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Showing posts with label secure VPN. Show all posts
secure VPN
Customer Data customer data privacy Cyber Security Identity Fraud Identity Theft identity theft protection NordVPN secure VPN

NordVPN Introduces £5,000 ID Theft Recovery Coverage for UK Users on Ultimate Plan

 

NordVPN has launched a new identity theft recovery benefit for its UK subscribers, offering up to £5,000 in reimbursement to help users recover from the financial and emotional toll of identity fraud. This latest addition to its cybersecurity toolkit is exclusively available to customers subscribed to the NordVPN Ultimate plan, priced at £5.09 per month, paid annually at £137.43. 

This move comes amid growing concerns over online threats, especially following recent data breaches involving major UK retailers like Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and Co-op. In these incidents, attackers managed to access sensitive customer data, highlighting the increasing risk faced by consumers today. NordVPN’s ID theft recovery feature complements its existing scam loss protection and is designed to ease the burden of recovering one’s identity after it has been compromised. 

Covered expenses include restoring credit ratings, resolving issues with bank accounts or loans, and even reclaiming lost wages if a victim had to take time off work to deal with the aftermath of identity theft. Additionally, this protection can help victims clear their names in cases where their identities are used for malicious purposes. For those who fall prey to scams—whether through phishing, AI-driven deepfake schemes, or romance fraud—NordVPN offers up to 12 months to file a claim if their bank or financial institution cannot provide assistance. 

These benefits are not limited to the UK alone. NordVPN’s coverage also extends to users in countries like France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands, with 24/7 access to support services. While NordVPN Basic remains the more affordable option at £2.39 per month, the Ultimate plan’s added layer of financial security could be a worthwhile upgrade for users seeking peace of mind. In comparison, NordVPN users in the United States receive broader coverage through the NordProtect service, which includes cyber extortion and fraud protection with coverage up to $1 million—either through NordVPN Prime or as a standalone service.  

Although the UK plan doesn’t offer the same level of compensation as its U.S. counterpart, the £5,000 coverage still represents a meaningful step toward consumer protection. In an age where cyberattacks are common and even large companies struggle to safeguard data, investing in robust protection is becoming increasingly important. Whether or not users choose to upgrade, staying informed about digital security best practices remains the first line of defence.
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secure VPN
customer privacy Cyber Security and Privacy Data Privacy encrypted European Union Messaging Apps Privacy secure VPN

ProtectEU and VPN Privacy: What the EU Encryption Plan Means for Online Security

 

Texting through SMS is pretty much a thing of the past. Most people today rely on apps like WhatsApp and Signal to share messages, make encrypted calls, or send photos—all under the assumption that our conversations are private. But that privacy could soon be at risk in the EU.

On April 1, 2025, the European Commission introduced a new plan called ProtectEU. Its goal is to create a roadmap for “lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement,” particularly targeting encrypted platforms. While messaging apps are the immediate focus, VPN services might be next. VPNs rely on end-to-end encryption and strict no-log policies to keep users anonymous. However, if ProtectEU leads to mandatory encryption backdoors or expanded data retention rules, that could force VPN providers to change how they operate—or leave the EU altogether. 

Proton VPN’s Head of Public Policy, Jurgita Miseviciute, warns that weakening encryption won’t solve security issues. Instead, she believes it would put users at greater risk, allowing bad actors to exploit the same access points created for law enforcement. Proton is monitoring the plan closely, hoping the EU will consider solutions that protect encryption. Surfshark takes a more optimistic view. Legal Head Gytis Malinauskas says the strategy still lacks concrete policy direction and sees the emphasis on cybersecurity as a potential boost for privacy tools like VPNs. Mullvad VPN isn’t convinced. 

Having fought against earlier EU proposals to scan private chats, Mullvad criticized ProtectEU as a rebranded version of old policies, expressing doubt it will gain wide support. One key concern is data retention. If the EU decides to require VPNs to log user activity, it could fundamentally conflict with their privacy-first design. Denis Vyazovoy of AdGuard VPN notes that such laws could make no-log VPNs unfeasible, prompting providers to exit the EU market—much like what happened in India in 2022. NordVPN adds that the more data retained, the more risk users face from breaches or misuse. 

Even though VPNs aren’t explicitly targeted yet, an EU report has listed them as a challenge to investigations—raising concerns about future regulations. Still, Surfshark sees the current debate as a chance to highlight the legitimate role VPNs play in protecting everyday users. While the future remains uncertain, one thing is clear: the tension between privacy and security is only heating up.
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WireGuard
Cyber Security End-to-End Encryption IPsec secure VPN VPN encryption VPN protocols VPN research VPN security VPN vulnerabilities WireGuard

VPN Services May Not Be as Secure as They Seem, Recent Research Finds

 

VPNs are widely known for their benefits, including preventing location-based overcharging, safeguarding online privacy, and enabling access to geographically restricted content like foreign Netflix libraries. Historically, VPNs have been considered safe, but a new investigation by Top10VPN challenges this assumption.

Collaborating with security researcher Mathy Vanhoef, Top10VPN uncovered critical vulnerabilities impacting over 4 million systems. These include VPN servers, home routers, mobile servers, and CDN nodes, with high-profile companies like Meta and Tencent among those affected. The findings, set to be presented at the USENIX 2025 conference in Seattle, highlight flaws in key protocols—IP6IP6, GRE6, 4in6, and 6in4—designed to secure data transmission.

According to the research, these protocols fail to ensure sender identity matches the authorized VPN user profile. This weakness allows attackers to exploit one-way proxies, repeatedly gaining unauthorized access undetected. By sending data packets using compromised protocols, hackers can launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks or infiltrate private networks to steal sensitive information.

To mitigate these risks, experts recommend additional security mechanisms like IPsec or WireGuard, which ensure end-to-end encryption. These tools limit the ability to access VPN traffic data, decryptable only by the designated server.

The investigation revealed that VPN services and servers deemed insecure were concentrated in the US, Brazil, China, France, and Japan. Users are advised to select VPNs that incorporate robust encryption methods and to remain cautious when using such services. Independent testing of VPN security is essential for ensuring reliability and safety.

For those seeking trusted options, refer to independent reviews and comparisons of the best VPN services, which prioritize user security and encryption protocols.
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