It’s safe to say that NordVPN is the most well-known virtual private network (VPN) brand in the business. Its popularity has skyrocketed over the past several years and shows no signs of slowing down. In our revised and updated assessment of NordVPN for the year 2022, our primary objective was to determine whether or not the service continues to outperform its competitors.
Even though NordVPN did exceptionally well in the tests we ran for this study, there is a lot of competition in the virtual private network (VPN) industry. Therefore, the most important issue that has to be answered here is whether or not NordVPN is still the best, or whether or not it is lagging behind the competition. This NordVPN review will shed some light on the matter for you.
As is the case with each and every one of our evaluations of VPN services here on RestorePrivacy, we delve deep into the nitty gritty details, providing test results and in-depth analysis. In this study of NordVPN, we focused on the following aspects:
– Numerous speed testing have been carried out with servers located all over the world by NordVPN. Leak tests have been carried out on the desktop apps (checking for IPv4, IPv6, and DNS leaks)
– Functionality checks on the kill switch and the other features
– Verification of compatibility with streaming services such as Netflix and others
– Carrying out tests on the specialized servers, such as the P2P and Double-VPN servers
Because of the increasing in frequency of both cyber assaults and corporate monitoring, having access to a reliable virtual private network (VPN) is an absolute need for everybody who uses the internet. A virtual private network (VPN) is essential if you want to be able to watch material from any location in the globe, given the explosive expansion of online streaming services. Let’s start this analysis of NordVPN by looking at the most important results, shall we?
Pros of NordVPN
• Comprehensive protections for both your privacy and your security
• Premium performance with lightning-fast transfer rates, high levels of dependability, and immediate connection times
• Safe applications with no security holes
• A vast and trustworthy network of servers
• Exceptional assistance for customers – A VPN service that has been verified to keep no logs (audited)
• NordVPN, with headquarters in Panama (good privacy jurisdiction)
• Extra security enhancements
• Complete support for WireGuard with NordLynx – Compatible with Netflix and a wide variety of other streaming services
• Mobile clients with the full complement of features
• Reasonable prices and a liberal policy for exchanges and returns
Cons of NordVPN
• Only longer memberships qualify for the significant reductions that are available.
• There is not a specific app for the router (but still works on routers)
Additional research findings
• Does NordVPN support torrenting in any way?
• Is it possible to use NordVPN in China?
• Does NordVPN provide users with a dedicated IP address if they want one?
Therefore, let’s get right down to business and begin with the positive aspects of NordVPN.
Pros of NordVPN
Powerful protections for one’s privacy and one’s safety.
Above and beyond the capabilities of the vast majority of other VPNs, NordVPN provides its users with a number of useful features that improve both their privacy and their security. Let’s take a look at the encryption that NordVPN offers, as well as some of these other upgraded features.
High encryption requirements, with many VPN protocols to choose from
OpenVPN clients provided by NordVPN authenticate themselves via an HMAC SHA256 hash and an AES-256-GCM encryption. In addition, NordVPN employs Perfect Forward Secrecy by way of a DHE-4096 key exchange in its encryption protocols. In addition, the IPSec/IKEv2 protocol makes use of the AES-256-GCM cipher in order to encrypt data transmissions.
In addition to OpenVPN and IPSec/IKEv2, NordVPN supports the WireGuard VPN protocol natively in all VPN applications. This is in addition to supporting OpenVPN. NordLynx is the name of NordVPN’s implementation of WireGuard that prioritizes users’ privacy. Under Settings and Preferences, you have the ability to switch between several VPN protocols with ease.
As we shall see in the following sections, the NordLynx (WireGuard protocol) offers significant benefits in terms of both performance and security.
Block advertisements, trackers, and more with NordVPN CyberSec
The CyberSec feature of NordVPN is a security component that prevents trackers, advertisements, and malware URLs from loading. During my testing, I discovered that it functioned properly, successfully blocking all advertising and tracking domains on the many websites that I accessed.
CyberSec offers customers of NordVPN not one, not two, but three separate benefits
– An increase in privacy – In the modern world, advertisements are sophisticated monitoring technologies that capture your online behaviors and compare them to the information in your data profile. The creation of tailored advertisements is accomplished in this manner by ad networks. It is essential to your privacy that you use CyberSec to block advertisements.
– Enhanced levels of security The CyberSec function is an essential component of security as well. Typically, advertisements on websites are delivered by third-party domains, which might sometimes include harmful content (see malvertising). Even if you don’t click on the advertisements, these malicious sites will still utilize them as a vector of attack to infect your device. This risk is mitigated because to CyberSec’s ability to restrict domains based on a continuously updated danger list.
