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ZDNET Highlights
- NordVPN is rebuilding its VPN app to combine VPN service with modern threat protection.
- The rebranding focuses on the three pillars of the personal security strategy: Connect, Protect and Monitor.
- NordVPN’s change highlights a broader trend by VPN providers to expand their security portfolios.
Is the term “antivirus” outdated? According to virtual private network (VPN) provider NordVPN, it appears so – and this belief has led to a change in the company’s portfolio.
NordVPN is undergoing a rebranding, changing its approach to consumer protection in keeping with the idea that threats are now less based solely on malware infections – and more based on phishing, social engineering, identity theft and other cybersecurity threats that may be far more difficult to avoid.
In the words of NordVPN, the change “reflects how digital threats evolve beyond malicious files alone.”
Too: : I tested NordVPN’s free scam checker with real phishing emails – here’s how it performed
What’s happening to the NordVPN app?
Many of us have heard of NordVPN, which operates under the Nord Security umbrella. While the VPN app – available on major platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS – has generally been promoted as a standalone solution, over time, NordVPN has added additional security features to its premium plans.
These include browser protection, anti-malware features, dark web monitoring, phishing protection, and data breach alerts.
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However, now, NordVPN is packing its security features as a revamped all-in-one security app. The rebrand is based on three pillars: a VPN (Connect), “next generation” antivirus (Protect), and other threat protection protection features, including its Dark Web Monitor and Scam Protection, which are now grouped under the “Monitor” pillar.
Why is NordVPN changing its approach?
VPNs have taken center stage – at least, so far – but its antivirus shouldn’t be overlooked.
NordVPN reported that in April 2026, its threat protection and antivirus service blocked 4.8 million threats, including more than 3 million malware incidents.
When you consider that many of the online threats we face today go beyond malware, you can see why many of us now use the term “antivirus” interchangeably with “cyber security protection.”
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As Marijus Briedis, CTO of NordVPN, said, “People still use the term antivirus as shorthand for digital security, but the threats they need protection against have changed dramatically,” and that’s why “protection needs to evolve.”
By bundling its security solutions together within the app under each pillar, NordVPN is signaling to consumers that it offers much more than an encrypted VPN tunnel and server network — which are great for preventing spying and avoiding censorship, but don’t provide the features of antivirus software that can prevent us from accidentally downloading malware, falling for phishing scams, visiting malicious websites, and more.
Antivirus software has traditionally been reactive, alerting us when a malicious file is downloaded or executed on the target machine, or when our PC has been compromised. However, NordVPN has a proactive solution that aims to stop phishing, scams, and malware before they put our security at risk.
For those who are concerned that the inclusion of antivirus protection with the redesigned app might impact their privacy, NordVPN says its software prioritizes “collecting the minimum signal needed to make a threat decision, helping users stay safe without turning the security software into a surveillance product.”
As a bonus, this rebranding may appeal to consumers who want to reduce the clutter of multiple security apps on their devices.
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Briedis commented, “Our goal is to bring together advanced VPN technology and next-generation antivirus into a streamlined app experience that reduces complexity and better matches the way people think about digital security today.”
NordVPN isn’t the only VPN provider to diversify or rebrand in recent years. Surfshark – which is owned by Nord Security but operates independently – also offers antivirus features in its plans; ExpressVPN has expanded its security offerings with a credential manager, email masking, and a personal AI assistant, while Proton recently launched a security-focused Google Workspace alternative.
What’s the deal with NordVPN?
NordVPN is one of our favorite VPNs of 2026, and it also earned its place as one of our top VPNs for streaming services and travel.
We test every major VPN on the market extensively in home and lab environments, and rate them based on speed, stability, server network, security, streaming access success, and other factors that matter to our readers.
Too: : Best VPN Services 2026: Expert Tested and Recommended
This doesn’t mean that NordVPN is the only worthwhile VPN on the market today, but in our opinion, it is one of the best VPNs. The subscription is reasonably priced at a few dollars a month if you want. try it out.
The Basic plan offers your standard VPN, scam and phishing protection, NordVPN’s dark web monitor, and protection for up to 10 devices on one account. When you go up a level and choose complete levelYou’ll also get spam call detection, caller category and ID display (Android only), anti-malware protection, browser security features, ad and tracker blockers, phishing email alerts, a data breach alert system, and a password manager.
If you are also interested in cyberinsurance and want credit monitoring, select mainNordVPN’s top service tier.
While you get some protection with the entry-level plan, NordVPN’s next-generation antivirus package is only available with the Full plan or higher.
Prices start at $3.09/month On the basic two-year plan, three months of free access is added to each contract period. We recommend Complete ($3.99/month) to take advantage of NordVPN’s antivirus protection suite. Although the price may drop at upcoming sales events, it still seems like a great deal when you consider that you’re also signing up for antivirus, phishing, and scam protection.
