NordVPN now ranks among the top tools for avoiding online shopping scams
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro got the bronze medal out of 35 competitors
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TechRadar’s tried and testedbest VPNservice isn’t just great for boosting your online privacy – it’s also one of the top solutions for combating fake online shop scams.
Independent auditors at AV-Comparatives rankedNordVPN’s malware and ad-blocker tracker as the third-best tool against online shopping scams out of 35 similar pieces of software.
The provider launched the upgraded version of its tracker blocker,Threat Protection Pro, back in June in order to offer users better protection against ever-more sophisticated cyberattacks. At that time, AV-comparatives certified NordVPN as an anti-phishing tool – the first VPN provider to receive such an award.
How NordVPN protects you from fake shops online
“Fake shopping websites are a growing problem for shoppers worldwide. They look like real e-commerce platforms and often use professional designs, fake customer reviews, and tempting discounts to trick buyers,” said Domininkas Virbickas, head of development at Threat Protection. “We put our greatest effort into protecting our customers from the severe consequences caused by these sites.”
Available on Windows and macOS only at the time of writing, Threat Protection Pro is a boosted version of its old tracker, malware, and ad-blocker integrated directly into thevirtual private networksoftware.
While what’s now known as Threat Protection Lite blocks harmful websites, trackers, and ads on a DNS level, and is only active when connected to the VPN, Threat Protection Pro goes the extra mile to fight back more sophisticated attacks like fake online shops,phishing, and other forms ofmalvertising. The latter works at the network level, scanning all the traffic directly on the client’s device with no need for an active VPN connection.
“This is exactly what market-leadingantivirusesare doing,” said the provider.
NordVPN’s new tool has now proved to live up to the provider’s promises against online shopping scams. During theAV-comparatives' testing, it detected almost 70% of fake shops. Two dedicated browser extensions were the only tools to outdo it.
It’s worth noting that, contrary to Threat Protection Lite which is included with all plans, Threat Protection Pro is exclusive for Plus and Ultimate subscribers only.
How to spot online shopping scams
While NordVPN can effectively protect you against most online scams, it’s still worth learning to spot red flags when you’re buying something online from a site you don’t know.
The VPN firm shares then some tips to help you stay vigilant during your online shopping:
Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up.She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com
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