NordVPN stopped most phishing emails in third-party tests, study says

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro anti-malware software blocked 92% of phishing websites in an independent lab test of several antivirus products, browsers and VPNs in recently published results.

AV-Comparatives, based in Austria, attacked 15 products with 250 websites – all verified as valid phishing URLs – in a test that ran from January 7 to 19. The lab said the products were tested in parallel and with active internet/cloud access. The Google Chrome browser was used for antivirus and VPN testing.

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Phishing is a form of cyberattack where a malicious player tries to trick someone into going « fishing » with malicious URLs as bait. These phishing attempts may be sent in emails, but they also appear on websites, in text messages, and in voicemails.

You may receive an email saying that your bank account has been hacked and you need to click on a URL to resolve the issue. Or an email saying you’ve won a big prize, instructing you to click on a URL to redeem. During tax season, the amount of fraudulent emails and texts increases dramatically, with commonly used AI to increase the numbers. CNET offers tips on how to spot phishing attempts even the most complex emails.

« By creating a sense of trust and urgency, cybercriminals hope to prevent you from thinking critically about their bait message so they can gain access to your sensitive or personal information such as your password, credit card numbers, user data, etc., » warns the US State Department website. « These cybercriminals may target specific individuals, known as phishing, or cast a wide net to try to catch as many victims as possible. »

In the AV-Comparatives test, which evaluates phishing page detection and false positives, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro ranked fourth among security products, blocking 92% of 250 phishing URLs tested. The highest score includes:

• Avast Free Antivirus 95%
• Norton Antivirus Plus 95%
• Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus 93%

On its website, NordVPN says Threat Protection Pro protects devices even when not connected to a VPN. The company says the software can thwart phishing attempts and prevent malware from infecting your computer in a number of ways – alerts about malicious websites; blocking cookies that can learn about your browsing habits; and stopping pop-ups and intrusive ads.

According to cybersecurity firm Hoxhunt, the overall volume of phishing attacks has skyrocketed by 4,151% since the emergence of ChatGPT in 2022, costing companies $4.88 million per phishing breach.

With the rapid expansion of AI on the Internet, the volume of phishing attacks is increasing. Some AI-generated phishing scams can get past email filters, but Hoxhunt found that only 0.7% to 4.7% of phishing emails are written by AI. However, cybercriminals are using AI to expand their phishing tools. AI can create deepfake videos and voice-imitating phone calls to divert payments or gain access to sensitive data.

AI scams will be difficult to root out. CNET reported that 62% of executives have been targeted by phishing attempts, including voice and text scams, with 37% reporting invoice or payment fraud, all of generative AI.

While NordVPN’s product may be effective at preventing malware from infecting your computer, it cannot eliminate malware that may already be on it. To clear up these issues, CNET lists best antivirus software 2026 and on best free antivirus apps. These products can scan your computer and hopefully root out any malware and viruses that may be there.

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