- NordVPN blocked 92% of phishing websites in AV-Comparatives test
- NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro ranked 4th among the products tested
- NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro is available for premium subscribers
NordVPN’s phishing protection blocked 92% of malicious websites in the latest round of tests by AV-Comparatives, confirming its strong security capabilities and further cementing its status as TechRadar’s best VPN on the market today.
An Austrian-based private lab tested the phishing detection capabilities of antivirus products, browsers, and VPNs using a total of 250 phishing URLs.
The test, which took place between 7 and 19 January 2026, confirmed the effectiveness of NordVPN’s anti-malware tool, Threat Protection Pro. NordVPN’s cybersecurity gem ranks fourth overall, behind (in order) Norton Antivirus Plus, Avast Free Antivirus, and Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus. This proves that a VPN is not only good for improving internet privacy but also a bulletproof defense against scams.
A complete 360-degree security solution
Launched in June 2024, NordVPN Threat Protection Pro protects users from phishing and a variety of other online risks, including tracking, malware, ads, and scams. The tool works at the network level, scanning all traffic directly on the client device without the need for an active VPN connection to benefit from its protection.
The product is presented as an improved version of NordVPN’s tracker blocker, offering a superior alternative to its DNS-based predecessor Threat Protection (formerly known as Lite), which blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads at the domain level only.
Threat Protection Pro remains exclusive to premium tier subscriptions, including Plus, Complete, and Ultra, on Windows and macOS only.
If the latest AV-Comparatives results seem like déjà vu, that’s because they are – the tool has already secured a high ranking in previous AV-Comparative tests.
However, despite its impressive performance in 2026, NordVPN lost its place on the platform, falling to fourth place. The provider had previously won bronze in the same test conducted in January 2025 (where Threat Protection Pro scored 93%). In July, NordVPN tied for third place again, with a rating supported by a 90% detection rate on 1,000 phishing URLs tested during the year.
Nevertheless, the latest results continue to strengthen the reputation of Threat Protection Pro after NordVPN became the first VPN service provider to be approved by AV-Comparatives for anti-phishing protection in 2024. In August of that year, the product was again ranked as the third best online shopping scam avoidance software out of 35 competitors.
In addition, Threat Protection Pro won the recognition of two other independent auditors in 2024, AV-TEST and West Coast Labs (WCL), who awarded the tool two gold medals for detecting sensitive data theft.
Phishing – a growing threat
The abundance of phishing attacks in the digital world means that the chances of falling victim to one wrong click – and accidentally exposing sensitive information such as personal and financial information – are high.
Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN, warns: “Phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated, often deceiving even the most careful users with convincing images of trustworthy websites.”
Although the latest results show that NordVPN is still an important ally in the fight against such threats, the VPN expert still recommends that you keep your eyes open and always practice ‘cyber hygiene.’
Tips for safe browsing include checking the URL in the browser’s address bar for any changes in the domain name that could indicate a fake site, especially making sure the website you’re visiting uses the HTTPS protocol, as fake websites usually only use HTTP.
An email containing malicious content or programming errors should cause suspicion. And, of course, always remember to enable the most secure forms of authentication, starting with two-factor authentication (2FA), for maximum peace of mind.
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