NordVPN is stepping into the antivirus market with the release of Threat Protection, a new cybersecurity product integrated into the NordVPN app that offers protection against phishing attempts, malicious websites, infected files and other online threats.
Specifically, the new offering mitigates three primary kinds of threats: web trackers and malicious ads, harmful websites and infected files.
The company says Threat Protection will enhance the whole web privacy experience by blocking trackers entirely, and users can monitor and managed the blocked trackers in real time.
The tool will also display a warning prompt to users before a malicious website is loaded, allowing users to exit before being phished or having data collected.
Threat Protection will also scan downloaded files for malware, and the file will be automatically deleted if malware is detected. Users can also access a log of the scanned files.
Vykintas Maknickas, product strategist at NordVPN, said in a statement that the release transform the company into a “more encompassing cybersecurity” provider.
“With the introduction of Threat Protection, we will be able to offer more services and more comprehensive protection that doesn’t depend merely on your VPN connection,” Maknickas said.
To utilize Threat Proteciton, users need to download the latest OpenVPN version of the NordVPN app from the company’s official website. The feature will start protecting users without having to connect to a VPN server, the company says.
The tool is currently available for all macOS users and is being gradually rolled out for Windows.
In a blog post, the company elaborated on its intentions to become a more comprehensive cybersecurity company:
Internet technology continues to progress, changing our online behavior and habits altogether. The internet’s charm is undeniable: it opens up possibilities we’ve never dreamed of before, facilitates our daily lives, and gives us the power to make an impact. It’s exciting to see where it will lead, but we all better buckle up – it’s going to be a fun yet wild ride. As the internet continues to evolve, so do cyber threats.
We believe that cybersecurity tools must evolve too. VPN is excellent at ensuring security in areas that depend on your connection – it encrypts your online data, conceals your IP address and location, and keeps your online activity private from prying eyes. However, VPN also has limited protective capabilities.
This is why we’re stepping into a territory that’s still unusual for VPN services. We want to offer you more comprehensive protection, the kind that doesn’t solely rely on your VPN connection. We want to make the internet safer, cleaner, and more private as you browse the web and make sure that your device is guarded against malware.
Our CyberSec feature has evolved into a more robust security suite. We’ve amplified the protection against malicious websites and ads and raised the bar by adding tracker blocking and file malware protection. What was once a task for antivirus software is now part of NordVPN. All of this is now Threat Protection.
Threat Protection aims to go hand in hand with VPN security, as they complement each other perfectly. We believe that this unique combo is the new generation of cybersecurity.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply