NordVPN Review 2024: Is It Safe to Use?

NordVPN Background Check

The VPN came into being in 2012 and has become a dependable market player in all these service years. The reason is the constant updates and innovation this VPN company brings along.

Its offices are situated in multiple locations, including the UK, Lithuania, Netherlands, and Panama. The jurisdiction area is located in Panama. It is essential to know where your VPN provider is based because some countries have mutually beneficial agreements that allow them to share information with each other’s intelligence agencies. These alliances are known as 14-eyes. So, can NordVPN be trusted?

The simple answer is – yes. Panama is not a part of the 14-eyes alliance, making it very good for VPN users’ privacy. Panama doesn’t have any mandatory data retention laws. Hence, unlike other providers, NordVPN isn’t required to collect and store any user data.

NordVPN took its network server performance to a new zenith by upgrading it. Earlier, it was using 1Gbps servers. But, in 2021, it upgraded some of its servers to 10Gbps.

In the words of Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, around 20% of total servers were upgraded by the end of 2021. The Amsterdam and Tokyo-based servers were upgraded first. That was not the only infrastructure upgrade that happened. NordVPN also deployed colocation servers in Finland. Such servers bring benefits like complete ownership and authorized access only.

Nord VPN In News

Before I take you on a detailed review of NordVPN, let’s learn about a few latest updates about NordVPN. 

• On its 10th anniversary, NordVPN gifted its users advanced threat protection, including a responsive ad blocker, malware blocker, and tracker blocker. The feature is directly integrated with NordVPN and is here to provide extra protection as malicious links, ads, malware, and many other elements can be blocked easily.
• In 2022, Surfshark and NordVPN joined hands and merged. As per the latest reports, the merger took place to improve the technology offers. Despite the merger, both leading VPN companies will operate separately.
• I must say that the year 2022, the 10th anniversary year of NordVPN, was full of surprises and updates. Its Windows client is now packed with unmatched dark web monitoring security core features. Previously, this feature was only available for Android and iOS mobile users. But now, its Windows solutions users can also enjoy this feature.
• Per the NordVPN website, the VPN service has been recently awarded as the best VPN service for personal and professional usage by PCMag. It won the Reader’s Choice and Business’s Choice Award for 2022.
• On January 13, 2022, NordVPN launched an open-source speed tool that helps VPN users track their speed. It’s a great assistance to have.
• Recently, the company offered new releases. The Android 5.13.0 version was released on March 24, 2022, while iOS 7.11.0 was released four days later. macOS 7.5.0 was released on March 25, 2022, and Windows 6.45.5 was offered on March 25, 2022. I am not done yet. Linux 3.12.5 was also released at the beginning of March 2022.

Technical Specs To Know About NordVPN

• Servers and Locations – 5485 ultra-fast servers in 60 countries
• OS Supported – Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows
• Platforms supported – Personal computer, router, SmartTV, smartphone, and tablets
• Money-back guarantee – 30 days
• Unlimited bandwidth and speed – Yes
• Simultaneous connection – 6 devices at a time
• Tor Support – Yes
• P2P optimized servers – Yes
• Security Feature – Double VPN, Quick Connect, dedicated IP address Obfuscated servers, ad-blocker, and many more
• Strict no-log policy – Yes
• Third-party audits – Yes
• Protocols – OpenVPN, IKEv2, and proprietary NordLynx protocol
• Split Tunneling – Yes

How Does NordVPN Work? 

NordVPN is all you need to ensure an immersive online experience. It offers a maximum level of cybersecurity, but more importantly, it makes cybersecurity easy to understand. 

You can use it to protect your internet activity from malware and hack attacks while it offers additional protection on all public WiFi networks. 

Are you tired of annoying ads?

NordVPN will take care of them too. It protects your data and IP address, unblocks websites, and provides the necessary bandwidth. 

Its features include:

✅ Military-grade encryption

NordVPN is known for offering next-gen encryption that is hard to decode. It uses AES-256-bit encryption which is the best in the market. Two top-notch and one proprietary protocol are provided to improve the power of this encryption. The two standard protocol options are OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec.

