NordVPN has long been a trusted name in the world of online security, offering powerful tools to ensure privacy and safety for millions of users worldwide. Among its suite of features, Threat Protection Pro™ has emerged as a standout, recently earning top marks in an independent test by AV-TEST for blocking malicious websites and as one of the best online threat protection tools.

This cutting-edge cybersecurity tool, available in selected NordVPN plans, outperformed competitors by a wide margin, showcasing its ability to detect and block malicious links, phishing attempts, online threat protection, and harmful downloads. With a proven track record of excellence in cybersecurity, NordVPN continues to lead the charge in safeguarding the digital landscape.

“The internet is full of scammers. Even the most innocent-looking link may contain malware or redirect users to fake sites where malicious actors can steal their sensitive information (such as login credentials or credit card information). These cyber-threats may seem minor at first, but they can quickly result in account takeover, financial loss, or even identity theft,”

says Domininkas Virbickas, head of development at Threat Protection.

AV-TEST, an independent research institute for IT security from Germany, conducted an extensive test in October to evaluate the capabilities of five well-known VPN providers in detecting malicious links. In this test, the institute used 3,209 links in total, consisting of 1,050 malicious links to PE files, 1,031 links to other malicious (non-PE) file types, and 1,128 links to phishing sites.

All links contained three specific categories: phishing links, portable executable (PE) URLs (for example, EXE files), and non-portable executable web addresses (for example, HTML and JavaScript files). The test also measured VPNs’ capacity to avoid marking false positives (harmless links that may sometimes be flagged as malicious).

NordVPN took the lead in all 3 malicious URL detection categories

Out of all participants, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ feature managed to detect and block 83.42% of malicious links. In contrast, the second-best result captured only less than half (46.96%).

While NordVPN led in all three malicious URL detection categories, the most notable advantage of Threat Protection Pro™ emerged in the PE and non-PE results. Out of 1,050 PE links, Threat Protection Pro™ managed to detect malware in 925 (88.10%), while out of 1,031 non-PE URLs, 870 were flagged by this feature (84.38%). For comparison, the second-best result scored a detection rate of 39.24% and 34.53% respectively.

Recognition from West Coast Labs for anti-malware

Recently, Threat Protection Pro™ has also earned the highest rating in an anti-malware validation test by West Coast Labs (WCL), a prominent technical research and product testing organization.

WCL tested NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ in a secure, isolated Windows 11 environment, with WCL’s lab setup simulating real-world conditions for reliable results. The product earned the highest AAA rating and achieved an impressive 99.8% detection rate for high-threat malware. This rating confirms that NordVPN’s solution exceeded standard criteria across all tested categories.

Here’s a breakdown of what WCL found in its extensive testing and why NordVPN Threat Protection Pro™ earned top marks:

• Purchase process. The product was rated highly for its smooth buying experience, which included secure payment, flexible licensing, and a 30-day refund policy.
• Deployment and installation. Installation was easy and customizable, with options for installation paths and add-ons, which ensured a flexible and user-friendly setup.
• User interface and documentation. The interface received praise for ease of use and clear settings. In-app resources, including setup guides and FAQs, allow users to get the most out of the product.
• Anti-malware capabilities. Threat Protection Pro™ excelled in real-time malware detection, providing accurate threat reports and effective remediation options that allow users to respond quickly to detected threats.
• Customer support. The support system for Threat Protection Pro™ includes multiple options such as FAQs, email, and a live chat with a 48-hour response guarantee, giving users timely assistance when needed.
• Product removal. WCL confirmed that the removal is thorough and leaves no residual files. Users can also choose to delete specific data components.

And yet…NORDVPN is much more than just an online threat protection tool

NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, chosen by millions of internet users worldwide. The service offers features such as dedicated IP, Double VPN, and Onion Over VPN servers, which help boost your online privacy with zero tracking. One of NordVPN’s key features is Threat Protection Pro, a tool that blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads and scans downloads for malware.

The latest creation of Nord Security, NordVPN’s parent company, is Saily — a global eSIM service. Saily eSIM app has already won a 2024 Global Recognition Award! Saily is on a mission to keep travelers sailing far and wide without worrying about roaming fees. You can find here Saily eSIM’s most important news.

NordVPN is known for being user-friendly and can offer some of the best prices on the market. This VPN provider has over 6,400 servers covering 111 countries worldwide.