- NordVPN has introduced a tool to scan email links for threats in real time
- Extends the Threat Protection Pro suite for macOS and Windows
- Visually warn users about phishing, malware and fraud.
NordVPN is strengthening its security offering with the launch of a new email security feature designed to protect users from the growing threat of phishing and malware delivered directly to their inbox. The tool, which is an extension of the company’s existing Threat Protection Pro suite, proactively scans and reports malicious links in emails before a user has a chance to click on them.
This feature is a welcome addition for anyone using the vendor’s advanced security suite on macOS and Windows. It works directly in your browser and integrates seamlessly with your existing workflow to provide real-time protection without requiring any additional steps from the user. According to the company, this proactive approach is critical to staying ahead of cyber threats.
Here’s how NordVPN’s email protection works
NordVPN’s email protection is activated when you open an email in a supported browser. It instantly scans every visible link and compares the target to a continuously updated database of known malicious websites.
If a link is deemed dangerous, whether it leads to a phishing site, malware site, or other type of scam, the feature immediately provides a visual warning. A red shield icon appears next to the suspicious link. Hovering over it displays a short message explaining the potential threat. At the top of the email, you’ll also see a banner that summarizes all the threats detected in the message.
“Email security is activated before threats from malicious links can attack and cause damage,” says Virbickas. “This is a proactive layer of defense that helps reduce the success rate of phishing campaigns and other online threats that target users via email.” This feature adds to NordVPN’s already robust set of security tools, which have already received certifications for their effectiveness in blocking phishing.
Emphasis on user privacy
Despite its deep analytics features, NordVPN emphasizes that privacy was at the heart of the development of this feature. The tool only analyzes the links themselves, not the content of the emails, to ensure that users’ private conversations remain private. Full access to a user’s email account is not required. Instead, it protects on the go when you open emails.
Whenever possible, the analysis is performed locally on the user’s device. For reputation checks that require server-side analysis, only minimal metadata, the link itself, is sent to the NordVPN system. This privacy-oriented approach ensures a quick and secure risk assessment.
In addition, users retain full control. The email protection feature can be enabled or disabled at any time via the Threat Protection Pro settings menu.
This release follows other recent security enhancements to the company’s Threat Protection Pro suite, including tools to block unwanted calls and protect against session creation vulnerabilities.
