NordVPN: A Simple Breakdown of Security, Privacy, and Speed


Why Use a VPN?

  • A VPN lets you "teleport" your internet connection to thousands of servers around the world.
  • Without it, your internet service provider (or people on public wifi) could view your browsing activity and rough location.
  • Are you browsing from city+state? (if you had a VPN, we wouldn't know...)
a computer screen with the NordVPN app open, ready to connect to a VPN server location in the US.
  • Along with the privacy, VPNs give access to region-specific content and prices.
  • NordVPN has 6,400+ servers in 100+ countries to browse from.

Security

  • NordVPN is based in Panama, home to some of the world's strongest data protection laws.
  • Panama does not require companies to keep logs of sensitive user data.
  • This may "sound normal" but it's not always the case.
  • Several countries have laws which require sites to log identifiable data (like IP address) for up to 2 years.
  • Not in Panama!
  • These strong laws allow NordVPN to use RAM-only servers (meaning they couldn't even store your data if they wanted to).

Privacy

  • NordVPN auto-blocks ads, malware, 3rd party trackers, and URL tracking.
  • A kill switch to drop your internet connection if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly.
  • A double VPN setting (ex: Mexico to Australia to you) for those needing the most privacy, like journalists or activists.
  • Nord has passed several third-party audits (by Deloitte & PwC).

Speed

  • Any VPN slows your connection a bit, but Nord's slowdown is hardly noticeable when using it.
  • Speed tests in Jan '24 found Nord to be the fastest of the big 3 VPNs.

Drawbacks

  • When you have slow data (like on airplane wifi, middle of nowhere, etc), the slowdown will be more pronounced.
  • It's a paid product (any VPN that doesn't sell your data is)

Recommendation

  • Of the top 3 VPN companies, Nord is the fast and cheap while offering a deeper feature set than most competitors.
  • Nord offers a variety of payment options: crypto, PayPal, even cash at various stores.
  • They have a 30 day no-questions-asked refund policy as well.
  • VPNs are essential for internet hygiene nowadays—Nord is fast, effective, and reasonably priced.
  • Download NordVPN here.