Will NordVPN help keep my computer safe?

[GamerBlake]

It seems like EVERY tech channel I watch on Youtube has at least one NordVPN advertisement telling the viewer that it will help keep their computer safe.
 

I believe I've even seen Linus himself advertise it.
 

One thing I do know about it is that it's a Virtual Private Network that can hide my IP address and make it look like I am on the internet from another country rather than give away my exact location in the United States.

Anyway I am just curious: Does anyone else use NordVPN and is it worth it?

 

Oh yeah and does it slow down my internet speed at all if I use it? Like will I have issues gaming online?

Thanks!

[AbydosOne]

3 minutes ago, GamerBlake said:

keep their computer safe

No.

 

3 minutes ago, GamerBlake said:

hide my IP address and make it look like I am on the internet from another country

Yes.

 

A VPN won't stop you from downloading stupid stuff.

[Electronics Wizardy]

What is your threat model? 

 

For most browsing, a VPN won't really help. Most data is encrypted anyways, and there is a lot of protections against man in the middle attacks. 

 

A VPN can be nice for a very untrusted network(but much less of a issue now with HTTPS being so common along with others), and if you want to appear in a different location.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

It will hide your ip

 

It also does jack shit to protect it without a good antimalware.

 

And you have no buisness gaming on a vpn, your data is encripted, sent to a vpn server, decrypted, sent to the game server, then the reply is sent to the vpn server, encrypted, sent to your pc, decrypted.

Your latency will be through the roof

[GamerBlake]

1 minute ago, AbydosOne said:

No.

 

Yes.

 

A VPN won't stop you from downloading stupid stuff.

What I mean though when I say "keep my computer safe" is will it prevent websites and companies like Google & Microsoft from knowing where I am logging on from?

[GamerBlake]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

What is your threat model? 

 

For most browsing, a VPN won't really help. Most data is encrypted anyways, and there is a lot of protections against man in the middle attacks. 

 

A VPN can be nice for a very untrusted network(but much less of a issue now with HTTPS being so common along with others), and if you want to appear in a different location.

What do you mean "threat model"?

 

If you're asking what I think the threat to my PC is.. I can say not much. I mostly game on it and do some web browsing but not much. Most web browsing I do on my cellphone but I do some banking and forum posts on my PC. 

 

I just don't like the idea of websites knowing where I live based on my IP address.

[GamerBlake]

2 minutes ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

It will hide your ip

 

It also does jack shit to protect it without a good antimalware.

 

And you have no buisness gaming on a vpn, your data is encripted, sent to a vpn server, decrypted, sent to the game server, then the reply is sent to the vpn server, encrypted, sent to your pc, decrypted.

Your latency will be through the roof

I use Norton Antivirus because I got it for free with my Comcast internet service.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

Just now, GamerBlake said:

I use Norton Antivirus because I got it for free with my Comcast internet service.

Wow. Dont.

 

Norton is so sosososososososososo bad.

At least its not Macafee, but still

 

Just use windows defender, (if your really worried use this guide) and do a deep (and free) scan from Malwarebytes, then your done.

[Electronics Wizardy]

4 minutes ago, GamerBlake said:

What do you mean "threat model"?

 

If you're asking what I think the threat to my PC is.. I can say not much. I mostly game on it and do some web browsing but not much. Most web browsing I do on my cellphone but I do some banking and forum posts on my PC. 

 

I just don't like the idea of websites knowing where I live based on my IP address.

There is many ways other than a ip that they can know how you where you live, like your browsing habits, cookies, logins, computer information. 

 

I wouldn't use a vpn with this info.

 

 

[GamerBlake]

1 minute ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

Wow. Dont.

 

Norton is so sosososososososososo bad.

At least its not Macafee, but still

 

Just use windows defender, (if your really worried use this guide) and do a deep (and free) scan from Malwarebytes, then your done.

Oh yeah I have Windows Defender enabled at all times.

[GamerBlake]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

There is many ways other than a ip that they can know how you where you live, like your browsing habits, cookies, logins, computer information. 

 

I wouldn't use a vpn with this info.

 

 

Alright thanks! I wont buy NordVPN though.

 

They are extremely aggressive when it comes to advertising. It seems like EVERY Youtuber with a channel is advertising NordVPN.

[Arika]

7 minutes ago, GamerBlake said:

What I mean though when I say "keep my computer safe" is will it prevent websites and companies like Google & Microsoft from knowing where I am logging on from?

No, the main reason to use a VPN is to get around Geoblocking and to prevent your ISP from seeing what you're doing. Google is going to pick up on your browsing habits really quick, if you're using Windows, they know it's your PC based on it's hardware.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

Just now, GamerBlake said:

Oh yeah I have Windows Defender enabled at all times.

Then dont use norton.

Your needlylessly slowing down your system with having an inferior antivirus that mainly just slows down drive acceses and system speed and having a decent one on at the same time

[da na]

If you want to use a VPN? Yes.

But it's not an antivirus. 

[GamerBlake]

2 minutes ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

Then dont use norton.

Your needlylessly slowing down your system with having an inferior antivirus that mainly just slows down drive acceses and system speed and having a decent one on at the same time

Oh ok I'll take Norton off then. I thought maybe Norton was more thorough then Window's Defender but apparently I was wrong.

[GamerBlake]

Just now, Mel0nMan said:

If you want to use a VPN? Yes.

But it's not an antivirus. 

I know it's not an anti-virus. I never thought it was. I was asking more in terms of privacy and hiding my location from websites not to keep my safe from viruses.

 

But MelonMan already answered that for me.

[fUnDaMeNtAl_knobhead]

But Surfshark has a antivirus so  maybe a vpn can keep your computer safe and Nord VPN blocks known malware or phishing sites

[Brooksie359]

20 minutes ago, GamerBlake said:

I know it's not an anti-virus. I never thought it was. I was asking more in terms of privacy and hiding my location from websites not to keep my safe from viruses.

 

But MelonMan already answered that for me.

Yeah vpns won't do much for keeping your computer safe from viruses as even adblock would help more than a VPN. 

[fUnDaMeNtAl_knobhead]

1 hour ago, Brooksie359 said:

Yeah vpns won't do much for keeping your computer safe from viruses as even adblock would help more than a VPN. 

Well VPNs have adblockers

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Programs, Apps and Websites

***

 

NordVPN has never been LMG sponsor. Current LMG VPN sponsor is Private Internet Access.

 

Of tech-tubers, JayzTwoCents has taken money from NordVPN. Until this https://youtu.be/CBJZFTy_SAc