10 years of NordVPN: the complete timeline.

10 years of NordVPN

A decade ago, few believed that a VPN could be mainstream. Today, NordVPN is the world’s leading VPN trusted by millions of people all over the globe. And more — it’s become a cybersecurity service that protects users from various online threats.

Follow our journey below.

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2012

Humble beginnings. To use NordVPN, you have to download a special file and set it up yourself. We launch the first VPN servers, a total of 6 of them. That should be enough.

NordVPN is born

Self-configuration file on Windows

First server in Germany

6 servers in total

2013

Forget self-configs — get NordVPN’s app and join the first 1000 users who are using it.

1000 users reached

App for Windows

2014

You can get support 24/7 — we’re the first premium VPN to provide it. And if you’re looking for advanced security features, this is when we start rolling them out.

24/7 customer support service

New feature: Double VPN

New feature: Onion Over VPN

2015

Hello Apple users, NordVPN has become a cross-platform service! Connect to 100 servers in 27 countries.

iOS and macOS apps

100 servers in 27 countries

2016

Oops, we meant 550 VPN servers! Why don’t you connect to one of them with your Android phone?

Android app

550 servers in 50 countries

First PCMag award

2017

Do you want to secure your browsing without encrypting your whole internet traffic? You can if you’re using Chrome or Firefox.

Chrome and Firefox extensions

2018

Use NordVPN on every major platform (hello, Linux users!). Plus, we set a new standard for VPN transparency with the no-logs audit.

New apps: Linux and Android TV

Industry-first no-logs audit completed

2019

By focusing on the cybersecurity needs of our users, we take our first steps beyond a VPN. Nord products now secure online activity, passwords, files, and even businesses.

NordPass, a password manager

NordLocker, a file encryption service

NordLayer, a VPN for business

NordLynx, powered by WireGuard

VPN Trust Initiative founded

5000 servers in 59 countries

Best VPN overall award – ProPrivacy Awards

2020

NordLynx, our innovative tunneling solution, is now the default VPN protocol. We begin moving to RAM servers and upgrade their speed and security. NordVPN becomes the fastest VPN on the planet.

Best VPN overall award (second year in a row!)

Second, more detailed audit completed

Colocated servers

Becoming the fastest VPN on the planet

2021

Ping, you’ve just been informed that your credentials were leaked. That’s our Dark Web Monitor in action. NordVPN now does everything a VPN has to do, so there’s only one way to go.

New feature: Dark Web Monitor

Edge extension

NordVPN runs natively on M1 Macs

ioXt Alliance certification

Security audit completed

Nord Account with MFA benefits

Third-party sign-ins streamlined

Innovative speed test tool

2022

NordVPN is more than just a VPN. We not only secure the connection of our users but protect them from trackers and malware. Made possible by a major new feature — Threat Protection.

New feature: Threat Protection

Take cybersecurity to the next level

Block malicious websites and intrusive ads. Protect your identity and sensitive data.

Choose a Plan

Cookie name	Description	Expiration
__cfduid	Used by the content delivery network, Cloudflare, to identify trusted web traffic.	29 days
rc::c	This cookie is used to identify the difference between humans and bots.	Session
PHPSESSID	Preserves user session state across page requests.	Session
csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery.	30 days
Oauth2_authentication_csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery during the OAuth 2.0 authentication and consent flow.	30 days
oauth2_consent_csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery during the OAuth 2.0 authentication and consent flow.	30 days

Cookie name	Description	Expiration
locale	The cookie determines the preferred language and country-setting of the visitor.	1 year
cookieconsent_status	Determines whether the visitor has accepted the cookie consent box.	1 year
fontsCssCache	Determines whether the visitor has cached fonts so the font would not be cached again upon re-entry.	7 days
CurrentSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
FirstSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
ReturningSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
_domainTest{timestamp}	Determines websites domain value for cross-domain support.	Session
popups_referrer	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_session_duration	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_session_pageviews	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_chains	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_chains_finished	Used for popup management.	7 days
bc.visitorToken	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
bc.visitor_token	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
3E6DB64A	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
u	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
session	Contains a session identifier that is used to remember the user’s agent and allows the system to re-authenticate users without credentials.	30 days

Cookie name	Description	Expiration
_ga	Registers an ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.	2 years
_gid	Registers an ID that is used to generate statistical data on how the visitor uses the website.	1 year
_gat	Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate.	1 year
collect	Used to send data to Google Analytics about the visitor's device and on-site behavior.	Session
personalization_id	The cookie allows the visitor to share content from the website onto their Twitter profile.	2 years
_gat_gtag_UA_42858496_11	Used to throttle request rate.	1 minute
client_dimension	Prevent fire client_dimension event more than 1 time per session.	Session

Cookie name	Description	Expiration
__cfduid	Used by the content delivery network, Cloudflare, to identify trusted web traffic.	29 days
rc::c	This cookie is used to identify the difference between humans and bots.	Session
PHPSESSID	Preserves user session state across page requests.	Session
csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery.	30 days
Oauth2_authentication_csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery during the OAuth 2.0 authentication and consent flow.	30 days
oauth2_consent_csrf	Ensures visitor browsing-security by preventing cross-site request forgery during the OAuth 2.0 authentication and consent flow.	30 days

Cookie name	Description	Expiration
locale	The cookie determines the preferred language and country-setting of the visitor.	1 year
cookieconsent_status	Determines whether the visitor has accepted the cookie consent box.	1 year
fontsCssCache	Determines whether the visitor has cached fonts so the font would not be cached again upon re-entry.	7 days
CurrentSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
FirstSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
ReturningSession	Retrieving the traffic sources data (source, medium, campaign, term, content, date) of the different sessions.	182 days
_domainTest{timestamp}	Determines websites domain value for cross-domain support.	Session
popups_referrer	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_session_duration	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_session_pageviews	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_chains	Used for popup management.	7 days
popups_chains_finished	Used for popup management.	7 days
bc.visitorToken	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
bc.visitor_token	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
3E6DB64A	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
u	Used by chat widget from Nanorep.Determines unique visitor ID used on the new reporting page to group queries performed by the same visitor.	1 year
session	Contains a session identifier that is used to remember the user’s agent and allows the system to re-authenticate users without credentials.	30 days

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Take cybersecurity to the next level

Essential

Functionality

Analytics

Advertising

Essential

Functionality

Analytics

Advertising