPN on your phone.

When the trial period is over, the regular plan takes over. You have a month to ask for your money back because there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. This can give you 37 days of free NordVPN service. That’s a lot of time to see how things go.

The free version of NordVPN is just as safe as the paid one. It also uses high-quality encryption and tunneling protocols. You can connect to any server you want, just like the paid version.

What payment options are there for NordVPN?

As for the ways to pay, there are quite a few. Credit cards, AmazonPay, Sofort, PayPal, ACH Transfer, and even prepaid cards are all accepted. You can also pay with iTunes or Google Pay if that’s more convenient. For people who care the most about their privacy, there are also ways to buy with cryptocurrencies and even in stores.

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