NordVPN is a personal virtual private network (VPN) service provider. It has desktop applications for Windows and macOS, mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as an application for Android TV. Manual setup is available for Linux, wireless routers, NAS devices and other platforms. In 2017, PC Magazine rated NordVPN as the year's best VPN service.
Video NordVPN
Features
NordVPN routes all user's internet traffic through a remote server run by the service, this way hiding the user's IP address and encrypting all incoming and outgoing data. For encryption, NordVPN uses the OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec technologies in its applications, while the L2TP and PPTP protocols can be set up manually.
NordVPN uses NGE (Next Generation Encryption) in IKEv2/IPsec, which is the default protocol in the apps for macOS and iOS. The ciphers used to generate Phase 1 keys are AES-256-GCM for encryption, coupled with SHA2-384 to ensure integrity, combined with PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) using 3072-bit Diffie Hellmann keys. NordVPN apps for Windows and Android use AES-256-CBC encryption with a 2048-bit key.
NordVPN has desktop applications for Windows and macOS as well as mobile apps for Android and iOS. In June 2018, the service launched an application for Android TV. Subscribers also get access to encrypted proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers. Each subscriber is allowed to use the service on up to 6 devices at the same time.
Apart from the primary VPN functionalities, NordVPN also provides an optional CyberSec feature for defending against malware, preventing botnet control, and blocking ads.
Servers
As of June 2018, NordVPN runs over 4,410 remote servers in 62 countries, with the largest numbers of servers located in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, France and Sweden. Besides general-use VPN servers, the provider offers servers for specific purposes, including P2P sharing, double encryption, connection to the TOR anonymity network, and protection against DDoS attacks.
In 2017, NordVPN launched a number of obfuscated servers designed for using VPN under heavy Internet restrictions. These servers allow accessing the service in countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and China. Although the Chinese government has been attempting to restrict encrypted communications for years, millions of people still rely on the technology to bypass China's censorship system, known as the Great Firewall.
Distribution
The NordVPN applications are distributed through its official website, Google Play store, Apple's App Store, and Amazon Appstore. As of February 2018, NordVPN provides a way to download the app for Android as a separate APK package binary from its website. Besides traditional payment methods, the provider accepts Bitcoin on its website.
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Reception
In a December 2017 review done by PC Magazine, NordVPN was rated 5 out of 5 and praised for its double-encryption feature and Tor-Over-VPN specialized servers, although its price tag was noted as expensive.CNET also gave NordVPN a 5 out of 5 rating in their January 2018 review, referring to its six simultaneous connections and a dedicated IP option. In a mixed review published by Tom's Guide in June 2017, the reviewer criticized the service for being slower and more expensive than the competition, concluding that "NordVPN is neither good or bad". The reviewer also noted that its Terms of Service mention no country of jurisdiction, writing that the company could be more transparent about its ownership. The company has since updated the Terms, explicitly mentioning Panama as its country of jurisdiction.
See also
- Comparison of virtual private network services
- Internet privacy
- Encryption
- Secure communication
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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