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Ad and tracker blocker that scored 97/100 on AdBlock Tester and passed all Can You Block It tests
Earned third place for phishing detection in AV-Comparatives testing with a 96% detection rate and zero false alarms
Threat Protection Pro works without an active VPN connection, so it may help protect your browsing when you are not connected to a server
All About Cookies is an independent, advertising-supported website. Some of the offers that appear on this site are from third-party advertisers from which All About Cookies receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear).
All About Cookies does not include all financial or credit offers that might be available to consumers nor do we include all companies or all available products. Information is accurate as of the publishing date and has not been provided or endorsed by the advertiser.
The All About Cookies editorial team strives to provide accurate, in-depth information and reviews to help you, our reader, make online privacy decisions with confidence. Here's what you can expect from us:
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is a strong add-on for NordVPN users who want ad blocking, malware scanning, and phishing protection in one app, though it still misses some YouTube ads.
Available in two tiers, the standard Threat Protection handles basic ad, tracker, and malicious domain blocking across all NordVPN plans, while the upgraded Threat Protection Pro adds real-time malware scanning, advanced browsing protection, and a more powerful ad and tracker blocker on Windows and macOS.
In our latest testing, Threat Protection Pro earned strong scores on AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It, and it blocked all the malware and phishing threats we threw at it. Whether you're already a NordVPN subscriber wondering if Threat Protection is worth enabling, or you're comparing it with standalone ad blockers, this review covers everything you need to know about NordVPN Threat Protection.
| AdBlock Tester score | 97/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 |
| Does it block YouTube ads? | Inconsistently |
| EICAR test results | 3/3 |
| Whitelisting available | Yes |
| Blacklisting available | No |
| Compatibility | Threat Protection Pro: Windows, macOS Threat Protection: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox |
| Price | Starts at $3.59/mo |
| Learn more | Get NordVPN Threat Protection |
Our team tests every ad blocker hands-on. We evaluate each product across six areas:
We test all ad blockers at least twice a year, and we retest our Editors' Choice picks every quarter to ensure our recommendations stay current. We test across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS so our results reflect real-world performance on the devices most readers actually use.
To learn more about how we test, read our full ad blocker methodology here.
NordVPN Threat Protection earned a 4.7 star rating, with 5/5 scores in the experience, test results, compatibility, and customer service categories.
NordVPN Threat Protection requires a NordVPN subscription, which may make it more expensive than most standalone ad blockers on this list.
| Decision factor | Weight | Verdict |
| Our experience | 15% | 5.0 |
| Value | 21% | 4.3 |
| Features | 18% | 4.0 |
| Test results | 34% | 5.0 |
| Compatibility | 5% | 5.0 |
| Customer service | 7% | 5.0 |
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Ad and tracker blocker that scored 97/100 on AdBlock Tester and passed all Can You Block It tests
Earned third place for phishing detection in AV-Comparatives testing with a 96% detection rate and zero false alarms
Threat Protection Pro works without an active VPN connection, so it may help protect your browsing when you are not connected to a server
We've found Nord products and features included with the virtual private network (VPN) to be consistently user-friendly, providing informative walkthroughs for first-time users.
During setup, NordVPN prompted us to enable its next-generation antivirus features. This includes toggles for anti-malware, advanced browsing protection, and ad and tracker blocking.
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From the NordVPN dashboard sidebar, you can select the shield icon to enable or disable protection, view a graph of threats blocked, and customize your settings.
As we started using Threat Protection Pro, we paused and re-enabled the tool to spot differences. We noticed that the webpages we visited, like the Forbes homepage, had little to no ad clutter.
From the dashboard, you can view a graph of threat statistics showing you the number of threats blocked per day and types of threats blocked. You can also view a full list of every ad, tracker, malicious file, and malicious link blocked.
Previously, we could look up a specific site to learn how many ads were blocked on a specific page. Now, you can only see a time-stamped list of threats blocked over the last seven days.
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Unfortunately, Threat Protection Pro failed to consistently block YouTube video ads during our latest round of testing. It blocked some YouTube ads and stopped trackers, but we still experienced interruptions while streaming videos.
This issue has been intermittent during our past testing experiences, so we hope to see it block YouTube ads more consistently in the future, similar to Total Adblock and Surfshark CleanWeb.
