NordVPN Threat Protection Review 2024: Is It Your All-In-One Security Solution?

NordVPN Threat Protection provides comprehensive protection against ads, trackers, and malicious downloads based on its near-perfect results. From its function and compatibility to pricing and support, we tested every aspect to help you decipher if NordVPN's Threat Protection is the best ad blocker for you.

NordVPN is widely renowned for its outstanding features, formidable security protocols, and fair pricing. But does NordVPN's Threat Protection, an integrated ad and malware blocker, live up to the high standards set by the brand itself?

NordVPN Threat Protection overview

# of devices protected	10
Malware scans	Automatic
Real-time protection	Yes
EICAR test results	2/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ads blocked on Forbes	6
Adblock Tester score	91/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3
Can You Block It score	2/3
Does it block YouTube ads?	Yes
Whitelisting available	Yes
Blacklisting available	No
Compatibility	Threat Protection Pro: Windows, macOS Threat Protection: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Price	$2.99–$17.99/mo
Learn more	Get NordVPN Threat Protection

Our experience

We found NordVPN Threat Protection’s setup process to be smooth and straightforward. Once NordVPN was downloaded, the app prompted us to enable Threat Protection immediately 

We appreciated Threat Protection's user-friendly nature, which eliminated the need for advanced technical expertise. Web protection, file protection, and vulnerability detection are all clearly displayed on the Threat Protection Pro tab, with buttons to pause or customize the features as needed. 

As we started using Threat Protection, the real-time protection capabilities quickly proved their worth, alerting us to potential threats during our online interactions.

We found the interface intuitive, presenting a clear overview of the detected threats, blocked ads, and trackers. 

Prices and subscriptions

Included with NordVPN, Threat Protection starts at $12.99/mo for the monthly plan and go as low as $2.99/mo (billed every two years) for a two-year commitment. 

NordVPN has three plan tiers: Basic, Plus, and Ultimate. If you're looking for the most simple cybersecurity, the Basic plan provides just the VPN and Threat Protection. Plus comes with those features, plus a password manager and a data breach scanner. Finally, Ultimate is the most comprehensive tier, with all the previously mentioned features plus cloud storage and insurance coverage for identity theft and cyber extortion.

Threat Protection doesn't offer a free plan and is more expensive than most ad blockers. However, you'll receive VPN protection and a blocker against ads, trackers, and malicious files. 

Plan	Monthly plan	1-year plan	2-year plan
Basic	$12.99/mo	$4.59/mo (billed annually)	$2.99/mo (billed every two years)
Plus	$13.99/mo	$5.49/mo (billed annually)	$3.89/mo (billed every two years)
Ultimate	$14.99/mo	$6.49/mo (billed annually)	$4.89/mo (billed every two years)
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan

Should you get NordVPN for Threat Protection?

In our opinion, yes. NordVPN and Threat Protection are worth the cost since both provide security features that help secure your internet connection and keep your online activities safe from prying eyes — even those of your internet service provider (ISP) and hackers.

NordVPN is also one of our top-recommended VPN services. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption and its own NordLynx protocol, which is based on WireGuard, along with OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec. We’re also impressed by the large number of NordVPN server locations (6,800+ servers in 111 countries) and the ability to unblock streaming services.

The VPN app also comes with specialty servers, including:

• Obfuscated servers using OpenVPN (TCP)
• Onion over VPN
• Double VPN
• P2P
• Dedicated IP

You also get additional security features, including:

• Meshnet
• Dark web monitor
• Kill switch
• Split tunneling
• Smart DNS

NordVPN is based in Panama and has a verified no-logs policy. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone who needs internet access but lives in a country with censorship rules, like China, or for those with a need to protect their personal data.

Features

With NordVPN Threat Protection, you get web protection, file protection, and vulnerability detection. These features include the following: 

• Malware blocker
• Web tracker blocker
• Ad blocker
• URL trimmer
• Cloud-based threat detection

NordVPN Threat Protection equips you with antivirus and ad-blocking features. This powerful duo works in tandem to keep you safe from malware, ads, trackers, and phishing attacks.

A stand-out feature is its real-time protection, which provides vigilant monitoring of downloaded files and immediate action against suspicious activities. 

