NordVPN blocked 92% of phishing emails in independent testing

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro anti-malware software blocked 92% of phishing sites in independent lab testing of several antivirus, browser, and VPN products in results released this week.

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

Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET As Google’s preferred source.

Phishing is a form of cyberattack in which a malicious actor attempts to convince someone to go “fishing” by using malicious URLs as bait. These phishing attempts may be sent via emails, but they also appear on websites, in texts, and in voicemails.

You may receive an email saying that your bank account has been hacked and you should click on the URL to resolve the issue. Or you might get an email saying you’ve won a big prize and asking you to click a URL to redeem. During tax season, the amount of fraudulent emails and texts increases dramatically. With artificial intelligence often used To condense the numbers. CNET offers tips on how to spot phishing attempts Even in the most complex emails.

“By creating a sense of trust and urgency, cybercriminals hope to prevent you from thinking critically about their bait messages so they can access your sensitive or personal information such as password, credit card numbers, user data, etc.,” the US State Department warns. 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 evaluated phishing page detection and false positive rates, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro ranked fourth among security products, blocking 92% of the 250 phishing URLs tested. Highest scores included:

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

On its websiteNordVPN says Threat Protection Pro protects devices even when they’re not connected to a VPN. The company says the software can thwart phishing attempts and prevent malware from infecting your computer in several ways — alerts about malicious websites; Block cookies that can learn about your browsing habits; Stop pop-ups and intrusive ads.

According to cybersecurity company HoxhuntThe total volume of phishing attacks has increased by 4,151% since the advent of ChatGPT In 2022, it costs businesses $4.88 million per phishing breach.

With the rapid expansion of Amnesty International Online, the volume of phishing attacks is increasing. Some AI-generated phishing scams are able to bypass email filters, but Hoxhunt found that only 0.7% to 4.7% of phishing emails were written by AI. However, cybercriminals are using AI to expand their phishing tools. Artificial intelligence can create Deep fake videos and phone calls that impersonate voice to redirect payments or access sensitive data.

AI-driven fraud will be difficult to root out. CNET reported 62% of executives have been the targets of phishing attempts, including voice and text scams, with 37% reporting billing or payment fraud, all from Generative artificial intelligence.

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

Leave a ReplyCancel Reply