You can also enable NordVPN Threat Protection on your NordVPN mobile app, but not Threat Protection Pro. The regular Threat Protection feature blocks some ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
We tested NordVPN Threat Protection on our Android device to determine how well it works. NordVPN Threat Protection scored 60/100 with AdBlock Tester and 2/3 with Can You Block It, so it can at least block some ads.
NordVPN Threat Protection is quick to set up on your phone. Just select the shield button at the bottom and toggle Threat Protection on. We do like that it includes spam call protection, too.
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Included with NordVPN, Threat Protection starts at $14.99/mo for the monthly plan and goes as low as $3.49/mo for a two-year commitment.
The regular Threat Protection is a DNS-based tool included with all Nord plans. It blocks ads, trackers, and malicious domains. NordVPN Plus, Complete, and Ultimate include Threat Protection Pro, a more comprehensive feature. It provides anti-malware protection, advanced browsing protection, and an ad and tracker blocker.
Unlike Total Adblock, there's no free option, and it costs more than other VPN and ad blocker bundles like Surfshark CleanWeb. However, you'll receive VPN protection and ad, tracker, and malicious file blockers.
Below, we compare the pricing for monthly, annual, and two-year subscription lengths for each NordVPN plan tier.
| Plan | Monthly plan | 1-year plan | 2-year plan |
| Basic | $14.99/mo | $4.99/mo | $3.49/mo |
| Plus | $15.29/mo | $5.49/mo | $3.59/mo |
| Complete | $19.99/mo | $5.99/mo | $3.99/mo |
| Ultimate | $29.99/mo | $8.99/mo | $6.99/mo |
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you try its service risk-free. However, please note that a true "free trial" option isn’t available.
NordVPN offers two variations of its cybersecurity solution: Threat Protection Pro and Threat Protection.
Threat Protection Pro offers a comprehensive feature set, including malware scanning, phishing protection, tracker blocking, and ad blocking. It's available on Nord's desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and it works even without an active VPN connection.
In contrast, Threat Protection focuses on blocking ads, trackers, and malicious or phishing domains. However, it can’t block all ads and can’t scan downloads for malware. 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 | ||
| Email protection | ||
| VPN connection required | ||
| Compatibility | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
| Learn more | View plan | View plan |
NordVPN and Threat Protection Pro are worth the cost, as both offer security features that protect 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 our top-recommended VPN service. It has a large server network (8,400+ servers in 160+ countries) and can consistently unblock streaming services.
The VPN app also comes with specialty servers, including:
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 stringent censorship rules, such as China, or for those who need to protect their personal data. Learn more in our complete NordVPN review.
With NordVPN Threat Protection Pro, you get web protection, file protection, and vulnerability detection. These features include the following:
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro equips you with antivirus and ad-blocking features. Together, these features help protect you from malware, ads, trackers, and phishing attacks.
A standout feature is its real-time protection, which monitors downloaded files and immediate action against suspicious activities.
However, the absence of a standalone firewall might be a point of contention for some, as it could require reliance on separate antivirus software or existing firewall solutions.
Another noteworthy feature of NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro is its real-time protection capability. This feature monitors your online activities, including 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. Real-time protection worked without issues in our testing.
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro also incorporates anti-phishing features. The malicious URL blocker scans URLs and blocks 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.
The setup process is fairly straightforward and requires minimal technical knowledge. However, it could benefit from more granular control options, such as the ability to fine-tune your level of protection.
Threat Protection Pro has also added Email protection to its advanced browsing protection features. This feature can analyze all the links in your Gmail and Yahoo Mail inboxes and identify any potential phishing, scams, or other suspicious activity.
You can find this feature in the Advanced browsing protection section of the Advanced settings.
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Threat Protection Pro is mostly effective at blocking ads and trackers. It keeps 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. Here's how to use Threat Protection Pro's whitelisting feature to prevent ads from being blocked on a specific website.
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In addition to standard ad and tracker blocking, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro also includes the following features:
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In our commitment to providing you with reliable, objective data, we conducted rigorous tests of NordVPN Threat Protection Pro. We used AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It to test its ad-blocking capabilities.
| AdBlock Tester | Can You Block It | |
| NordVPN Threat Protection Pro score | 97/100 | 3/3 |
We tested Threat Protection Pro’s ability to block ads and trackers using two key tools. The first is AdBlock Tester, a web tool designed to test the effectiveness of an ad blocker in preventing common forms of online advertising, such as pop-ups and banner ads, as well as analytics tools and error monitoring.