However, the absence of a standalone firewall might be a point of contention for some since that could require relying on separate antivirus software or existing firewall solutions.

Threat Protection Pro vs. Threat Protection

NordVPN offers two variations of its cybersecurity solution: Threat Protection Pro and Threat Protection.

Threat Protection Pro has a comprehensive feature set that includes malware scanning, phishing protection, tracker blocking, and ad blocking. It's available on Nord's desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and it doesn’t require a VPN connection.

In contrast, Threat Protection focuses primarily on blocking some ads as well as malicious domains and phishing domains. However, it can’t block all ads, can't block trackers, and can't scan for malware during downloads. It's compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. 

Additionally, the regular Threat Protection is available on NordVPN's extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. A significant difference is that a VPN connection is required to use Threat Protection.

Feature	Threat Protection Pro	Threat Protection
Blocks malicious domains
Blocks phishing domains
Blocks ads		Limited
Scans downloaded files for malware
Blocks trackers
Blocks malicious websites
VPN connection required
Compatibility	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge

Phishing protection

NordVPN's Threat Protection also incorporates anti-phishing features. With the malicious URL blocker, Threat Protection will scan URLs and block access to any sites it finds malicious. During our tests, we found it adept at identifying and blocking phishing attempts, adding a critical layer of protection to your browsing.

The setup process is fairly straightforward, requiring minimal technical knowledge. However, it could benefit from more granular control options, like allowing you to fine-tune your level of protection.

Real-time protection

Another noteworthy feature of NordVPN's Threat Protection is its real-time protection capability. This feature keeps tabs on your online activities, including web browsing, emails, and app interactions. If it detects suspicious activity, it immediately alerts you.

Threat Protection can shield you from a variety of malware threats, including Trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Our testing revealed no hitches with the real-time protection as it easily deleted harmful files.

Tracker and ad blocker

Threat Protection is efficient when it comes to blocking ads and trackers. It also comes with whitelisting, so you can exclude specific domains from having their ads blocked. Furthermore, it keeps a count of blocked ads, providing you with a quantifiable measure of the protection it offers.

However, certain aspects could be confusing for novice users, like the whitelisting feature. During our testing, we couldn't find out how to whitelist within 10 minutes of searching the app and extensions. 

After some Google searches, we found that you can by going to Threat Protection Pro > Web protection, then scrolling down to Web protection activity. You can select the three dots next to any URL, which will provide you with the option to exclude a domain from threat blocking. 

Despite these minor learning curves, the ad and tracker blocker remains an integral and powerful part of NordVPN's Threat Protection.

NordVPN Threat Protection test results

In our commitment to provide you with reliable and objective data, we conducted rigorous tests on NordVPN Threat Protection. We used AdBlock Tester, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF’s) Cover Your Tracks tools, Can You Block It, and the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) tests to test its ad blocking capabilities and antivirus effectiveness.

NordVPN Threat Protection scores

	AdBlock Tester	Cover Your Tracks	Can You Block It
NordVPN Threat Protection score	91/100	2/3	2/3

We tested NordVPN Threat Protection’s ability to block ads and trackers using three key tools. The first is AdBlock Tester, a web tool designed to test how effectively an ad blocker can prevent common forms of online advertising like pop-ups and banner ads, as well as analytics tools and error monitoring. 

Threat Protection had a high score of 91/100. It failed some tests in the banner ads and error monitoring sections, and was unable to check one of the analytics tools tests. 

The second tool is Cover Your Tracks, which assesses the degree to which a tool can prevent online tracking by third-party entities. 

We found that Threat Protection blocks tracking ads and invisible trackers. It was only docked points based on our fingerprint, which was found to be unique. Most of the ad blockers we've reviewed have received the same result, so you can feel good about Threat Protection's outcome. 

Can You Block It tests for ad blocker warnings, banner ads, and interstitial ads (or those pesky ads that pop up while the webpage loads). Because we still saw the interstitial ad, NordVPN Threat Protection scored a 2/3.

YouTube ad test

We imagine many of our readers can relate to the frustration caused by YouTube ads. You'll be mid-video when an ad interrupts your experience. This is where ad blockers like NordVPN Threat Protection come in handy. 