As we all know, OpenVPN is a highly versatile security protocol. NordVPN allows you to use this protocol on UDP and TCP ports. Because of this, it leads to safe and sound streaming and browsing. The AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm with a 4096-bit DH key takes its security to a whole new level.

As far as IKEv2/IPsec is concerned, it is a solid cryptographic algorithm and remains unbreakable most of the time.

The last protocol option is NordLynx, which is in-house encryption. The VPN company claims to be as good as WireGuard. In fact, far better than WireGuard as it features double NAT. This way, data is more secure.

✅ CyberSec

CyberSec is an ad/malware blocker tool that works on Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, and Android devices. It also works on Chrome and Firefox extensions. The tools are a great way to keep tons of corrupted content away from you.

✅ Double VPN

Double VPN is what VPN offers for extra security-conscious professionals. With this feature, you enjoy the power of two VPNs, one after another. The traffic is encrypted and filtered twice.

✅ Automatic kill switch

Kill Switch is crucial to ensure that no data or real IP address details are leaked when a VPN connection drops abruptly. Gladly, NordVPN has this protection. The automatic kill switch feature is offered on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android-based devices.

While the feature is pre-activated on its Windows and Linux clients, one has to activate it in iOS and Android applications from the Settings sections.

✅ DNS leak protection

A DNS leak is a significant security flaw that should be fixed immediately. To ensure that there are no DNS query leaks, NordVPN offers excellent DNS leak protection. I checked the authenticity of this feature on the DNS leak test tool and found out that there was no DNS leak. The reason is that NordVPN uses self-owned DNS servers.

Because of this, DNS queries pass through a highly encrypted tunnel that is under the monitoring of NordVPN. There is no third-party involvement.

✅ Obfuscated Servers

Some websites are very stringent about the use of a VPN and try everything possible to block VPN usage. But if you’re using NordVPN, this isn’t going to be an issue, as it features obfuscated servers. Such servers won’t let the services/websites learn that a VPN is in place and traffic is rerouted. Because of this, you’ve got a better chance of lifting geo-restrictions and censorship.

✅ Onion over VPN

Onion over VPN is a particular server category that doesn’t require end-users to use Tor for dark web access. The facility of the Tor browser is offered by NordVPN servers only. This feature is bliss for dark web users, providing commendable security and protecting sensitive data.

One can easily start using this feature. Just go to the Specialty server category in the NordVPN app and pick Onion over VPN.

After a while, you’ll be redirected to a Tor-compatible server. This step works in all the apps except the Firefox extension. You must go through more steps to activate this feature on the Firefox extension.

✅ SmartPlay

This in-built feature is a great way to access blocked or geo-restricted content while making zero compromises on security. It’s great for streaming lovers. There is no setup or installation required to use this feature. It brings the SmartDNS technology to a place and combines it with the power of a VPN.

For those who aren’t aware of the SmartDNS technology, it is a feature permitting users to switch the DNS servers while they intend to bypass censorship or access blocked content/websites. However, using it alone isn’t safe as it won’t hide the IP address and browsing activities.

The SmartPlay features have added VPN encryption to SmartDNS technology and empowered it greatly. Now, you can unblock the content, stream your favorite blocked shows, and enjoy fantastic security. As the real IP address will be hidden and the internet connection will be encrypted, you won’t have any trouble accessing any content or website. The feature works on devices like SmartTV, Amazon FireStick, phones, laptops, and tablets.

✅ Dedicated IP address

As a NordVPN user, you can get a dedicated IP address with any of your subscriptions. It’s a paid add-on that is worth trying. With dedicated IP addresses, you enjoy a bit more security and safety. The great thing about this feature is that it works seamlessly with OpenVPN and can make it work on two devices simultaneously. However, you can’t use it on 7 devices, which is the limit of its simultaneous connection facility.

You can get this add-on during the payment option. Once you’re about to pay for the subscription, click on the “Got a coupon?” option. Here, enter the “nord dedicated zip” code. Immediately, you’ll get a discount, and the add–on will be added. If not, you can contact the NordVPN team via live chat or email. As I have personally tested the responsiveness of the customer care team of NordVPN, I believe that your issue will be resolved immediately.

