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NordVPN: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Has more than 5200 servers in 62 countries
- Limited logging
- Easy to set up and use
- Can unlock streaming services like Netflix and Hulu
- Fast speeds
- Has a warrant canary
- Robust security features
- Supports up to 6 simultaneous connections
Cons
- Torrenting is only supported on select servers
- A bit expensive relative to other VPN services
A VPN can be your best friend on the internet, especially that data breaches are increasing on a wide scale.
If you’ve been considering using NordVPN but still don’t know sufficient details that can help you make the ultimate decision, we’ve crafted this article to cover everything you need to know about NordVPN and the company behind it.
Speed
NordVPN prides itself on obscuring your IP addresses while still delivering your favorite content, shows, and games at lightning speed. With over 5500+ VPN servers located all over the world, you’ll have plenty of options to get your content delivered.
And with their algorithms testing and detecting your fastest connection possibilities – the VPN automatically connects you to the fastest speed.
Whether you’re in New York or based in Panama, you’re going to get the right server locations for a super quick internet connection.
Plus, it’s just as fast on the last day of the month as the first day of the month, because there are no bandwidth limits.
It’s a single VPN for all your devices. With Nord, you can use up to six simultaneous connections to browse on every device.
NordVPN also allows you to run speed tests to ensure that it’s fast enough for your taste. And after all, with the 30-day money-back guarantee, you aren’t committed to a pricetag to try it out. They’re confident that you’re going to like it!
How NordVPN Works
Features like a kill switch, simultaneous connections, and obfuscated servers make NordVPN also one of the more advanced, secure VPNs. It’s easy to use for people just getting interested in internet server privacy but offers excellent features for the more advanced users.
With the kill switch, you’ll have high-tech internet protection even if there is a problem with the VPN.
The kill switch is your safeguard, preventing you from leaking data in the event that something goes wrong with the VPN.
Simultaneous connections mean that you can run the VPN on multiple devices at the same time, great for families or tech junkies. Finally, an obfuscated server means that you can get by some internet restrictions like network firewalls. This can be great for getting in or out of countries that have restricted internet access.
Ultimately, the data privacy that NordVPN provides is top of the charts.
Streaming
One of the reasons that people want to snag a VPN is to access content that is normally blocked by the region of the IP address. When your IP location is reported to sites, some sites, like Netflix, block certain kinds of regional content. With NordVPN, streaming services such as Netflix can be unlocked to their full potential.
Netflix is a great place for extra content, but it’s not just Netflix—NordVPN unlocks content on Hulu, ABC, and BBC as well.
Torrenting
NordVPN is a VPN solution that is specifically designed to allow torrenting to work. Using dedicated P2P servers, there’s a secure file transfer between your computer and the internet that doesn’t allow your IP address to be chased.
Additionally, given NordVPN’s no-log policy, they aren’t going to track where and when you downloaded content.
Some people are concerned that torrenting with a VPN might be slower, but it actually prevents your internet service from slowing down your data connection by detecting torrents.
Gaming
NordVPN grants users gaming access to servers in 59 different countries. This means that you might be able to gain early access to some games that are released earlier in different countries.
Additionally, the VPN won’t actually slow down your gaming connections. Because of the 5500+ servers in strategic locations, you shouldn’t experience any latency.
Of course, the 30-day money-back guarantee makes it easy to test the VPN services and ensure they don’t slow down your favorite games!
NordVPN's Data Privacy
Data privacy is the right of an individual to have control over how their personal data is collected, used, and shared. This includes the right to know what personal data is being collected, the right to have that data erased, and the right to refuse to allow it to be collected in the first place.
When it comes to VPN providers, data privacy is of the utmost importance. A VPN provider must take steps to ensure that their users’ data is safe from prying eyes, whether it’s the government, hackers, or even the VPN provider themselves.
NordVPN is one of the most privacy-focused VPN providers, and their data privacy policy reflects this. NordVPN collects very little personal data from their users, and what data they do collect is heavily protected. NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning that they do not keep any records of their users’ online activity. This means that even if NordVPN was forced to hand over their logs, there would be nothing to give.
NordVPN also uses military-grade encryption to protect their users’ data. This ensures that even if someone were to intercept your data, they would not be able to read it.
Overall, NordVPN is a very privacy-focused VPN provider and their data privacy policy is excellent. If you’re looking for a VPN that will keep your data safe, NordVPN is a great choice.
DNS Leak Results
NordVPN provides excellent protection against DNS (Domain Name Server) leaks, a major threat that can expose your identity by identifying your real IP address, rendering the VPN service useless. The service was subject to multiple tests on various platforms for DNS leaks, and it passed them all flawlessly.
Warrant Canary
NordVPN has introduced a warrant canary back in 2017, which has increased users’ trust in the service. If you don’t know what a warrant canary is, you can think of it as transparency proof, which guarantees that the service provider hasn’t got a secret warrant from the government that forces them to share the users’ data.
