NordVPN logs: is NordVPN secure, does it keep logs, and can you trust it?

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Update: Later on NordVPN'south third contained audit in June 2021, we updated some sections of this commodity to reflect the findings.

Ranked every bit one of the best VPN providers on the scene, NordVPN is virtually equally close to a household name as we're going to get when information technology comes to cybersecurity software. It'south frequently touted as 1 of the most user-friendly and secure VPN services on the market – but when we dig into the details, practise the facts and figures match up to the marketing rant?

Here, we'll be exploring if NordVPN logs user information, whether it's undertaken independent audits to prove any logging claims, what standout features it boasts in terms of keeping you secure and private on the web, and if it has – or has had – any killer failings that might make you want to pick some other provider.

NordVPN logs: What does zero-logging hateful?

VPNs go on you lot secure because they reroute your Net traffic through their own servers rather than your Cyberspace Service Provider'southward (ISP). This is an attractive suggestion thanks to the fact that ISPs are widely known to monitor your activity, throttle your connection if you engage in certain activities similar torrenting, and even sell the data they collect for profit.

By rerouting through a VPN's servers yous avoid this – simply if yous can't trust your VPN, y'all're substituting ane evil for another. If you want to be certain your VPN isn't doing the same matter as your ISP, yous demand to seek out a truly zero-logging VPN.

Zero-logging is a phrase oftentimes bandied nigh by VPN providers and reviews. Substantially, it means the VPN collects and stores absolutely no identifying information near you lot or your activity. So, if for any reason the authorities want to tie activeness detected to come from a VPN server dorsum to an private, said VPN provider will have no information to hand over, even if information technology is legally compelled to do so.

Does NordVPN log user information?

In brusk, no. On its website, NordVPN reassures us that admittedly no identifying information is collected or stored when users connect to any server:

'NordVPN guarantees a strict no-logs policy for NordVPN services, meaning that your activities using NordVPN Services are provided by automated technical procedure, are not monitored, recorded, logged, stored or passed to whatsoever third party. We do not store connectedness time stamps, session data, used bandwidth, traffic logs, IP addresses or other data. … Further, NordVPN accept a strict no logs policy when it comes to seeing user activeness online: NordVPN is based in Panama, which does not require data storage."

So, that all sounds very positive, and then. Just tin can we really trust NordVPN to exercise what information technology says it does? For that, we need an independent audit to dorsum up these claims.

NordVPN logs: Has NordVPN had an independent audit?

Contained security audits are one of the simply means a VPN provider can evidence its claims. Substantially, the provider allows an contained auditing firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers and Cure53 are examples) to inspect source lawmaking, investigate logging practices, investigate servers and more also. The depth of these audits does vary – in our Surfshark review, for case, nosotros found the provider has only had its browser extensions audited – merely without an audit of whatsoever kind, you need to take your VPN's claims at face value.

NordVPN has undertaken not one, but three independent audits of its servers and central infrastructure – much better than the vast majority of VPN providers on the market. This is merely really matched by ExpressVPN, TunnelBear, VyprVPN and a select few others – and in truth, NordVPN is almost up to engagement.

The almost contempo of these was made public in June 2021. Undertaken past VerSprite, information technology assessed NordVPN'south client security using the PASTA method (Process for Attack Simulation and Threat Analysis). No disquisitional issues were constitute, and a unmarried high severity event was detected forth with a few lower chance problems.

Information technology'south worth noting that finding issues isn't necessarily a bad thing – while NordVPN would of grade have preferred to take had no issues, for users this only means an improvement of the product. All the vulnerabilities found by VerSprite have also been fixed through updates or software tweaks, and that's only good news.

NordVPN logs: What issues has NordVPN had in the past?

Dorsum in April 2019, the world was notified of a hack involving a single NordVPN server located in Republic of finland – which actually occurred over a twelvemonth before in 2018. In its own argument, NordVPN claimed the hack was the result of a third party'southward poor security protocols – and so, nothing was truly NordVPN'southward 'fault'.

That data center shut down its operation as soon as it became aware of the upshot, only NordVPN came under burn for taking a long fourth dimension to publish any data on this.

While it'southward possible that NordVPN wasn't aware of the issue until it went public with this, there are a number of conflicting opinions on this. To learn more, read our sis site TechRadar'south article on the truth about the NordVPN breach.

However, since then, NordVPN has gone a long way to regain the trust of its users – not in the least with ii audits – and although this is certainly a blot on the provider's copy book, we're confident that it'south learned its lesson and has taken even more stringent measures to ensure it remains a individual VPN and that nothing similar this happens in the future.

What other privacy features does NordVPN offer?

In comparison to well-nigh other providers, NordVPN delivers a comprehensive list of dedicated security features to assistance you stay safe and private online. As standard, y'all're covered past AES-256 encryption – commonly called 'military class' – and you'll have a selection of a number of protocols, including the superfast and secure WireGuard-based NordLynx.

Beyond that, though, are a number of additional features non frequently plant in consumer VPNs. Onion over VPN, for example, reroutes your traffic through the Tor network, further obfuscating your identity and location. Double VPN uses two servers so that fifty-fifty if one is compromised, your activeness all the same can't be linked back to you.

And then we come to the hardware on Nord'south side. Apart from ExpressVPN and Surfshark, NordVPN is i of the only providers to have upgraded its server network to 100% RAM disks. If that's all Greek to you, substantially it means all data is wiped subsequently power-off rather than being stored on a traditional hard disk. This means NordVPN tin't store data on its users, fifty-fifty if information technology wanted to.

Then, overall, apart from the historic information breach that the provider has taken nifty pains to rectify, NordVPN remains as 1 of the safest VPN services on the market today – but competitors like ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN and Mullvad certainly give it a run for its money.

Why utilise NordVPN?

Mo is VPN Editor at Tom's Guide. Day-to-day he oversees VPN, privacy, and cybersecurity content, and also undertakes independent testing of VPN services to ensure his recommendations are accurate and upwards to appointment. When he's not getting stuck into the nitty-gritty settings of a VPN you've never heard of, yous'll find him working on his Peugeot 205 GTi or watching Peep Evidence instead of finally putting upward those shelves.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/features/nordvpn-logs-is-nordvpn-secure-does-it-keep-logs-and-can-you-trust-it

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NordVPN logs: is NordVPN secure, does it keep logs, and can you trust it?