While I was penning down this article, a dedicated IP address facility was offered on servers of locations like Germany, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, and France.

✅ NordPass 

Managing passwords for various online websites is very hectic for many of us. This is why we end up keeping simple and easy-to-remember passwords that are treated for hackers. Well, with NordVPN, you get a highly useful password manager. The tool makes it easy to manage complex passwords. It also leads to creating strong passwords.

✅ NordLocker

The lovers of extra cloud space will be happy to have extra cloud storage as it offers NordLocker, secured cloud storage. When I tested this feature, I figured out that this feature is very similar to Dropbox when functionality is concerned. What sets it apart is its ultra-secure encrypted lock that keeps the data safe and sound.

First-time users get 3GB of cloud space for free. For additional space, one has to pay. As much as 500GB of cloud space can be purchased. It’s an add-on feature.

Speed Test and Performance: How Fast Is NordVPN?

When it comes to performance and speed, NordVPN excels. t connects to every server from the first attempt without any connection issues.

I’ve also run some ping tests to see if there are any latency issues but found none. It typically took 3-5 seconds to connect to OpenVPN with minimal latencies. All servers appeared to be located where they were advertised.

I used the Quick Connect feature that connected to the UK servers. My VPN-connected speed was 85.72 Mbps, which increased by almost 9% compared to my starting speed of 78.50 Mbps.

US servers showed an increase in my download speed by over 6%. I didn’t run in any buffering or lag. 

Security: Is NordVPN Safe? 

Rest assured that NordVPN is safe. It has secure encryption, much better than most VPNs available.

NordVPN uses AES-256-CBC encryption, but what makes it stand out in terms of extra security is the additional OpenVPN protocol. This is one of the most powerful combinations when combined with encryption.

Furthermore, NordVPN also implements unique session keys that provide additional privacy and more robust encryption. IKev2/IPSec plus OpenVPN is all the encryption you need to protect your privacy.

When it comes to additional security features, NordVPN offers quite a bit. While these aren’t exactly necessary, they are certainly great to have.

Kill Switch

One such feature is a Kill Switch. This handy little tool ensures that your VPN connection doesn’t get compromised even when the VPN shuts down accidentally.

It will cut all network access until the VPN runs again to ensure no one snoops on your traffic.

Split Tunneling

Another useful security feature that NordVPN offers is split tunneling.

Split tunneling allows users to send some traffic through encrypted VPN networks and other traffic through a regular, non-encrypted network. This will enable you to use both local and foreign services at the same time without having to switch or change settings.

DNS Leak Protection

Lastly, NordVPN also offers stellar DNS leak protection.

A DNS leak is a flaw that sometimes allows queries to reach default DNS servers, which your internet service provider controls. This means that they can receive some info about your online activities. However, NordVPN’s DNS protection will ensure that this never happens.

Dark Web Monitoring

This security feature was missing and was recently launched, as mentioned above.

The feature works on macOS, iOS, and Windows NordVPN clients and is great for dark web users.

The feature keeps tabs on the content you’re trying to access on the dark web and alerts you when you’re reaching out to any corrupted links. But, I felt that it should be an in-built feature. Currently, it’s an opt-in feature, and its seekers must make certain setting changes to use it.

However, the process isn’t a lengthy one. Just go to Settings > Dark Web Monitor > Turn On. That’s it. The job is done.

Security Score

This newly launched feature provides security ratings as a percentage. The feature is only offered to Windows users. This is an added security feature to use as it promotes best security practices.

The higher your security score, the more incentive you’re entitled to. It’s an encouragement for the users as well. For instance, if the user doesn’t use a few features that need manual installation or activation, they will do it now for the incentive. The feature reminds users when they need to catch up on crucial security features.

Third-party audits

During my VPN research, I discovered that ExpressVPN is a constant on this front.

Understanding the importance of audits, NordVPN also became serious about it. It started with application penetration testing in 2021. The auditor was VerSprite, a cyber security veteran.

