TechRadar’s proven best VPN service is not only great for improving your online privacy – it’s also one of the top solutions for fighting scams involving fake online stores.
Independent reviewers at AV-Comparatives ranked NordVPN’s malware and ad blocker tracker as the third best tool against online shopping fraud among 35 similar software programs.
In order to offer users better protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks, the provider launched the updated version of its tracker blocker Threat Protection Pro in June. At that time, AV-Comparatives certified NordVPN as an anti-phishing tool – the first VPN provider ever to do so.
How NordVPN protects you from fake shops on the Internet
“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 deceive shoppers,” said Domininkas Virbickas, Head of Development at Threat Protection. “We make every effort to protect our customers from the serious consequences these websites cause.”
Available only for Windows and macOS at the time of writing, Threat Protection Pro is an improved version of the old tracker, malware and ad blocker built directly into the virtual private network software.
While the program now known as Threat Protection Lite blocks malicious websites, trackers and advertisements at the DNS level and is only active when connected to the VPN, Threat Protection Pro goes a step further and also fends off more sophisticated attacks such as fake online stores, phishing and other forms of malvertising. The latter works at the network level and scans all traffic directly on the client’s device without the need for an active VPN connection.
“This is exactly what market-leading antivirus programs do,” the provider says.
NordVPN’s new tool has now proven that it keeps the provider’s promises against online shopping fraud. In the AV-Comparatives test, it detected almost 70% of fake shops. Only two dedicated browser extensions were able to surpass it.
It’s worth noting that unlike Threat Protection Lite, which is included in all plans, Threat Protection Pro is reserved only for Plus and Ultimate subscribers.
Although NordVPN can effectively protect you from most online scams, it’s still worth recognizing the warning signs when purchasing something online from a website you’re unfamiliar with.
The VPN company gives you some tips to help you stay alert when shopping online:
- Be skeptical of incredible discounts. As a rule of thumb, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The Nord team recommends comparing prices on trusted websites and being cautious of big discounts on popular items.
- Check the quality of the website. Although some cyber attackers have become good at it, many scams are still easy to spot. You should look out for poor grammar, low-quality images, or broken links.
- Look at the domains. Fake websites usually contain misspelled domains, so be sure to check before clicking on them. Nord also recommends looking for a valid SSL certificate (it will read “https://”) and a padlock symbol to make sure it’s a trustworthy connection. To be even more secure, use a URL checker to verify that the domain is safe – NordVPN offers a free one.
- Background research is key. Everything looks legit and you’re ready to buy? Before you click the button, do a little more research. Check the retailers’ reputation online to see what other users are saying about them. Check the website’s privacy policy, terms and conditions, and contact information to see if there’s anything amiss.
- Beware of unusual payment methods. For obvious reasons, scammers generally prefer payments that are harder to trace, such as cryptocurrencies, gift cards, or electronic transfers. Offering these methods is not necessarily a sign of a scam, but you should be cautious if the merchant insists on one of these methods.
