Independent examination confirms NordVPN delivers on both security and performance.
New and Improved: NordVPN Shines Bright in West Coast Labs Audit
- A Fresh Look at NordVPN's Reliability, Speed, and Security
- Join the Conversation: Tell Us What You Think About VPNs
NordVPN has once again proven its mettle, scoring top marks in a thorough independent audit by West Coast Labs. This audit tested NordVPN on multiple fronts, focusing on its reliability, speed, and security.
In the realm of VPNs, this can be likened to a tough boxing match. NordVPN stepped into the ring, and West Coast Labs played the role of the relentless opponent. The results speak for themselves.
"We take immense pride in our work. This evaluation is a testament to our commitment to delivering robust security, lightning-fast speed, and user-friendly experiences without compromising on performance," says NordVPN CTO, Marijus Briedis.
So, what's your take on the world of Virtual Private Networks? Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned VPN expert, we want to know your thoughts. Your responses are entirely anonymous, and it'll only take a few minutes.
Click here to join the debate!
NordVPN Under the Microscope: Detailed Audit Results
Experts at West Coast Labs put NordVPN through rigorous tests to ensure it delivers a satisfying experience on various fronts. Here's what they found:
- Functionality Check: NordVPN's key features were verified to work correctly and consistently. These include auto-launch on system start, auto-connect, split tunneling, and the kill switch – a crucial component for user security.
- Speed Test: Speed tests were conducted across seven regions, revealing that NordVPN delivers 15.2% faster downloads, 12.4% faster uploads, and 7.9% lower latency compared to other providers.
- Website Accessibility: NordVPN granted access to 100% of the 100 most visited websites, with minimal CAPTCHA occurrences slowing down the user experience.
- System Impact: The impact on system performance during browsing was minimal when NordVPN software was connected.
- Connection Time: NordVPN boasts an average connection time of just 1.67 seconds across ten test locations.
- Leak Protection: NordVPN passed all leak scenarios, including IP, DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 checks, showcasing its exceptional security measures. The evaluation also included advanced tests like a split-tunneling flaw and the TunnelVision attack.
You can find the complete West Coast Labs report here.
Briedis expressed his satisfaction with the findings: "We strive to make NordVPN fast, dependable, and secure. This evaluation mirrors the efforts we've invested in creating a VPN solution that performs brilliantly under a wide array of conditions, from basic tasks to those that probe for sophisticated vulnerabilities like TunnelVision. It's gratifying to see our objectives validated."
Regular audits are a cornerstone of NordVPN's approach, ensuring it consistently maintains the highest level of quality and security for its users.
The latest security audit, conducted between June and August 2024, identified 31 non-critical issues, most of which had already been resolved at the time of publication.
In February 2025, NordVPN affirmatively verified its no-log claims through an independent audit, marking the fifth time it has done so since 2018.
Dive Deeper
- "Quantum-Safe Security": NordVPN Extends Encryption to All Applications
- "Numbers Don't Matter": NordVPN Challenges VPN Industry with New Approach
- "A Slippery Slope": VPN Industry Reacts to France's Orders to Block Illegal Streaming Sites
- NordVPN, backed by its top-notch cybersecurity measures, continues to lead in technology, proven by the favourable results from the West Coast Labs audit.
- Joining the conversation about Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), we believe NordVPN's robust technology, ensured by regular audits, sets it apart in the realm of cybersecurity.