Later, the audit was made public. As per the report, there weren’t any concerning vulnerabilities spotted. Daniel Markuson, the Internet Security expert at NordVPN, was glad to see such positive audit results and took no time to announce that NordVPN is a very privacy-concerned VPN.

ioXT Certification

ioXT is a dependable alliance ensuring the efficacy of mobile app security. In 2021, NordVPN became an ioXT-certified organization. The alliance has awarded the certificate for NordVPN’s Android app. When NordVPN has earned this certification, I have nothing to comment on the security of its Android app, as the certification says it all.

Strong Protocols

I have already explained that NordVPN uses the best encryption in the world.

From the official website, I learned that various renowned protocols are in place with NordVPN. For instance, you have IKEv2/IPSec, OpenVPN TCP, OpenVPN UDP, and NordLynx.

IKEv2 is known for its safety and security, as IPSec is used to ensure both of these things. OpenVPN is known for its speed. Both TCP and UDP are supported to access these protocols. NordLynx, which is the in-house protocol, is supposed to be inspired by WireGuard. WireGuard is the most advanced protocol today.

What you need to know more about NordLynx is the fact that it’s the default protocol and is available on all of its apps/solutions/clients. Users are provided excellent flexibility in choosing the protocol.

Privacy Policy: Is NordVPN Trustworthy? 

Since NordVPN implements IKev2/IPsec support, you have AES-256-GCM encryption working on providing forward security. This sort of encryption includes frequent vital changes, which means that your privacy is pretty much impenetrable.

Even if a hacker somehow manages to intercept your information, they won’t be able to use it in any way. If one session is breached, it automatically locks out the next one.

That aside, NordVPN has more than one trick to enhance your privacy. It uses a double layer of obfuscation, which means that it makes you untraceable. 

There are no DNS leaks, and NordVPN also uses a double VPN system for additional security. When it comes to logging, NordVPN employs a strict no-logs policy. 

This is what they say:

“NordVPN guarantees a strict no-logs policy for NordVPN services, meaning that your activities… are not monitored, recorded, logged, stored or passed to any third party.” 

We do not store connection time stamps, session information, used bandwidth, traffic logs, IP addresses, or other data…

Further, NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy when it comes to seeing user activity online:

“NordVPN is based in Panama, which does not require data storage.”

As we all know, Panama is a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and doesn’t force service providers to keep certain logs. However, it’s mentioned in the logging policy that if the Court of Law subpoenaed the company, it might share partial user information.

Now, let’s understand what that information could be. As per the Privacy Policy, the stored data is email and user name.

Moreover, it’s stored only for 15 minutes. There is no proof of sale kept, and the company has to intend to make money by selling their customers’ data, which is the case with many free VPNs.

Revealing this information won’t be a matter of concern as the IP address is not saved or shared. The IP address can help government agencies to track internet users. Gladly, NordVPN doesn’t keep it. Along with the IP address, crucial details like browsing history, DNS queries, connection timestamps, websites visited, the password stored, and many more aren’t saved. It’s a great relief.

While digging deeper into its privacy policy, I learned that no details about the parent company or corporate leadership are provided. That could sound alarming to a few. But, not for me, as other proofs of its authenticity, like transparency reports and warrant canary, were offered. When I read the canary warrant report, I learned that NordVPN hasn’t received any letter from government agencies or so.

All in all, NordVPN supports internet freedom, values user privacy, and handles data responsibility. So, you don’t have to worry about data leaks, data breaches, and many other hassles.

How Much is NordVPN? 

Just like any other VPN provider, Nord offers three plan deals:

The price of NordVPN subscriptions has been revised recently, and they have become more pocket-friendly. As you can see, the one-month subscription is the costliest one. 

Almost every other VPN service provider does the same thing. Who buys a VPN for one month, too, at such a high cost? We all go for a long-period subscription, as it’s also easy and pocket-friendly.

