NordVPN - best for privacy
NordVPN is a feature-rich service. They are the go-to provider boasting not one but two independent audits showing that they are committed to providing a secure and private connection to the open web.
Question |
Answer |
No-Logs |
Yes - and proven |
Kill Switch |
Yes |
Supports all major platforms |
Yes |
Encryption |
AES-256 |
Support |
24/7 Live Chat + Email |
Max Devices |
6 Simultaneous |
Streaming |
Yes |
Servers |
5495 in 59 countries |
Jurisdiction |
Panama |
Price |
£2.49/mo |
NordVPN Overview - the pros and the cons
The Good
👍Independent Audited x2 👍Best-in-class Encryption 👍Panama Jurisdiction 👍Supports Streaming 👍Supports P2P 👍Strict No-Logs 👍Easy to use 👍Unblocks Worldwide Content |
The Bad
👎Took a while to find a streaming server 👎2018 Security Breach (No data was able to be stolen) |
Get NordVPN with 65% off + 3 months free
I have taken the time to thoroughly test through NordVPN's range of apps and settings and have found some interesting things.
Security and Encryption
NordVPN uses best-in-class encryption to secure your online activities. They use AES-256 which is known to be uncrackable meaning that no one can intercept your traffic and read it whilst you are connected to one of NordVPN's servers. This makes sure no one, not even your ISP, knows what you're up to online
It is also worth noting that this is what protects you from risky public wifi as it stops hackers from spying on your connection and performing attacks on your device or stealing your personal information.
NordVPN uses best-in-class encryption to secure your online activities. They use AES-256 which is known to be uncrackable meaning that no one can intercept your traffic and read it whilst you are connected to one of NordVPN's servers. This makes sure no one, not even your ISP, knows what you're up to online
It is also worth noting that this is what protects you from risky public wifi as it stops hackers from spying on your connection and performing attacks on your device or stealing your personal information.
Streaming Support
It did take a slight bit longer to find a supported streaming server with NordVPN than out #1 rated VPN Surfshark. But once we had connected to a server we were able to stream without issue. NordVPN did not have any buffering or lagging once we were set up. We were able to access all major streaming services including:
Netflix
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+
Hulu
HBO Max
All 4
ITV Hub
BBC iPlayer
DAZN
ESPN
Crunchyroll
NordVPN is a great choice for streaming as there was no buffering or worldwide catalogue issues on any streaming platform.
Servers and their protocols
NordVPN offers 5495 servers in 59 countries to make sure that you can access the free internet wherever you are located. NordVPN's servers support multiple protocols including OpenVPN (TCP), OpenVPN (UDP) and IKEv2. NordVPN has even gone as far as to build their own protocol based on the modern WireGuard protocol. This protocol is called NordLynx and has been adapted to provide more privacy to the customer and ensure that NordVPN doesn't keep any logs that can lead back to their customers. NordVPN does not use any Virtual Servers and all of their servers are physical machines NordVPN offers a whole range of special use servers such as Double VPN, Onion over VPN, Dedicated IP and P2P making them the perfect choice for Torrenting, privacy and everyday use. NordVPN also offers obfuscation, which means that you can bypass firewalls and have access to the unblocked internet in countries or places which have internet restrictions in place. |
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Privacy
NordVPN takes customer privacy very seriously. They operate based on a strict No-Logs policy and log next to nothing They only log what they need to operate the service and have said that they will never log any identifiable customer information, which is always good to see from a VPN. The fact that NordVPN s.a. is incorporated in Panama means that they are out of the way of spying eyes and there are no mandatory data retention laws in Panama allowing NordVPN to keep their service log-free. If someone asks for your browsing history all NordVPN can do is shrug their shoulders and say "I don't know".
It is worth noting that NordVPN has had a security breach in the past however no customer data was stolen as it was all encrypted by the server. In a statement, NordVPN said that it was the datacenter's fault as they had left an undisclosed back door in their system which a hacker exploited. NordVPN reassured people that their data was safe and that they were audited before disclosing the breach to make sure that this could not happen again. They then went a step further to upgrade their entire infrastructure, release a bug bounty program and focus on customer privacy which has paid off and made them one of the most secure VPN services today, Well done Nord.
NordVPN takes customer privacy very seriously. They operate based on a strict No-Logs policy and log next to nothing They only log what they need to operate the service and have said that they will never log any identifiable customer information, which is always good to see from a VPN. The fact that NordVPN s.a. is incorporated in Panama means that they are out of the way of spying eyes and there are no mandatory data retention laws in Panama allowing NordVPN to keep their service log-free. If someone asks for your browsing history all NordVPN can do is shrug their shoulders and say "I don't know".
It is worth noting that NordVPN has had a security breach in the past however no customer data was stolen as it was all encrypted by the server. In a statement, NordVPN said that it was the datacenter's fault as they had left an undisclosed back door in their system which a hacker exploited. NordVPN reassured people that their data was safe and that they were audited before disclosing the breach to make sure that this could not happen again. They then went a step further to upgrade their entire infrastructure, release a bug bounty program and focus on customer privacy which has paid off and made them one of the most secure VPN services today, Well done Nord.
App Compatibility
NordVPN has one of the most feature-rich apps and the app layout does not disappoint. This app is easy to use and uses both a list and a map layout to pinpoint servers and allow the user to connect to the secure internet. NordVPN offers apps for multiple devices including Firestick, MacOS, iOS, Android, Windows and even Linux. NordVPN has also developed browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox, meaning that you don't need to install the app to use the service. This feature is good in a situation where it is not your device so you can temporarily use a lightweight app to secure your activities. |
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Speed and Latency
When using NordVPN I did not notice too much speed difference in my network there was no lag or waiting for webpages to load. When I tested this VPN for gaming it performed very well by only increasing my latency/ping by a small amount. NordVPN also offers 10gbps servers for optimal speed which I tested and they worked even better. Little latency and blazing fast game downloads.
When tested, my ping increased by 2% which is the best result I have seen from a VPN provider. My download speed decreased by 15% so im impressed by NordVPN here.The low latency increase makes NordVPN the perfect VPN for gaming knowing you wont be disconnecting from the multiplayer server from either DDoS or lag.
When using NordVPN I did not notice too much speed difference in my network there was no lag or waiting for webpages to load. When I tested this VPN for gaming it performed very well by only increasing my latency/ping by a small amount. NordVPN also offers 10gbps servers for optimal speed which I tested and they worked even better. Little latency and blazing fast game downloads.
When tested, my ping increased by 2% which is the best result I have seen from a VPN provider. My download speed decreased by 15% so im impressed by NordVPN here.The low latency increase makes NordVPN the perfect VPN for gaming knowing you wont be disconnecting from the multiplayer server from either DDoS or lag.
Pricing
NordVPN is reasonably priced considering the large server network and the amount of features that you get. NordVPN is currently priced at £2.49/mo on their 2year deal. NordVPN offers a range of ways to pay, including cryptocurrency, showing their commitment to user privacy as they accept anonymous payments. |
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Additional Features
NordVPN offers 24/7 support on their website via live chat meaning a NordVPN support agent will be able to sort out any issues that you face quickly and efficiently - no time waiting on hold. NordVPN also offers email support, however, this is a lot slower than live chat. Their Live Chat is available 24/7 for everyone. NordVPN offers support for 6 devices simultaneously, meaning that all your devices can connect to NordVPN and access the internet. If you install NordVPN onto your router, your whole home's traffic will be routed through NordVPN's secure servers. We also encountered no IP, DNS or WebRTC leaks whilst using NordVPN |