Introduction
NordVPN is one of the most well-known and trusted names in the virtual private network (VPN) industry. Since its founding in 2012, NordVPN has established a reputation for providing robust security and privacy for internet users. With over 5,200 servers worldwide, NordVPN offers the ability to encrypt internet traffic, hide IP addresses, bypass geographic restrictions, and secure data on public Wi-Fi networks.
A key reason why so many internet users choose NordVPN is because of its strong commitment to security. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the need for comprehensive online security continues to grow. Using a VPN service that prioritizes advanced security features is a vital way for internet users to protect their data and privacy. By leveraging industry-leading encryption protocols and technologies, NordVPN aims to provide the most secure VPN experience possible.
This article will take an in-depth look at the various security capabilities and enhancements offered by NordVPN. It will examine NordVPN’s core security features, ongoing improvements to strengthen protection, bundled security product offerings, pricing/plans focused on security, and why NordVPN is regarded as one of the most secure VPN providers available today.
NordVPN Security Features
NordVPN incorporates multiple key security features to safeguard user data and online activity. These include powerful encryption protocols, a kill switch feature, double VPN functionality, and cyber threat protection.
Encryption
The foundation of NordVPN’s security is the use of strong encryption protocols for all internet traffic passing through its servers. Encryption encodes data so that it cannot be read by unauthorized parties. NordVPN offers both IKEv2/IPsec and OpenVPN encryption protocols.
IKEv2/IPsec provides rapid and efficient encryption ideal for mobile devices. This protocol is increasingly becoming an industry standard due to its high degree of security and speed. Meanwhile, OpenVPN utilizes OpenSSL libraries and 256-bit encryption to secure data. OpenVPN enables users to choose from a range of encryption algorithms, including AES-256-CBC, AES-128-CBC, and AES-256-GCM.
By leveraging these state-of-the-art encryption protocols, NordVPN can effectively scramble and anonymize user data to prevent snooping or external attacks. The encrypted tunnel protects information from hackers, internet service providers, government surveillance, and other threats when using public Wi-Fi or accessing restricted content.
Kill Switch
In addition to encryption, all NordVPN applications have a kill switch feature. This shuts off internet access completely if the VPN connection abruptly drops. The kill switch works by monitoring network traffic and blocking all incoming and outgoing data if the VPN connection fails.
This feature is critical in preventing private data leaks. Without a kill switch, the loss of a VPN connection could expose a user’s true IP address or allow data to transmit unencrypted. By immediately cutting off all internet access, NordVPN’s kill switch stops any sensitive information from leaking outside of the encrypted VPN tunnel. This helps ensure users avoid disruptions to their privacy or security.
Double VPN
NordVPN also provides an extra layer of security through its Double VPN feature. With Double VPN, user traffic gets encrypted not once, but twice through routing connections in sequence across two separate VPN servers.
By chaining together two servers, the source of the traffic becomes far more obscured. Even if the first server IP address is compromised, the second encrypted tunnel hides the user’s identity. Double VPN makes it exponentially harder for advanced persistent cyber threats to track trace user activity, greatly strengthening privacy and security.
Cyber Threat Protection
Finally, NordVPN includes a specialized cyber threat protection feature focused on blocking ads, trackers, malware, and other dangerous vectors. By analyzing site content and connections in real-time, NordVPN can identify and shut down various attack techniques before they reach a user’s device.
This innovative capability provides comprehensive monitoring that safeguards users against far-reaching online threats. Going beyond standard VPN activity, active cyber threat protection gives users an extra level of automated security against the most sophisticated hackers and cybercriminals attempting to exploit vulnerabilities.
Ongoing Security Enhancements
Rather than resting on its robust existing security features, NordVPN maintains a dedicated focus on constantly improving protection for its users. This manifests through partnerships with cybersecurity leaders, infrastructure upgrades, and code audits to reinforce privacy safeguards.
External Security Partnerships
In 2020, NordVPN formed a partnership with VerSprite, a leading cybersecurity consulting firm. By leveraging external expertise, NordVPN facilitates regular security reviews and testing to identify potential issues before they arise.