Nonetheless, my focus is on its 1 year and 2-year subscriptions. After the discount, its one-year subscription will cost you $4.99 per month or nearly $60 per year. The plan sounds decent and slightly lower than the industry’s average. Compared with ExpressVPN, it’s very affordable. All the features and facilities are offered on this plan.

Another plan that lasts for two years brings more savings as monthly expenses with this one are only $3.99. Every month, you’ll save $1. If that doesn’t sound impressive, you’ll end up saving $24 in two years. That’s huge.

Needless to say, the 2-year subscription is the most popular. Seeing the price, I must admit that NordVPN is a great deal to make, provided you don’t go with the one-month subscription.

I’d recommend going with a year up-front as it offers a 41% discount when compared to the monthly plan. NordVPN is a bit more expensive than average, but that’s because of its impeccable performance.

This is a fair price for everything this excellent VPN has to offer. NordVPN offers many payment options, including SOFORT Banking, UnionPay, Alipay, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, PayPal, and credit card support. Such a wide range of payments grants more freedom to the users as they can pay via any preferred method. They don’t have to stick with one payment method.

Accepting cryptocurrency has promoted user privacy a bit more, as such payments don’t reveal the payee’s details. So, if you don’t want to be a VPN user in public eyes or belong to a country where VPN usage is banned, choose cryptocurrency payment, and no one will be able to find out that you’re using a VPN as payment details won’t be in the records.

Is There A Free Trial?

Yes, there is a detailed free trial for 30-days (premium VPNs with free trials). Earlier, the trial was only for 7 days. But, I guess NordVPN sensed that its competitors were winning people’s hearts with their long-term free trial and took the much-needed step instantly.

Getting started with the free trial is also easy. You only need to get a subscription and activate the app as per the device. Once the installation is completed, your trial begins. Unlike many other free trials, there is no cut down on bandwidth and features with NordVPN. You are allowed to browse without any bandwidth and speed restrictions.

You use the VPN for 30 days, and if unsatisfied, you can claim risk-free refunds. Just drop an email or chat with the executives using the Live Chat feature, and your request will be processed. No questions will be asked.

Compatibility 

One can make the most of the purchased VPN if it works on all the leading devices and supports the top operating system. So, it’s crucial to analyze the compatibility with a VPN.

NordVPN supports all devices, literally. This is a VPN for all your devices:

• Android
• Windows
• Mac
• iOS
• Linux
• Android TV
• Chrome
• Firefox

If you’re an advanced user, things get even better. Plenty of additional options exist for those who prefer to configure their VPN manually. 

You can use NordVPN to configure pfSense, Raspberry Pi, numerous router firmware, and Blackberry devices.

NordVPN is also on our list of best VPN services for Windows.

You can connect six devices simultaneously, making NordVPN perfect for tech junkies and small businesses.

I tested a few of its solutions personally and would like to share my experience with you. Let’s begin with its Windows client, which I tested using an Intel desktop using Windows 10. The Window app is impressive, easy to use, and very light.

NordVPN Windows App

The layout features a blue theme and presents all the leading settings and features at the front. As soon as the app is functional, you will get a list of speeding servers. You can either select one or let the app select it for you.

Some handy features you’ll get with the Windows app are a kill switch, split tunneling, CyberSec, Quick Connect, Threat Protection, SmartPlay, and unlimited bandwidth.

While the app worked fine on Windows 10, it also supports Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (version 1607 or later), and Windows 11. If you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, you’ll get an in-built VPN facility. But you’ve to work hard to complete the manual configuration. Because of this, it’s better to get a Windows-compatible VPN like NordVPN that comes with zero hassles.

NordVPN for iOS

The next app that was tested was the iPhone app. Compatible with iOS 11 or above versions, the NordVPN iPhone app has a pleasant interface and great features. One app can protect your iPhone and iPad. The app features a simple yet striking interface. As soon as you open the app, a huge “Quick Connect” button will provide you with an instant VPN connection.

The Setting menu features many things like VPN protocols, server lists, an adware blocker, etc. There is a Dark Web Monitor feature in the “Tools” section. Only the iOS app has this feature. So, if you’re an iOS user, you’ll have an added layer of security. The lightning-fast NordLynx protocol works in 60 countries in the iOS app.

