Using a VPN makes sense in a lot of situations. To protect your data when using networks that you do not have full control over, to protect your data from being sold by your ISP, or to access content that would be blocked otherwise.
Services and ISPs may use filters to limit the use of VPNs. This may lead to scenarios where you cannot access specific content while using a VPN.
NordVPN says that it has created a solution for the problem. Called NordWhisper, it is designed to disguise VPN traffic.
The company describes it in the following way:
While standard protocols using obfuscation techniques are effective on networks that prevent access to essential services or public resources, NordWhisper steps in when VPN-specific blocks make connecting to these networks more challenging. This protocol ensures users can browse securely in restricted networks.
NordWhisper mimics regular web traffic, making it more difficult for network filters to identify it. Essentially, it blends in with ordinary internet activity, providing users with a reliable way to browse on restricted networks while maintaining the same strong encryption and security as other VPN protocols.
One downside to using NordWhisper is that it may “be slower than other protocols” due to the way it works.
The feature will be integrated into NordVPN’s applications. First on Windows, Linux, and Android, but all other platforms will also be supported at a later point.
The feature has been in testing for some time. NordVPN customers may check for the availability of the new feature in the following way:
- Open the NordVPN application.
- Select Settings > Connection.
- Activate the menu next to VPN Protocol.
NordWhisper is listed as an option there, if the feature is available already. Tests will show how effective the new protocol really is and whether it can also be used for relatively mundane activities, such as accessing Netflix content in another region.
Regarding VPNs, do you use them? If so, which is your favorite and why? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
In the last few days, NordVPN could not connect. I had to install previous NordVPN version to make it work.
I use Mullvad together with the independent Wireguard app. That’s necessary in my particular case because they don’t support Windows 8.1 while Wireguard.com does. https://mullvad.net/en/help/wireguard-app-windows
In any event though, I also use Mullvad’s SOCKS 5 Proxy through which all connections are routed: https://mullvad.net/en/help/socks5-proxy
NordVPN is full of adware! FFS, I’m getting advertising notifications on all my devices, buy this, upgrade to that! I’m getting emails too 🙁
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This is from their support page. You have to jump though hoops apparently to get this crap to stop.
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“If you would like to only disable marketing notifications, please contact our support and we will help with your request.”
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Source: https://support.nordvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/19684430411281-Disable-NordVPN-marketing-notifications
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We’ve been using ExpressVPN + OpenVPN for a few years now and it’s been mostly trouble free but our ISP has been increasing the speeds of our network. We started at 200Mbps, now we see speeds upto 500Mbps and ExpressVPN isn’t keeping up so we decided to try NordVPN.
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It’s fast, and the app is actually useful where the ExpressVPN app is not but, 2/3rds of the app UI is ads for more services. (We got the basic plan)
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Speed – 10
Security – 10
Annoying advertisments – 11
I did not see any ads. I click on the program, and it runs in background. No popups on main Windows screen. I do not look at NordVPN program’s screen. All I see is a blue icon in system tray which means NordVPN is working.