TechRadar's tried-and-tested VPN service isn't just great for improving your online privacy – it's also one of the best solutions for combating scams from fake online stores.
Independent auditors at AV-Comparatives ranked NordVPN's malware tracker and ad blocker as the third-best tool against online shopping scams out of 35 similar programs.
The provider launched the upgraded version of its tracker blocker Threat Protection Pro in June to offer users better protection against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. At the time, AV-comparatives certified NordVPN as an anti-phishing tool, making it the first VPN provider to receive such an award.
How NordVPN protects you from fake online stores
“Fraud shopping websites are a growing problem for shoppers around the world. They look like real e-commerce platforms and often use professional designs, fake customer reviews and tempting discounts to trick shoppers,” says Domininkas Virbickas, Development Director at Threat Protection. “We do everything we can to protect our customers from the serious consequences these sites cause.”
Available only on Windows and macOS at the time of writing, Threat Protection Pro is an enhanced version of their old ad, malware, and tracker blocker built right into the virtual private network software.
While what is now known as Threat Protection Lite blocks harmful websites, trackers, and ads at the DNS level, and is only active when connected to the VPN, Threat Protection Pro goes further to combat more sophisticated attacks such as fake online stores, phishing, and other forms of malvertising. The latter works at the network level, scanning all traffic directly on the client’s device without the need for an active VPN connection.
“This is exactly what the market-leading antiviruses do,” the vendor said.
NordVPN’s new tool has proven to live up to the provider’s promises against online shopping scams. During antivirus comparison tests, it detected almost 70% of fake stores. Two dedicated browser extensions were the only tools that outperformed it.
It's worth noting that unlike Threat Protection Lite which is included in all plans, Threat Protection Pro is exclusive to Plus and Ultimate subscribers only.
While NordVPN can effectively protect you against most online scams, it's worth learning to spot red flags when you're purchasing something online from a site you don't know.
The VPN company shares some tips to help you stay alert while shopping online:
- Be skeptical of incredible discounts. As a general rule, if something seems too good to be true, well, it probably is most of the time. The Nord team recommends comparing prices on trusted sites and being wary of deep discounts on popular items.
- Check the quality of the website. Even though some cyber attackers are becoming more adept at this, many scams can still be easily spotted. You should look for grammatical errors, low-quality images, or broken links.
- Look at the domains. Fake websites often have misspelled domains, so be sure to check before clicking on them. Nord also suggests checking for a valid SSL certificate (it comes with a “ -” and a padlock symbol to ensure it’s a trusted connection). For extra security, use a URL checker to verify if the domain is safe; NordVPN has a free one.
- Background research is key. Does everything look legit and are you ready to buy? Before you click the button, you should do a little more research. Check out the online retailers' reputation to see what other users are saying about them. Take a look at the website's privacy policies, terms and conditions, and contact information to see if anything doesn't add up.
- Be wary of unusual payment methods. For obvious reasons, scammers usually prefer payments that are harder to trace, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, or bank transfers. Offering these methods isn't necessarily a sign of a scam, but you should be wary if the retailer insists on using any of them.