One of the primary perks of an ad blocker is its ability to block YouTube ads. We test all ad blockers we review on this ability. First, we turned off Threat Protection and navigated to YouTube. We found a video and took note of any ads we spotted, like pre-roll ads and banner ads. 

Then, we enabled Threat Protection and refreshed the YouTube video. After having watched through the entire lie detector test, there were no interruptions or ads cluttering our screen.  

Bypassing paywall test

Another common frustation while browsing online are paywalls. You'll find an interesting article, read the first paragraph, but then the site will block you from continuing unless you have a subscription. 

We tested NordVPN Threat Protection on sites known for having paywalls, like the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the Atlantic. Unfortunately, the paywalls remained on every site.

EICAR test results

When it comes to antivirus testing, we used the EICAR test files. These are files created by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research that mimic cyberthreats like malware and phishing links. These files allow you to safely test the effectiveness of your antivirus software without risking exposure to actual malware.

Test	NordVPN Threat Protection score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing detection	Fail

In our tests, NordVPN Threat Protection blocked both malware files from downloading. However, we weren't blocked from opening the phishing test link, so we could've potentially been exposed to cyberthreats while browsing. 

AV-Comparatives test results

• Result: NordVPN had a high phishing protection rate and no false positives. 

AV-Comparatives is an independent organization dedicated to testing and evaluating cybersecurity software like antivirus and parental controls. It runs multiple types of tests based on real-world protection, malware protection, performance, and more. 

NordVPN Threat Protection hasn't undergone the standard AV-Comparatives antivirus tests, but it did undergo AV-Comparatives anti-phishing tests. Threat Protection blocked 85% of 275 phishing URLs and it detected zero false positives. 

Customer support

NordVPN offers a variety of support channels for its customers, ensuring help is available whenever needed. This includes 24/7 live chat support, a resource we found quite responsive and effective in resolving queries related to Threat Protection. 

In our interactions with customer service representatives, we found them to be knowledgeable, patient, and keen on providing practical solutions.

Alongside real-time support, NordVPN provides a comprehensive knowledge base comprising guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting articles.

Specific to Threat Protection, NordVPN offers easy-to-follow online guides. These cover a broad spectrum of topics, from setup to dealing with potential issues. These guides are laid out in a user-friendly manner, using non-technical language that's easy to comprehend.

How to use NordVPN Threat Protection

Because Threat Protection is bundled with NordVPN, using the ad-blocking service can be a bit tricky. We weren't able to get Threat Protection to work in the browser for either Chrome or Edge on our PC. The only way to view whether the protection was actually working was through the app dashboard. In terms of usability, this is significantly less user-friendly than standalone ad blockers. 

A lot of customer feedback complains about the usability issues, and the workaround is cumbersome. To get Threat Protection to work on your browser, try following these steps:

1. Shut down your laptop or computer.
2. Unplug your device from the power source for a full minute. (Even when you shut your computer down, if it's plugged in, it may still pull residual power and keep systems running.)
3. Restart everything slowly. Make sure all your launch processes have finished before opening up your browser.
4. Only activate Threat Protection after you open your browser. 
5. If it's still giving you problems, you may have to uninstall and reinstall NordVPN Threat Protection before switching to the version.

Top alternatives

While NordVPN Threat Protection offers comprehensive protection, there are other bundled services in the VPN, ad blocker, and antivirus landscape. Below are two top-tested alternatives:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is NordVPN Threat Protection good?

When it comes to overall protection and cybersecurity, NordVPN Threat Protection proves to be a substantial contender. With its inclusive ad blocking and antivirus functionalities, it adds an extra layer of safety to your online browsing and data. NordVPN Threat Protection shines particularly with its real-time protection and phishing safeguards, adding a strong layer of proactive defense against online threats.

However, as with any ad blocker, it's not without its drawbacks. If cost is a significant consideration for you and if you’re looking for highly specific or advanced antivirus features, Threat Protection might feel limited.

NordVPN Threat Protection stands out as an excellent choice for those looking for a well-rounded, user-friendly, and reliable online protection suite. The service combines essential cybersecurity features in one package, making it ideal for those who value convenience and comprehensive protection.

See how NordVPN Threat Protection compares to Total Adblock.