Customer Support
NordVPN offers users 24/7 customer support through various digital channels like live chat and email. Alternatively, you can search for your query in the FAQs database.
We’d have preferred if it also had phone support since it’s much easier to speak on the phone in many cases. However, most of the time, you won’t need to contact a customer service representative, but we appreciate that they give you the option.
About the Company
NordVPN is owned by Tefincom, a Lithuanian company. The actual headquarters of the VPN service is in Panama under the company name of Tefincom S.A, which is more or less considered a subsidiary of Tefincom.
You might be wondering why in the world would a Lithuanian company launch a VPN service that’s based in Panama? Well, the answer is simply because it’s an excellent location for a VPN company since Panama doesn’t have any laws regarding data retention in its jurisdiction.
Not to mention, the country isn’t a member of the Fourteen Eyes or the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. It’s also worth noting that its government hasn’t signed any data-sharing agreements with other countries. This is probably one of the VPN’s strongest points, which explains why it continually uses it in its marketing tactics.
NordVPN Company History
NordVPN was founded by four friends whose friendship started during their childhood. The company started as a single server back in 2012. Since then, the service has grown rapidly to reach its current status as a global leader when it comes to security, privacy, speed, and the number of servers and locations, having over 5,200 servers in more than 62 countries.
The company rolled out its first mobile app on the Android platform in 2016, particularly in May. Then, it rolled out an iOS app in the following month. The company also launched a Google Chrome extension later in 2017. Additionally, an Android TV app was released in 2018, namely in June.
And it didn’t just end there; the company also released NordVPN Team for business in 2019, which enabled remote freelancers and small to medium enterprises to access their work files privately and safely.
In the same year, it was revealed that the Russian government sent a directive to NordVPN ordering them to register to a list of websites that the government has banned, which means that Russian NordVPN users would still be surveilled by the Russian government and under the rules of censorship.
However, NordVPN rejected the Russian government’s requests even though the government gave the company a one-month timeframe to comply. The crisis resulted in the shutting down of NordVPN servers in the Russian Federation. However, Russian users can still use NordVPN, but they have to connect to other servers outside the country.
NordVPN became a founding member of the VPN Trust Initiative in December of 2019. The initiative’s objectives are to provide the public with more transparency and security.
However, in the same year, it was reported that around 2000 NordVPN accounts were hacked using credential stuffing. Despite being a major security incident, the company was able to control the situation and offered support for affected account owners.
In 2020, NordVPN launched a colocated RAM-based servers facility that gave the company full control over all aspects of its hardware resources, providing extra security for the users.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Has more than 5200 servers in 62 countries
- Limited logging
- Easy to set up and use
- Can unlock streaming services like Netflix and Hulu
- Fast speeds
- Has a warrant canary
- Robust security features
- Supports up to 6 simultaneous connections
Cons
- Torrenting is only supported on select servers
- A bit expensive relative to other VPN services
FAQ
Can I use NordVPN on multiple devices?
Yes, NordVPN allows you to connect up to 6 devices simultaneously using the same account at no extra fees.
Is NordVPN really private?
Based on our research, NordVPN is one of the most reliable VPNs out there in terms of privacy and security. The company doesn’t unnecessarily log any information. Moreover, the warrant canary provides even more transparency about what NordVPN does with your data.
Does NordVPN use OpenVPN?
Yes, NordVPN uses the OpenVPN open-source protocol. You can also use the WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec protocols if you prefer.
Should I Leave NordVPN on all the Time?
If you want to guarantee full protection round the clock, then yes you will need to leave your VPN connected. Data breaches can happen in the blink of an eye, so make sure that NordVPN is connected whenever you access the internet.
Can You Be Tracked Using NordVPN?
NordVPN has been one of the breakout VPN providers that help you get around your dedicated IP to browse the internet in privacy. One of their biggest advantages is the high levels of security that they offer, including access to the IKEv2 IPSec connection and a no-logs policy.
The IKEv2 IPSec connection, for those unfamiliar, is regarded by tech fans as one of the most secure, advanced ways to connect to the internet. In addition to being untraceable through an IP, you’ll also have more advanced security features.
Additionally, the no-logs policy is a big deal. There are some VPN providers who track the activity of their users or at least hold onto the data. But since NordVPN never creates a log in the first place, there is no information about the time or duration of your browsing, the IP addresses that were used, or any of the things you visited or downloaded.
Does NordVPN collect log data?
No. As already stated, NordVPN has a log-free policy meaning that they don’t keep any information on your browsing history or connection information.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, NordVPN is your everyday VPN solution. It’s built for people that don’t know anything about internet privacy and want to protect themselves by figuring out what happens with their data when they browse.
NordVPN offers fast speeds and state-of-the-art data protections, with their obfuscated servers, simultaneous browsing, and no-log policy.
Your data is protected while you browse, and it doesn’t exist anywhere after you browse, because NordVPN doesn’t store it. Seamless, effective VPN protection for people who are just learning how compromised their data might be.
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