Threat Protection Pro scored 96/10 with just the desktop app running. AdBlock Tester couldn’t check some tests in the contextual advertising, analytics tools, and error monitoring categories, but Threat Protection Pro passed the rest.
When we turned on the NordVPN browser extension alongside the desktop app, the score rose to 97/100.
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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). Threat Protection Pro blocked all three test types with ease.
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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 can 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 Pro and navigated to YouTube. We picked two videos that showed ads with protection off: a music video playlist and an 11-minute video.
Then, we turned on Threat Protection Pro and refreshed the video. We watched two music videos in the playlist with no ads, but a pre-roll ad played on the third.
We ran a second test with a longer video. Threat Protection Pro blocked every ad on an 11-minute video, but the next video that autoplayed opened with a pre-roll ad.
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Threat Protection Pro blocks some YouTube ads, but not consistently.
The European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) offers sample files to help evaluate the effectiveness of antivirus software. We tested NordVPN Threat Protection Pro against samples that mimic malware and phishing attempts to test its next-generation antivirus.
| Test | NordVPN Threat Protection Pro score |
| Manually downloaded malware | Pass |
| Drive-by malware downloads | Pass |
| Phishing detection | Pass |
NordVPN Threat Protection passed all three EICAR tests. We tried to download two different malware files, but Nord blocked us from accessing the site with a malware warning.
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It also blocked the phishing test webpage with a similar warning.
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AV-TEST is an independent research institute that tests antivirus programs and VPNs. AV-TEST evaluated NordVPN for its malware detection capabilities alongside other VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and ProtonVPN.
NordVPN significantly surpassed all the other providers, with an 83.42% detection rate. It also flagged 11 false positives, beaten only by Mullvad, which flagged seven.
Due to its high test results, NordVPN has received the AV-TEST Approved certificate for Network Threat Protection.[1]
AV-Comparatives is another independent organization dedicated to testing and evaluating cybersecurity software, such as antivirus and parental controls. It runs multiple types of tests, including real-world protection, malware protection, performance, and more.
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro hasn't undergone the standard AV-Comparatives antivirus tests, but it does undergo AV-Comparatives anti-phishing tests.
In May 2026, Threat Protection Pro blocked 96% of 275 phishing URLs with zero false positives. That’s up from 90% in its 2025 certification test and its highest score in any AV-Comparatives anti-phishing test to date.
In AV-Comparatives’ August 2026 comparison test, Threat Protection Pro blocked 94% of 250 phishing URLs with zero false positives. It ranked third of nine security products.[2]
In July 2026, Threat Protection Pro earned the top rating from West Coast Labs (WCL): the WCL Validated AAA certification. During testing, Threat Protection Pro detected 926 of 934 malware samples, achieving a 99.1% detection rate. This is well above the 95% detection rate that WCL requires for certification.
WCL also tested it against multiple types of malware, including Trojans, ransomware, and downloaders, and it received a 100% detection rate against many of these.[3]
| NordVPN Threat Protection compatibility | |
| Google Chrome | |
| Mozilla Firefox | |
| Safari | |
| Microsoft Edge | |
| Other browsers | |
| Android | |
| iOS | |
| Desktop apps | Yes — Windows, macOS, Linux |
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is exclusive to the desktop app. You can enable it by selecting the shield icon in the NordVPN desktop app sidebar.
However, the standard Threat Protection can be enabled on Linux, smartphones, and browser extensions.
| Support type | NordVPN Threat Protection |
| Email or live chat | |
| Phone | |
| Online guides or forums |
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 to be quite responsive and effective in resolving Threat Protection queries.
In our interactions with customer service representatives, we found them knowledgeable, patient, and eager to provide practical solutions.
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Alongside real-time support, NordVPN provides a comprehensive knowledge base comprising guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting articles.
Specific to Threat Protection, NordVPN offers online guides that cover a broad spectrum of topics, from setup to dealing with potential issues. Nord writes these guides in plain, non-technical language.
NordVPN Threat Protection doesn't have its own ratings because it's bundled into NordVPN, so all of the ratings we collected are based on NordVPN.
NordVPN has high ratings on both app stores. Most reviewers praise its accessiblity, as well as the security and fast speeds it provides.