– Increased page load times Advertisements can consume a significant amount of bandwidth, which can significantly slow down page load times, particularly on mobile devices. Blocking advertisements can have a substantial positive impact on performance and can help you make better use of your data plan.
You won’t find a better ad blocker than the one that comes standard with NordVPN’s CyberSec feature. This function is accessible on desktop computers as well as mobile devices.
Note that CyberSec makes use of real-time filter lists that prevent DNS requests from being executed. Because of this, you can only use this function while you are connected to the VPN.
Onion-over-VPN servers
Use of an Onion-over-VPN server is an extra choice you have if you want to increase the level of encryption and anonymity you achieve beyond what is possible with a single-hop VPN server. In addition to encrypting data using a conventional VPN server, the Onion-over-VPN servers also encrypt data with the Tor Network. At present time, NordVPN provides access to servers in both the Netherlands and Switzerland for this purpose.
Protection from Danger
The new Threat Protection function offered by NordVPN for 2022 go beyond the capabilities of a typical VPN service. All of the advantages of CyberSec are included in the Threat Protection feature, in addition to the following two capabilities:
– It is able to check both files and websites for malicious software. This is done in real time, and it will prevent malicious URLs as well as files from being downloaded.
– Protection that remains constant even when the VPN connection is broken. In order for CyberSec to function properly, you need to ensure that you are connected to a VPN server. However, if you have Threat Protection enabled, it will function normally regardless of whether or not you are connected to a virtual private network (VPN).
At the moment, Threat Protection may only be accessed through the desktop applications (Windows and Mac OS).
Dependability in addition to links
In relation to the subject of performance, it is essential to have a conversation about dependability and connections :
– Dependability – In my experience, NordVPN has a high level of dependability. The servers maintained their speed, and I did not notice any failed connections during my time with them.
– Connections – When used the WireGuard VPN protocol, I discovered that NordVPN was exceptionally quick at establishing a connection; in fact, it was almost instantaneous. In contrast to OpenVPN, which might take a few seconds (or even longer), WireGuard connections are almost instantaneous. Because of this, switching VPN servers is more quicker and simpler than before.
In conclusion regarding performance, after conducting the most recent set of speed tests for the purpose of this review, I was able to draw the conclusion that NordVPN provides speeds that are quick, consistent, and dependable. In all the years that I’ve spent testing NordVPN, I’ve never seen it run this quickly.
Apps for a secure VPN that don’t have any leaks
In addition, NordVPN provides a comprehensive selection of risk-free applications (clients) that are compatible with all of the most popular platforms and kinds of electronic gadgets.
– Windows
– Mac OS
– Linux
– Android/iOS (mobile)
– Android TV
In my testing and analysis of the NordVPN clients for Windows and Mac OS, I found the following to be the most important takeaways:
– Completely filled with features: Each of the NordVPN applications comes with a plethora of features, such as specialized servers, leak prevention, and startup/connection customization options.
– The clients of NordVPN should seem natural and familiar to use, regardless of how much or how little experience the user has had with virtual private networks (VPNs). It is easy to make adjustments to the settings and choose features.
– Complete Safety: In addition to the robust encryption we covered before, NordVPN additionally protects users’ data using a feature known as a kill switch. If the VPN connection fails for whatever reason, this will prevent traffic from going through (or terminate apps). This topic will be covered in greater detail lower down the page.
Large, trustworthy server network: NordVPN
The massive server network that NordVPN offers is comprised of over 5,500 servers in 60 different countries as of this writing. NordVPN’s extensive server network makes bypassing geo-restrictions on the web and other digital material a breeze. It’s also a breeze to locate a quick and trustworthy server in your area. If you’re looking for the best VPN for gaming, a low latency (ping) is essential.
Earlier this week, NordVPN announced major network changes aimed at enhancing both speed and security. We’ll go into more detail about these improvements to security below, but first let’s talk about one fascinating topic…
There is currently a rollout of colocated servers
Most VPNs lease server space from external providers. This is common, but NordVPN is taking it a step further by using its own hardware (colocated servers). Initially, colocated NordVPN servers were made available in Finland. Later this year, we hope to finish the rest of the network enhancements.
NordVPN will stand out from the crowd due to its high-speed colocated servers.
Double VPN and Tor over VPN services were just discussed. Besides these dedicated servers, NordVPN also provides Obfuscated servers.