NordVPN for Android

Now, I will talk about my hands-on experience with the Android app of NordVPN. After iOS, Android is the most loved OS for phones and tablets. So, I had to test it. The app features a gray header when you’re disconnected from a VPN and a green header when the VPN is connected.

Regarding the features offered, I must admit that the NordVPN Android app has the edge over the iOS app. The app is compatible with Android 6.0 or later versions.

You can get it from the Google Play Store or directly from the website. While downloading it from the Google Play store, remember that the threat protection feature won’t be available. It’s because of Google’s policies. Its APK version comes with a highly responsive ad blocker. Getting started with the Android app isn’t a challenging task, as the app comes with a simple interface and flawless design.

As we have seen many hassles delivered with APK files, it’s obvious to get a bit apprehensive while downloading the apk version of the Android app. However, I can assure you there is nothing to worry about as it’s completely safe, as you’ll get it directly from the website.

There is no involvement of third-party apps or websites. This way, you only end up using an utterly secured apk file.

All these solutions I have personally tested. But I have extensively studied the utility of other solutions. Let me share my experience with you.

NordVPN macOS app

There are two apps for macOS, and both look different from each other. One version is accessible from the App Store, while the other can be downloaded from the NordVPN website. I learned that only the version you will get from the App Store comes with the Kill Switch feature. This version is packed with other impressive features like IKEv2, OpenVPN, and NordLynx tunneling protocols.

NordVPN Linux App

Very few VPN services work with Linux, and NordVPN is one of them. Its Linux client is only offered for RPM and DEB and is accessible only from the official website.

You will also get an Arch Linux port that is useful for manual connection. There is no graphical application offered for Linux. Every setup is manual and involves extensive command-line terminals.

NordVPN Browser Extension

NordVPN users will get responsive and professionally built browser extensions for Firefox, Edge, and Chrome browsers. Both are very lightweight solutions and are great solutions for protecting browser traffic.

The extensions are great for blocking WebRTC and future CyberSec. Recently, NordVPN added Bypass List, a new feature, in both these extensions. A Bypass List is useful to control the accessibility of the website to the proxy connection. More or less, it works like Split Tunneling.

NordVPN for Router

If you want to get VPN protection on devices like PlayStation, FireStick, Xbox, Kindle Fire, Chromecast, and many more, then the best way is to get a router-compatible VPN.

Gladly, NordVPN works with routers. Once you install it on your router, you can protect all the linked devices in one go. Isn’t it great? Or course. However, this involves some manual configuration work. There are detailed tutorials for this and a responsive live chat feature. So, I don’t think that you’ll have hassles in getting the job done.

NordVPN for Android TV

Along with an Android phone, you can also use NordVPN on Android TV. The Android TV application has everything that a seamless streaming and torrenting experience demands. For instance, you enjoy the best encryption and protocols to maintain privacy and security.

The speed is blazing to support lagging-free streaming. Also, the app is capable of beating ISP throttling. Its setup is very seamless.

Before I wrap up, I must admit that NordVPN has at-par compatibility. No matter what kind of device and OS you have, NordVPN has a solution to assist you. This is a great thing for sure and puts NordVPN in a high position in the list of best VPN services.

Torrenting: Can You Pirate with NordVPN?

Torrenting lovers are everywhere. Even if solid censorship is imposed on torrent downloads, it’s hard to stop torrenting lovers. Gladly, all of this is possible as NordVPN is a torrenting-friendly VPN.

With hundreds of torrent-friendly servers in the UK, the US, and other locations, NordVPN is an excellent VPN for P2P actions.

What makes it even better is that this VPN provides unlimited bandwidth, allowing you to download as much as you want.

Aside from direct P2P support, NordVPN provides additional features that make it a recommended torrenting choice.

NordVPN has over 5,400 P2P-optimized servers, each offering unlimited bandwidth and data. Their no-log policy ensures that your torrenting activities are always hidden.