On Trustpilot, 72% of NordVPN's ratings were five stars. Reviewers call out its helpful customer service and the app's reliability. Most of the negative reviews address unblocking geo-restrictions and automatic renewals.
Because Threat Protection is bundled with NordVPN, using the ad-blocking service isn't as straightforward. You can enable the basic Threat Protection to work with the NordVPN browser extension.
To enable Threat Protection, follow these steps:
To enable all the Threat Protection features, you'll need to use the NordVPN desktop app.
No VPN connection is needed when you enable Scam, phishing, and malware protection on desktop.
While NordVPN Threat Protection offers comprehensive protection, there are other bundled services in the VPN, ad blocker, and antivirus landscape.
 Total Adblock |
 Aura Ad Block and Anti-Track |
 Surfshark CleanWeb |
|
| Best for | Best for blocking YouTube ads | Best for identity protection | Best for unlimited devices |
| Lowest starting price | $1.59/mo | $1.67/mo | $2.49/mo |
| Adblock Tester score | 100/100 | 100/100 | 96/100 |
| Can You Block It score | 3/3 | 2.5/3 | 3/3 |
| Blocks YouTube ads? | |||
| Compatibility | Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Safari | Chrome, Edge, Safari |
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Fire TV |
| Learn more | Get Total Adblock | Get Aura Ad Blocker | Get Surfshark CleanWeb |
When it comes to overall protection and cybersecurity, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is a solid contender. With its inclusive ad-blocking and antivirus features, 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. However, if cost is a significant consideration for you and if you’re looking for highly specific or advanced antivirus features, Threat Protection Pro might feel limited. It also doesn't consistently block YouTube ads.
NordVPN Threat Protection is a strong pick if you want ad blocking, malware scanning, and phishing protection in one subscription. The service combines essential cybersecurity features into a single package, making it ideal for those who value convenience and comprehensive protection.
See how NordVPN Threat Protection compares to Total Adblock.
| Test date | Change logs |
| October 21, 2026 | Scored 96/100 on AdBlock Tester with desktop app; added AV-Comparatives May 2026 certification and August 2026 comparison results |
| August 19, 2026 | Added AAA certification from West Coast Labs in July 2026 |
| June 17, 2026 | NordVPN Threat Protection absorbed into NordVPN's scam, phishing, and malware protection features; scored 90/100 on AdBlock Tester |
| April 30, 2026 | Scored 100/100 on AdBlock Tester |
| February 1, 2026 | No changes recorded |
| September 18, 2025 | Scored 86/100 on AdBlock Tester, no paywalls bypassed |
| June 18, 2025 | Scored 58/100 on AdBlock Tester, bypassed paywalls on Bloomberg and Austin American Statesman |
| May 4, 2025 | Scored 96/100 on AdBlock Tester, bypassed paywalls on Austin American Statesman |
| October 7, 2024 | Scored 91/100 on AdBlock Tester |
| April 24, 2024 | Scored 55/100 on AdBlock Tester, scored 2/3 on Can You Block It, scored 85% on AV-Comparatives anti-phishing test |
Yes, NordVPN's Threat Protection incorporates antivirus functionality, helping protect your devices against various online threats such as malware and phishing attempts.
If you're not currently using an ad blocker or an antivirus, then you should turn on Threat Protection on your NordVPN app. With Threat Protection, you can keep your device clean from ads, trackers, and malware.
NordVPN's Threat Protection offers built-in antivirus protection. However, if you're looking for third-party software, choices like Bitdefender, Norton 360, and TotalAV are popular due to their strong protection mechanisms and compatibility with VPNs.
To disable NordVPN Threat Protection, you simply need to navigate to the Settings menu in your NordVPN application and toggle off the Threat Protection feature. However, doing so may reduce your protection against online threats.
Ad and tracker blocker that scored 97/100 on AdBlock Tester and passed all Can You Block It tests
Earned third place for phishing detection in AV-Comparatives testing with a 96% detection rate and zero false alarms
Threat Protection Pro works without an active VPN connection, so it may help protect your browsing when you are not connected to a server
[1] NordVPN’s next-gen antivirus among the top tools for detecting malicious websites
[2] NordVPN’s anti-phishing protection wins AV-Comparatives’ approval for the third year in a row
[3] NordVPN’s next-gen antivirus earns AAA certification from West Coast Labs
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