NordVPN Revamped Its Antivirus. I Put It to the Test

NordVPN has officially repositioned its Threat Protection Pro feature as a "next-generation antivirus," reframing the tool as a direct alternative to standalone antivirus software rather than just a VPN add-on. I tested it to see what that actually means for users, and found the upgrade holds up.

In my hands-on testing, NordVPN's next-gen antivirus blocked every phishing page, malware download, and drive-by attempt I threw at it. That tracks with independent results: AV-Comparatives fed the software 275 active phishing links and it blocked 96% of them, with zero false positives on 200 legitimate banking sites.^[1] 

Below, I'll break down what the lab found, what happened when I ran our in-house tests on NordVPN's next-gen antivirus, and a handful of steps you can take to avoid getting hooked by phishing pages.

What changed with NordVPN Threat Protection

NordVPN reorganized its entire app around three pillars:

• Connect: The VPN
• Protect: Threat Protection Pro, now called next-gen antivirus
• Monitor: Dark Web Monitor, scam call detection, breach alerts

The rename isn't just cosmetic. NordVPN is positioning the tool as a standalone alternative to traditional antivirus, not a companion feature. It runs even when you're not connected to a VPN server, and it focuses on stopping threats before they reach your device, blocking phishing pages, malicious downloads, ads, and trackers in real time, rather than scanning files after the fact.

I was curious how much of this was just marketing hype rather than an actual upgrade, so I put it to the test.

I ran my own independent testing of NordVPN's next-gen antivirus

When evaluating how well antivirus software performs in real-world testing, I run a series of tests. I also factor in third-party testing, like the AV-Comparatives results and NordVPN’s 83.42% protection rate in AV-TEST’s 2024 analysis. The latter is actually strong, especially compared to other top VPNs with anti-malware features, including IPVanish, Proton VPN, Mullvad VPN, and ExpressVPN.

In my most recent hands-on round, NordVPN's protection passed all three of my EICAR safety tests instantly. (EICAR tests use a harmless, industry-standard file to safely confirm that protection actually triggers.) It blocked a manual malware download, stopped a drive-by download attempt, and shut down a test phishing page before it could load.

NordVPN's next-gen antivirus is built to stop Trojans, ransomware, and spyware, and in my hands-on testing, its real-time protection deleted harmful files as soon as they hit my PC. It also stops unwanted ads and hidden trackers, scoring 90/100 on AdBlock Tester and a perfect 3/3 on Can You Block It. 

AdBlock Tester verifies how well a product can block contextual advertising (targeted ad and tracking services like Google AdSense), analytics tools (tracking scripts like Google Analytics, Hotjar, and Yandex.Metrica), banner ads, and error monitoring. Because analytics and contextual categories are where tracking actually lives, a high score indicates a product is blocking the scripts that profile you, not just hiding banners. Can You Block It then explains how each tool handles real ad formats, from banner ads to the interstitials that load before a page loads.

Since my last review, NordVPN has also added a free scam text checker tool. It scans texts, links, and files before you click, extending the same phishing defense beyond your browser. The protection reaches into your inbox, too. NordVPN's Email protection scans links in your Gmail and Yahoo Mail accounts and flags phishing attempts, scams, and other suspicious activity before you click.

I rated the overall experience of using NordVPN 5 out of 5. NordVPN applied the same user-friendly interface to its suite of next-gen antivirus tools. The antivirus now doubles as solid malware protection, not just an ad blocker. The biggest downside is that next-gen can't block YouTube ads.

An independent lab gave NordVPN's antivirus a 96% phishing score

AV-Comparatives ran its 2026 anti-phishing test between May 11 and May 22, feeding NordVPN next-gen antivirus 275 active phishing links. Those links impersonated PayPal, online banking portals, email services, and social media logins, the same phishing lures that show up in real inboxes every day.

NordVPN software blocked 96% of links and let all 200 legitimate banking sites through, so it caught the threats without mistakenly flagging safe pages, according to AV-Comparatives.

The score also shows a pattern. NordVPN became the first VPN provider to earn the lab's anti-phishing certification in 2024, when it cleared the 85% approval bar, and its score has climbed in each test since. 

In 2025, it achieved a 90% protection rate via AV-Comparatives. Now that Nord Security has folded its Threat Protection feature into a broader next-gen antivirus, the anti-malware tool has seen a 6-point jump in protection rate.

NordVPN frames the win around everyday users rather than experts. "Phishing sites today are sophisticated enough to fool almost anyone, and most people shouldn't have to become cybersecurity experts just to stay safe online," said Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN, in a statement to TechRadar.

What a 96% block rate actually means for you

Think about the last time a text claimed you needed to verify your package was undeliverable or pay an overdue toll. One tap, and that malicious link sends you to a phishing page designed to harvest your personal information, credit card numbers, and login credentials.

A 96% block rate means software like this stops nearly all of those pages from ever loading, so a careless click in a distracted moment does far less damage.

This protection matters more as virtual private networks (VPNs) become mainstream. In our 2026 VPN usage survey, 60% of Americans said they used a VPN in the past year, and 75% of users said they rely on one for general internet safety rather than for any one feature. People want a single tool that keeps them safe, so having built-in malware protection can make your VPN subscription more valuable.

No tool catches everything, though. That remaining 4% is a reminder that software is a safety net, not a substitute for caution. Your own habits still carry weight.

How to protect yourself from phishing right now

1. Turn on NordVPN's built-in protection. Open the desktop app and switch on "Scam, phishing, and malware protection" from the shield icon. It blocks phishing pages and malicious sites, scans downloads for malware, and runs even when you aren't connected to a VPN server. The full antivirus capabilities come with NordVPN Plus plans and up; the basic tier still blocks phishing and malicious sites but doesn't scan downloads.
2. Check the web address before you enter anything. Look for misspelled domains, odd prefixes, and links that drop you on a subpage instead of a homepage.
3. Don’t respond to any message that creates a sense of urgency. A text or email that demands you act immediately is the most common phishing tactic, so treat panic as a warning sign.
4. Never click unsolicited links or download unknown attachments or files. In fact, don’t even open emails or messages from unverified senders because hackers can hide images and links in the body.
5. Turn on two-factor authentication for your email, bank, and main accounts. Even if a scammer steals your password, the second code blocks them from logging in.
6. Run a suspicious link or text through a free scam checker before you click. NordVPN's tool and similar checkers tell you whether a destination is dangerous in seconds.
7. Learn the common signs of a phishing message so you can catch the ones that slip past your software. The fakes that mimic a real bank or retailer are the hardest for any tool to stop.

Bottom line

An independent lab confirmed that NordVPN's next-gen antivirus blocks 96% of phishing sites with zero false alarms, and my own testing backs that up. The takeaway is simple: turn on the phishing protection you may already be paying for, enable two-factor authentication on your key accounts, and never click unsolicited links via texts, emails, or messaging apps.