NordVPN works with all major torrent clients, including BitTorrent, uTorrent, and others. Its website also has a server recommendation tool to recommend the optimal server for your P2P downloading needs.

You can also use the SOCKS5 proxies that NordVPN provides. These are great for torrenting because they offer incredible speeds.

For a hassle-free torrenting experience, I would suggest using a Windows-based desktop. There is an extensive list of P2P-optimized servers at the beginning of the connection.

As no online activity traces must be left behind while you download a torrent file, one must look into the privacy and logging policy of the VPN. With NordVPN, no logs are stored, no IP address is tracked, and there is no monitoring of online activities. This way, you’ll have better peace of mind while accessing torrents or downloading torrent files.

There is DNS and IP address leak protection to make torrenting a bit safer. With Double VPN and Onion over VPN, you enjoy improved security. Seeing all this, I have no qualms about concluding that NordVPN is a safe choice for torrent file browsing and downloading. Try it once, and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

How to Use NordVPN for Torrenting

When it comes to NordVPN P2P traffic, such as torrenting, you should be careful when choosing a suitable server because not all of them will work. However, NordVPN has a handy option that recommends the best server for your needs. Here’s how to use NordVPN for torrenting:

1. Open NordVPN’s server recommendation feature.
2. Select the Show Advanced Options feature.
3. In the Select Server Type field, choose P2P.
4. Then, the best server will be chosen automatically.

Streaming: Does NordVPN Work with Netflix? 

Netflix has a stringent geo-restrictions policy and doesn’t mind going the extra mile to block access that is beyond the geographical limits. This is done to protect the copyright of the content. The issue doesn’t end here, as Netflix uses a high-end technology that recognizes and blocks specific VPN solutions. Hence, any VPN that wants to unblock Netflix must beat the VPN-blocking technology and lift the imposed geographical restrictions.

Let’s figure out how good NordVPN is for Netflix and other streaming platforms.

It features streaming-optimized servers, and connecting to them isn’t an issue. Their server settings were configured quite well, ensuring that all geo-restrictions could be bypassed.

One important thing to note is that NordVPN is particularly suitable for streaming thanks to its network speed and reliability. When testing, we went through all 133 servers, and guess what – every single one of them worked, officially putting it into our list of the best VPNs for Netflix.

The speed didn’t lack either – the speed only fell by about 5%, which is incredible because VPNs usually decrease the speedway more.

How to use NordVPN for Netflix

NordVPN recommends using servers that are the closest to your location to ensure the best streaming quality. However, you have to use local servers to access local Netflix content. So, for example, if you’d like to watch Netflix UK, connect to one of the UK servers from the list that is the closest to your location geographically.

Remember that the US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, and Spain regions are also supported on FireTV, Android boxes, and other smart TV devices.

You can make this VPN work on every device with a highly impressive Split Tunneling feature. Even those who aren’t VPN-friendly will be able to work with NordVPN.

As mentioned above, there is unlimited bandwidth offered. So you don’t have to worry about running out of bandwidth. You can watch your favorite shows on Netflix endlessly.

I must admit that NordVPN has improved its streaming abilities when other streaming platforms are concerned.

Earlier, I wasn’t able to unblock BBC iPlayer. Now, I managed to access it on US servers. The same is the case with Amazon Prime. You won’t feel any hassles accessing Amazon Prime on US servers.

Along with these two platforms, NordVPN works with Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, DAZN, and many other platforms as well.

Customer Support 

Just like any other high-end VPN provider, NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat for customers.

As per the company’s claims, its chat support is not bot-managed. Rather, real human beings are there to help you out. However, I had no way to confirm it. The best I could do was to check its viability and functionality, which I certainly did. I posted a question about the Threat Protection feature and got appropriate and timely assistance.

You will see this at the top of the Contact Us page. As mentioned above, the live chat feature is highly responsive. You can write an email to them as well. However, don’t expect instantly responsive people here too. Like any other VPN service, NordVPN also has a delayed response when contacted via email.

Mostly, the support is available all the time. If you’re having a problem connecting with it, you can try email and ticketing support. But remember that you won’t get immediate assistance; certain delays are certain.