This relationship also speeds the patching of any discovered vulnerabilities. Partnerships with well-respected security companies demonstrate NordVPN’s willingness to invest substantially in staying ahead of emerging threats.
Infrastructure and Code Audits
In addition to consulting partnerships, NordVPN undertakes extensive internal infrastructure and code audits on an ongoing basis. In 2021, NordVPN finished rewriting its entire codebase from scratch to strengthen its systems and software functionality.
This enormous undertaking required over 35,000 programmer hours but enables optimized performance and heightened security. NordVPN also upgraded its server disk encryption to repel sophisticated physical data center attacks.
These massive infrastructure investments and code integrity improvements help NordVPN address security flaws other VPN providers may overlook. Users can access NordVPN’s services with full confidence in the safety of its latest network technology and software code foundation.
NordVPN Bundles
While NordVPN provides industry-leading security on its own, even greater protection emerges from combining it with other Nord Security products. NordVPN offers bundled deals that integrate advanced security tools focused on passwords, files, finances, and personal records.
Nord Security Suites
NordVPN’s Standard suite bundles the NordVPN service with NordPass password manager. NordPass stores encrypted passwords behind one master key while blocking trackers that seek to collect login credentials and personal information.
Meanwhile, the NordVPN Plus suite incorporates NordLocker file encryption. NordLocker safeguards important documents like tax records, property deeds, or confidential business materials via end-to-end file encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and other robust privacy technologies.
Finally, the Complete suite from NordVPN adds NordPass Teams for password management across groups alongside NordPass Identity digital credential storage. This full product suite provides customers with an all-encompassing security solution encompassing VPN protection, password security, encrypted file lockers, and digital wallets.
Comprehensive Online Security
By integrating its industry-best VPN with advanced encryption models for passwords, personal records, and sensitive files, Nord Security’s bundled suites offer comprehensive protection for online activity. The Complete bundle in particular establishes fortress-like security across the vectors most targeted by hackers – web history, account credentials, private files, and identity records.
While NordVPN alone has gained renown for its focus on state-of-the-art security, its product bundles with other Nord Security solutions take protection to even greater heights through layered next-generation encryption applied across multiple facets of digital and online activity.
Pricing and Plans
NordVPN provides users significant flexibility in how they access its security services. Subscribers can choose between monthly, 1-year, and 2-year plans. Longer subscription commitments deliver greater cost savings for those prioritizing robust security.
Subscription Options
The monthly NordVPN plan allows casual users to evaluate the service on a trial basis without lengthy commitments. However, the monthly plan carries a comparatively high recurring cost. Users seeking to maximize savings can select NordVPN’s 2-year subscription for the lowest effective monthly rate.
1-year subscriptions represent a middle-ground for balancing affordability against longer commitments. All subscriptions provide identical access to the same elite NordVPN security features detailed throughout this article. The pricing difference lies in the length of plan rather than security capability variations.
Emphasis on Length of Subscription
NordVPN’s product pricing clearly emphasizes substantial cost savings for those able to commit to longer 2-year subscriptions. Users receive over 65% off compared to monthly rates when selecting NordVPN’s longest subscription package.
The company transparently signals that more patient users gain significantly improved affordability. For anyone prioritizing world-class VPN security, NordVPN’s 2-year subscription clearly offers the most compelling value while maintaining equal and unlimited access to the service’s entire gamut of robust privacy protections.
Conclusion
NordVPN rightfully deserves its status as one of the most respected and secure VPN services available. Through industry-leading encryption protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec, NordVPN effectively safeguards user data from prying eyes. Additional features such as a VPN kill switch, Double VPN, and cyber threat protection provide overlapping security layers for comprehensive defense.
Rather than becoming complacent, NordVPN actively invests in continuous security improvements in areas like infrastructure upgrades, code auditing, and external consulting. Bundling NordVPN with complementary encryption-focused tools for passwords, files, and personal records enhances protection even further. With flexible pricing prioritizing lengthy subscriptions, NordVPN combines air-tight security with significant cost savings. For these reasons, NordVPN remains a top choice for any user prioritizing private and anonymous internet access.