NordVPN is a VPN service provider based in Panama. With a known reputation of being a premium VPN provider, its integrity, quality, and authority are well known to internet users. It is available on multiple platforms such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and other applications.
This VPN doesn’t go wrong with its users and offers a friendly user interface with multiple and advanced features. Talk about no logging policy and global coverage, you name it and you have it. NordVPN offers everything you look for when you opt a VPN.
When using NordVPN you should have a complete state of mind and keep your paranoia aside. Either you’re using public Wi-Fi or a shady network, browse on free. No hacker or snooper can intimidate with you over an establish a NordVPN connection. Even if he succeeds in breaking through the network, he will be left bewildered with jumbled and unreadable lines of code.
NordVPN Overview
Let’s have a quick overview of NordVPN. For user’s knowledge, NordVPN is situated in Panama. This location is outside the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes Alliance which makes NordVPN a safe VPN to utilize. Moreover, Panama has a no logging policy meaning it doesn’t create a database of the browsing activity of its users. So, one should be carefree of his/her online activity on NordVPN.
Strong level of encryption is an additional utility offered by NordVPN. Double encryption is used when a client connects to the internet. This feature is vital for critical tasks on the web, such as online transactions and secret research. NordVPN costs you $12.95 per month but with 6 and 12 months subscription, it can shorten up to $9.99 and $8.32 per month. It utilizes essentials protocols such as PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP and OpenVPN bundled with TCP/UDP.
NordVPN Features
NordVPN is well known, amongst VPN users, for its top-notch features. When subscribed to NordVPN, you can connect the application on up to 6 devices simultaneously! Another part where NordVPN gets a vote is that they offer their users a wide variety of servers. A client can connect on a diverse availability of more than 4000 servers spread across more than 60 countries.
There’s another choice of choosing specialized servers like Double VPN, Dedicated IP, and Tor over VPN. The most essentials features are offered in NordVPN as well. The first is internet kill switch and DNS leak protection. Kill Switch blocks your internet traffic whenever your connection to the VPN server drops. DNS leak protection aids you by blocking DNS requests from moving to your IP. Instead, it routes them to NordVPN’s server.
Recently, NordVPN launched extensions for their proxy servers exclusively for Firefox and Chrome browsers. This tool will encrypt their connection and transfer data packets from your browser itself and not from your device. Thus, you should not worry about your data to be inspected when you are using popular browsers like Chrome which have a reputation of vulnerabilities.
NordVPN Servers
Every VPN operates its own unique server. NordVPN, being a leader in VPN providers, also has its own servers which operate differently with different protocols. There are three regular VPN servers which NordVPN utilizes:
- Double VPN Servers
- Dedicated IP servers
- Tor Over VPN servers
Each specialized server has its own unique feature. Double VPN makes your encryption level twice by routing one VPN to another. Dedicated IP servers are best for websites where you have to login multiple times thereby, ensuring your credentials. Tor over VPN connects your traffic with a VPN and then with Tor guaranteeing full proof security.
P2P servers – Users can opt from more than hundreds of servers. These servers are the best for P2P file sharing/torrent. So you can download torrents using NordVPN without the fear of anyone keeping your logs.
Obfuscated servers – These servers should be used when you are situated in a country with restrictions on internet usage. These servers have a specialty of bypassing internet restrictions e.g. firewalls. These are available on all operating systems on which NordVPN can operate.
Standard servers – The last but not to be forgotten, NordVPN utilizes a simple VPN server as well. Best for simple internet users who will use NordVPN for everyday surfing and checking their social media networks.
NordVPN Speed Test
NordVPN is true in the light when it says that if offers super-fast speed. You can run up a speed test when utilizing NordVPN. When it comes to downloading speed, NordVPN tops the chart, however, there seems to be a slight lag in the upload speed. Speeds depend on the server location you opt, so choose a server near to your jurisdiction.
In October 2018, NordVPN had the honor of receiving the Speedtest recommended badge due to its top-notch speed, from Ookla. Testing was done through comparing download and upload speed along with various analysis. Nearly every internet user has a knowledge of Ookla, which happens to be a pioneer of internet speed testing with over 10 million tests made daily.
NordVPN is the first ever VPN service provider to have this prestige and it doesn’t limit its users with speed and bandwidth limits. However, differences are always there when comparing internet speed without a VPN and with a VPN. Thus, our recommendation is to choose a server near your country, when browsing, to experience ultra-fast speed.
NordVPN Protocols
To facilitate their clients’ security, NordVPN engages a number of security protocols on a connection. Each protocol has its unique purpose and a different level of security and a customer has its own requirements. Read on to know which security protocols NordVPN utilizes to enhance network security.
IKEv2/IPsec is the most recent upgrade in the NordVPN protocol bundle. It takes security to a whole new dimension by using keys and cryptography algorithms to integrate online privacy. Some ciphers include AES-256-GCM for encryption combined with SHA2-384 to multiply integrity. Furthermore, PFS is utilized with 3072-Bit Diffie Hellman keys.
PPTP is an abbreviation of Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol and it was the first encryption protocol to come out. This is fairly easy to set up and is used in the Windows NT family. NordVPN recommends this protocol to be used only when security isn’t an issue.
OpenVPN is a strong encryption protocol which makes NordVPN a reliable VPN provider to use. This protocol can be utilized on the duo, i.e. UDP and TCP ports. This carries along multiple ciphers and algorithms for encryption. OpenVPN is the default protocol in NordVPN apps. This should be used by those who are privacy conscious.
L2TP/IPsec has a multi-layer tunneling protocol bundled within IPsec. This is fairly used by professional L2TP has the capacity to break through ISP and government firewalls. This should be your last option to choose when other protocols are not working as they should since your online activity can be interrupted with this.
NordVPN Netflix
The fair benefit of any VPN service is its ability to bypass geo-restricted content. Netflix is a horrid interface for VPNs and proxies to bypass easily. With NordVPN, bypassing Netflix is as easy as it gets. You can watch movies and TV series not available in your location by interfacing with NordVPN.
The only condition, obviously, is to have a Netflix subscription and a connection with a NordVPN ready before streaming. As stated above, NordVPN has more than 4000 servers in more than 60 countries. This facility enables NordVPN to have hundreds and thousands of IP addresses with which, it sends your data. Every IP is encrypted, thus making your interface secure.
Since NordVPN utilizes obfuscated servers, the received data is also encrypted. Therefore, Netflix does not bother with the connection because it’s not able to distinguish it from normal data. None of the IPs are blocked and you can continue to watch movies not accessible in the country you reside on Netflix.
NordVPN Support
You can contact NordVPN for support via live chat or through their email. NordVPN realizes its own worth and they offer multiple tutorials and how-to articles. There’s instant chat assistance as well where you can let them know any issues you’ve been facing with the interface or software. All of this is available 24/7.
Moreover, NordVPN offers a complete knowledge base to their users as well. This is a complete guide of the app, how it functions, how it deals with issues and how you can troubleshoot networking issues.
Conclusion
The features, support, speed and various factors of NordVPN have been explained to you. Subscribe to NordVPN and safeguard your online identity. Using a VPN is necessary in an era that we breathe, thus you should opt for the best. As for the features a VPN provider can offer, NordVPN has it all. So happy secure browsing!