Malware protection tool from NordVPN

Deletes malware before it can reach your device.
Protects your devices from the newest threats.
Blocks your access to malicious websites.

Person removes malware and potentially unwanted programs

What is malware protection?

Malware protection is a cyber security solution from Threat Protection that provides an additional layer of security for your devices. Once enabled, it prevents malicious files from entering your device and compromising your private data.

Different kinds of malware can infect and cause harm to your files and personal information in several ways. The most common types of malware are trojans, worms, adware, spyware, ransomware, keyloggers, and rootkits. Getting them out of your device might be virtually impossible, and you could lose all your data in the process.

Stopping the malware in its tracks is the key to keeping your devices safe. NordVPN’s malware protection tool offers real-time anti-malware scans for your downloading files. No need to go through lengthy local scanning of all the data on your device — delete the malware before it can get a chance to enter your device.

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How to prevent malware

Click with caution

Be a responsible internet user and pay attention. One wrong click could be fateful, so be careful when you interact with pop-ups or land on shady or fake websites. The “Download” button or the “X” on an ad can sometimes be there to trick people into clicking an active link and downloading a malicious file to their device.

Use apps responsibly

Keep your software up to date and never download apps, especially free ones, without doing research first. See what other people have to say about them, and only use the official developer’s website to download the software.

Use security software

By the time you find out that malware is already on your device, it could be too late to save your data. Prevention is key, so use something that will stop malware from getting into your device in the first place. Something like NordVPN.

Avoid malicious websites with NordVPN

Turn Threat Protection on and let NordVPN do the rest. How does it work?

Woman gets notified about malware while using a laptop

Before connecting you to any website, NordVPN checks a real-time list of domains and URLs that are known for hosting malware. If it detects you’re trying to visit a dangerous page, NordVPN will block your access. Instead of landing on the webpage, you’ll get a warning message. Threat Protection will make your browsing safer and smoother without tracking your activity.

Block malware with NordVPN

Prevent malicious files from getting on your device and enjoy a malware-free digital experience. Here’s how Threat Protection ensures the safety of your devices:

File scanning

It’s signature-based malware detection. If you activate file malware scanning, Threat Protection will scan every file you download to your device. It’s a quick scan, but you won’t be able to open or execute the file in the meantime. This feature works with all file types that can be malicious.

Threat Protection extracts the hash of the file (its unique digital signature) and compares it against a database of known malicious threats. If there’s a match, the file is deleted.

Sandboxing

This is behavior-based malware detection. If you’re not sure the software you downloaded is safe to use, you can choose the deep file scan option. It will upload your file to the cloud and safely execute it to see how it acts to determine if it’s malicious. This feature only works for executable files rather than pictures, documents, or videos.

How to enable malware protection on NordVPN

Open the NordVPN app.

Find the shield icon and click on it.

Toggle the Threat Protection switch on.

Frequently asked questions

What is malware?

Malware is a piece of malicious software that’s installed on a computer or a mobile device without the user’s consent, which performs various malicious acts.

There are many kinds of malware, and they act in different ways. Some are designed to make money for their creators by hijacking the resources of your device to mine crypto. Others might encrypt all your files and demand a ransom. And some will destroy all the data they can find on a device in an act of cyberterrorism.

Why do I need protection from malware?

Getting malware on your computer, laptop, or smartphone can cause irreversible damage. Some types of malware can be used to steal, encrypt, or even delete your data. Therefore, it’s important you use anti-malware tools and protect your devices from malicious software. Enable Threat Protection on your NordVPN app and make your digital life much safer.

How do I block malware?

Use NordVPN, and our advanced Threat Protection feature will block malware for you. It will prevent you from accessing malicious websites, scan your files for malware, and block malicious ads. It’s a great way to increase your digital protection and stay safe while browsing online.

Can malware be removed?

Yes, it can be removed — most of the time. There are tools specifically designed for malware detection and removal. However, sometimes removal can’t fix the damage done — your files may be already lost or the virus could be so deep in the system that you’d have to reset your device completely.

Ransomware attacks are another thing to worry about — ransomware is not something you can get rid of easily, as it simply blocks you from accessing your files or account until you pay up. So remember: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Use NordVPN, and you won’t have to worry about malware lurking online. However, if you suspect you already have malicious software on your device, visit our blog to find out how to remove malware from Windows devices, a Mac computer, or Android and iOS smartphones.

How can you tell if you have malware?

Different kinds of malware infections will have different symptoms. But they mostly cause your device to act up:

Slowing down and crashing repeatedly.
Refusing to shut down or restart.
Downloading or deleting files and software without prompt.
Showing intrusive ads, pop-ups, and changing your browser settings.
Filling up your storage space with random files.

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