The second line of customer support is its knowledge-imparting website. There is a dedicated section, Help, for this. This section has units like Support Center, Tutorials, FAQs, Privacy Policy, and many more.

What I liked the most about its FAQ section was its effective content categorization. There are categories on the left side of the page, and you can easily find the relevant help topic. It’s a good thing, as tons of time and effort are saved.

I must mention one thing here. The tutorials are excellent and feature easy-to-understand languages and everything else. Screenshots are also offered for detailed assistance. If you feel lost in so much information, use the search box to find the relevant post. Make sure you enter the exact keywords. There are different categories as well. As the website has transparent navigation, so I had no problems finding customer support.

The VPN company has dedicated profiles on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I felt that this is the best option to get immediate assistance against grievances, if any.

A few days ago, I posted a request and was amazed to see an immediate response. As whatever one says and talks on social media brings to everyone’s notice, NordVPN or any other company won’t like to have negative comments about them over there. This is why they are all proactive on these platforms. So, you can contact them via this channel as well. In a nutshell, its customer support is impressive and does the job greatly.

Attention Businesses!

Considering the current remote work scenarios and increasing cybersecurity hassles, NordVPN has developed security solutions for businesses operating remotely. The feature is known as NordLayer and is packed with facilities like Transition to SASE, Zero-Trust security, Regulatory compliances, and hybrid work security.

This was new to me and made me curious. So, I did a bit of research on it. The key findings of the research are as follows.

Transition to SASE is the facility using which businesses can bring SD-WAN capabilities to their disposal with so much ease. It helps you bring assistance like SaaS security, threat prevention and secured remote access. It’s a great way to improve the network access security while not getting tangled in any installation and setup hard work.

If the word of the cyber security experts is to be believed, Zero trust is one of the best security practices. It involves trusting no one and adopting authentication and verification for everyone to access network resources. However, the strategy implementation is challenging. With NordLayer, you get a pre-build security solution that features IAM or Identity and Access Management, Access control, network segmentation, and network security.

Everything that is required for effective zero-trust practice implementation is delivered to you. All you need to do is get the NordLayer.

Businesses operating remote or regular work models must adhere to certain security compliances such as HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, etc. By delivering an assorted security suite, NordLayer will help you meet all these requirements with zero hassle.

The last offering of NordLayer is hybrid work security. It helps you bring the capabilities of BYOD policies, multi-cloud resource integration, secure access management, and many more into action. With all these features, it’s easy for a business adopting a hybrid work model to operate securely.

I must admit that by offering NordLayer, NordVPN has made a great initiative. None of its competitors provides this facility, which can be a game-changer for the VPN service. The best part is that none of the solutions is too complex. Everything is pre-built and delivered as a plug-and-play solution. So, even if a business is not technologically sound, it can enjoy improved security.

Should I Get NordVPN? 

NordVPN offers the highest level of online privacy and security at the most affordable prices. You won’t find a more affordable, trustworthy, and reliable VPN. While testing this VPN, here are the pros and cons that I found out:

NordVPN has been going strong since its inception and is bringing something new to its users. For streaming and torrenting lovers, it’s an excellent choice for many reasons—the recent addition. Dark Web Monitor has made it more relevant in recent times. Of course, the cost-effective price makes it a steal deal. It’s worth a try, even though it’s not an open-source VPN service. It’s an easy way to get rid of the hassles that a free VPN brings along with it, as its two-year plan is a steal deal. As the interface is simple and hassle-free, any VPN beginner can bring top-notch security with NordVPN.

Overall, it’s an appealing VPN with many servers and excellent features. I recommend it.

Pros and Cons of NordVPN as per Reddit Users

In a world of abundance, it’s not easy to choose. As a VPN is something you can’t afford to get faulty, I decided to gather real-time inputs about NordVPN.

For this job, there is no place better than Reddit. Here, one will hear from the actual users and analyze the actual performance of a VPN. I researched the top 100 comments on Reddit and have concluded a few inputs. So, let’s dig in.

Positive Comments

Negative Comments

Neutral Comments

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