As long as the OpenVPN protocol is being used, the Obfuscated servers may be accessed straight from the VPN client. These servers are helpful in the following cases since they disguise VPN traffic as common HTTPS:
– When you’re trying to bypass VPN firewalls at your institution.
– Avoiding government censorship and VPN bans in nations like China, the United Arab Emirates, and others.
NordVPN is an excellent choice if you require a VPN to access content from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, or any other country with censorship restrictions due to its many hidden servers. When comparing VPN services like Surfshark and NordVPN, it’s important to keep in mind that some providers employ obfuscation through VPN protocol tweaks rather than particular servers.
Does NordVPN make use of virtual server locations?
The problem of where to put virtual servers is one we’ve looked into before. False flags occur when a virtual private network (VPN) advertises that it has a server in a particular country while in fact it is located somewhere else. There may be valid reasons for this, but it’s always best to be as open as possible.
With NordVPN, we were unable to identify any specific virtual server locations. A spokesperson from NordVPN also assured me that their service does not make use of any virtual servers. That is to say, NordVPN really does offer servers in each of the countries it promotes.
Panama-based NordVPN (a good privacy jurisdiction)
The fact that NordVPN is headquartered in Panama is another one of its selling points. Panama is a great jurisdiction for privacy because it is not a part of any international surveillance alliances.
Additional information on this topic may be found on the NordVPN website, which states: “We are a Panamanian company with Panamanian law governing our operations. As a virtual private network (VPN), we find that Panama’s lack of a statutory data retention regulation makes it an ideal location.”
Enhanced safety measures
In comparison to other VPN services, NordVPN is spending heavily in strengthening their network and bolstering its security. Here is a rundown of what NordVPN has done to improve security:
Constant examination of safety measures
The VPN service NordVPN is one of the few that has had a comprehensive third-party security evaluation.
To ensure the highest security standards, NordVPN maintains its partnership with Versprite and their in-house team of penetration testers.
– Source code analysis; vendor risk evaluation; extensive penetration testing; management of intrusions.
– While the primary audit (and its results) were finalized in late 2019, the process itself will continue indefinitely.
– VPN servers that use RAM disks
All of NordVPN’s servers are now operating in RAM-disk mode, as per the company’s earlier pledge (without hard drives). Currently, all of NordVPN’s servers just use RAM and have no hard drives at all. As with other VPN companies like ExpressVPN and Perfect Privacy, this is a clever tactic.
Excellent pricing and return policies
As far as VPN services go, NordVPN is one of the most cost-effective options out there without sacrificing quality.
As of the writing of this article, NordVPN is running a special on a two-year plan. The price reduction is substantial, bringing the monthly cost down to just $3.29.
Subscription costs for NordVPN are detailed below:
– For 24 months, you’ll pay only $3.29. (best deal)
– The annual plan costs $4.92 each month.
– One month of service costs $11.95
With a two-year subscription costing just $3.71 per month, NordVPN is the finest low-cost VPN available for less than $4 per month.
All major credit cards, Amazon Pay, AliPay, UnionPay, and a number of cryptocurrencies are accepted methods of payment. Regrettably, NordVPN no longer accepts PayPal purchases from US customers.
NordVPN also offers more expensive shorter-term subscriptions if you’re not ready to commit to the company for two or more years.
Refunds for NordVPN (30 days)
When compared to other VPN services, NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee is quite substantial. There are no fine print limits or exceptions in the return policy.
Cons of NordVPN
Now we’ll analyze the drawbacks of NordVPN.
Significant discounts are available only for longer-term commitments.
The fact that NordVPN’s cheapest plans need a commitment of two years instead of one is its biggest drawback. A VPN service contract of two years is a significant time commitment. You may give it a trial for 30 days, and if you don’t like it, you can ask for a refund.
Along these same lines, the one-month package is very pricy at $11.95 per month. This is more than three times the monthly price of the two-year plan. But high discounts for extended memberships are becoming increasingly usual in the business — so it’s hardly unexpected.
There is no VPN software for that router (but still works on routers)
Some VPN providers, such as ExpressVPN and VyprVPN, offer a specific router software for particular router models. This makes it easy to get a VPN up and operating on your network. It also makes it easy if you need to utilize a VPN for Apple TV and other devices that don’t connect readily to VPNs.
