VPN 101
Since we live in a technological-first world, the internet is the backbone of communications. Everything from searching for a recipe to online banking and finding a public meetup for hobbies uses the internet and ties your computer and its searches to the various networks. Needless to say, that puts us at a security risk and exposes our activity online. Get 53% off.
Enter the value behind a VPN, or Virtual Private Network). VPNs are growing in popularity as they protect our online privacy and security by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address. A hidden IP address merged with obscured traffic activity makes it harder for spying eyes, hackers, and data mining companies to track what you do online, including what content you download. So, have you heard about NordVPN? Let’s explore this VPN service as it’s one of the bigger names in the industry.
Major Pros of NordVPN
NordVPN does have rather large server network encompassing over 5700 servers in 60 countries. This allows the common protected user to browse from a variety of countries and city-specific locations as well. Location here matters because speeds can vary and users have the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, censored content, and streaming blockages.
One of the more prominent security features is NordVPN’s no-logs policy, meaning the provider does not collect any user data or internet browsing activity logs. It’s another plus that NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy haven without data retention laws in place.
Double VPN is a feature from NordVPN that is advertised from their multi-hop feature. Multi-hop is where your data is hopping servers and through their Double VPN, your activity is routed through two separate VPNs. As a result, your traffic is twice-encrypted.
Additionally, they offer two separate kill switches. The first kill switch is an internet kill switch which activates by blocking your device’s internet connection if the VPN suddenly fails. The app kill switch allows users to apply that same kill switch protection to selected apps, rather than across the board. Please note: the app kill switch is only functional on Windows and macOS operating systems. Get started.
Cons of NordVPN
Because NordVPN has a large server network, the usage can present a connection speed issue. The bigger the network, the more potential exists for lag and slow connections to certain servers. Reports have shown that when connected, NordVPN speeds are fast, however, they’re not 100% consistent. This really only presents a problem for people streaming content. At the same time, normal internet has outages due to weather, usage, and other factors. It’s nothing new, but worth noting.
NordVPN does have a user-friendly interface that makes connecting to a server and customizing your settings fairly easily. The downsize here is that for a newbie, it may not be as easy to tweak some settings without customer support help. On that note, the only ways to reach customer support is via email and live chat. It is 24/7 support, but no phone number to call is a definite hit or miss with some people.
According to their website, there is no definitive trial for the service. However, by reading some of the fine print, all their plans do offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Technically, that is a 30-day trial, only it is a paid trial. If you are unhappy, you will receive a full refund. There’s no harm in trying it and making a decision in that 30-day window. Get Started!
Nord VPN Costs, Options and Included Features
For flexibility, NordVPN does offer their service on a monthly plan, 1-year, or 2-year plan. As with most online software and security services, the longer the plan, the more discounts you receive and you pay up front in full for said service.
Standard Plan:
-
- $12.99/month
- $59.88 for 1 year (billed up front)
- $83.76 for 2 years (billed up front)
- Includes the VPN, malware protection, and a tracker and ad blocker.
Plus Plan:
-
- $13.99/month
- $71.88 for 1 year (billed up front)
- $107.76 for 2 years (billed up front)
- Includes the Standard Plan plus a cross-platform password manager, and data breach scanner
Complete Plan:
-
- $14.99/month
- $83.88 for 1 year (billed up front)
- $131.76 for 2 years (billed up front)
- Includes the Plus Plan and 1 TB of cloud storage and next-generation file encryption
Closing Thoughts
Is NordVPN worth it? Well, if you are concerned about your privacy, wish to stream restricted content from other countries, protect your data from being intercepted while on a public Wi-Fi network, a NordVPN plan can provide security against these common challenges. Additionally, if you need to bypass censorship and/or connect securely to a work network remotely, your protection there is automatically included. Click here to get started.
Reminder: once you are connected to the internet, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) can see everything you do. This means your browsing history, search queries, and even the content you download. Prevent them from building a profile on you, selling your data, and maintain your right to privacy and anonymity by buying a subscription to NordVPN. Get 53% off.