Unfortunately, there is no NordVPN router app available right now. Nonetheless, you may still use NordVPN with a router. You may achieve that in three ways:
1 – Visit a retailer like Sabai Technology or FlashRouters to purchase a router that has already been set up. These will be on the pricey side, but they come pre-configured with the necessary router firmware for operation with NordVPN.
2 – get a router that supports VPN connections out of the box, without the need to flash it. Asus offers the widest variety of VPN-ready routers. A wide variety of Asus routers are OpenVPN ready and can be up and running in minutes with the help of any VPN provider’s configuration files.
3 – update your current router’s firmware. You should exercise caution if you decide to go this path because it is hard and has some risks (you might brick your router). The degree of complexity is highly router-specific.
When utilizing NordVPN on a router, it is recommended that you link up with the closest server that has the least amount of traffic.
Even though NordVPN does not have a dedicated router software, it is still possible to utilize the service with a router in a number of different ways. The Vilfo router comes pre-loaded with the necessary configuration files for use with NordVPN. You can always rely on NordVPN’s support team to assist you in setting up the service properly.
Can I use NordVPN to download torrents? (Yes)
If you need a reliable virtual private network (VPN) for BitTorrenting, NordVPN is a great option. Three explanations follow below.
– stable and rapid download rates, which will come very handy when sharing huge files through BitTorrent.
– the NordVPN applications have leak prevention options built right in. This means you may safely torrent for as long as you like without worrying about your true location being revealed.
– NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, a nation known for its legal stability. Panama’s copyright rules are not as strict as those in the United States or Europe. When NordVPN receives a DMCA or copyright takedown notice from a country outside of the US, it can simply disregard it.
When it comes to file-sharing, NordVPN has you covered with its own specialized P2P servers. You may find these lightning-quick, dedicated torrent servers in the “Specialty servers” section of the server list.
When you choose a country, NordVPN’s software will connect you to its fastest P2P server there. Further, the NordVPN software allows users to directly connect to certain torrenting servers.
If you use NordVPN for torrenting, you should turn on the kill switch in case the connection breaks. The NordVPN website also features tips for configuring the VPN service for use with uTorrent and BitTorrent clients.
Can I use NordVPN in China? (Yes)
In order to protect their privacy and access their favorite websites while in China, many individuals are seeking for the best VPN for China. For this purpose, NordVPN is an excellent option. It has obfuscation capabilities that allow VPN traffic to be concealed and bypass the Great Firewall of China.
Connecting to one of NordVPN’s Obfuscated servers is all you need to do to utilize the service in China. Use of these servers may cause the NordVPN client to disguise your VPN traffic as if it were sent over a non-encrypted connection, such as HTTPS. As a result, NordVPN is a fantastic option for users in China and other countries where VPNs are censored.
A dedicated IP address is an additional feature offered by NordVPN that might come in handy in certain circumstances. They provide unique IP addresses for the following regions:
USA: Buffalo, Los Angeles, Dallas
Germany: Frankfurt
England: London
The Netherlands: Amsterdam
No matter whatever country you’re in, NordVPN’s yearly fee for a static IP address is the same at $70. If you have a fixed IP address, NordVPN is likely your best VPN option. Contacting NordVPN’s support team will allow you to obtain a dedicated IP address in the region of your choosing.
We conclude that, even in 2022, NordVPN is the greatest Virtual Private Network available.
With such positive findings from my tests, I feel confident in saying that this NordVPN review is among the finest I’ve written. With these kinds of results, NordVPN is a top-tier VPN service that doesn’t break the bank.
Over the past six months, NordVPN has undergone a number of significant upgrades. What I found most interesting about the most recent review was:
With these upgrades, users can expect: – Increased speeds and uptime across the entire server network – More features and stability in the VPN apps (CyberSec) – Greater security, including an ongoing third-party audit and bug bounty program, the introduction of self-owned – servers, and the transition of the network to RAM-disk mode – Complete integration of the WireGuard protocol directly within the VPN apps – Greater compatibility with Netflix and other streaming services
Despite a few small issues, NordVPN is still our top-recommended VPN after doing these tests.
The addition of new servers and enhanced functionality to NordVPN is much appreciated. Also, if you’re interested in giving this VPN a try, you may save money by using the promo code down below.
NordVPN Alternatives
If you’re interested in learning more about the VPN service we reviewed, click its name below to go to our review page. There is a thirty day money back guarantee available for each of these VPN services.
1 – Surfshark vpn
2 – ExpressVPN
3 – VyprVPN
You are welcome to provide your honest opinion on NordVPN here, whether positive or negative.
