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Tom's Guide
13 hours ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
This new NordVPN feature lets you know when sites aren't working
NordVPN, the best VPN on the market based on our testing, has released a brand-new feature which shows which websites and services are experiencing outages. Named (rather aptly) "Is it down?", this new feature analyzes user reports in order to offer insight into the current status of many different platforms, including Reddit, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Xbox Network, and YouTube. If user reports about a site to "Is it down?" pass a 75% threshold of a set baseline, the operational status of that site is then updated. The site's recovery is then tracked as reports slow. Discussing "Is it down?", Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at NordVPN said "by providing crowdsourced visibility into service health, we aim to empower users with first-hand information." NordVPN: our top-rated VPN overallFrom our testing, we consider NordVPN to be the best VPN for most people. This is down to its rock-solid security and privacy, excellent speeds and great unblocking performance. Prices start from £2.31 / $2.91 per month for a two-year subscription, which includes an exclusive four months free for Tom's Guide readers. Plus, you can get an Amazon gift card worth up to £50 / $50 if you sign up for NordVPN's Plus or Complete memberships. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all subscriptions. "Is it down?" functions using a system that establishes the activity of a service or website by recalculating a baseline for that site or service every 30 minutes. This recalculation is based on the past 24 hours of user reports. Possible issues or outages are flagged by dynamic thresholds set at 50% and 75% of this baseline, with recovery tracked as reports drop below these thresholds. Only when enough data is collected do status updates occur. Bredis noted that "understanding whether an issue is widespread or localized helps reduce frustration and informs smarter responses," as website or service interruptions can be caused by a number of different issues. This could be user-specific like DNS issues or ISP outages, or impact all users, like DDoS cyber attacks, scheduled maintenance or software updates. However, it's important to note that as it relies on user reports alone, "Is it down?" cannot confirm official outages, nor can it guarantee that it is completely accurate. Instead, it can inform users when brief glitches or extended outages occur. NordVPN has said that the introduction of "Is it down?" is a continuation of its aims to "build tools that promote digital awareness and resilience." "Is it down?" is the latest in cybersecurity features launched by NordVPN, alongside Threat Protection Pro, post-quantum encryption and ID theft recovery – our NordVPN review explores these features in more detail. The company also noted that by giving internet users the ability to independently check and report site and service outages, it aims to empower them in their navigation of the online world. Briedis explained further: "As our digital lives become more complex, timely and accurate information is no longer optional, it's essential." "We believe that features like the 'Is it down?' checker help bring transparency to internet reliability and reinforce our mission to make the internet more accessible for everyone." "Is it down?" is now available, free to use, whether you're a NordVPN user or not. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
It's the final week of our exclusive NordVPN deal – grab a free Amazon gift card + 4 extra months before it's too late
The countdown is on. You only have one week left to take advantage of Tom's Guide's exclusive NordVPN deal. The deal, which is shared with our friends at TechRadar, runs until August 12 and sees NordVPN plans start at $2.91 / £2.31 per month – the lowest price we've seen our best VPN pick at for a long time. Our NordVPN review details why we rate it so highly. But in short, it boasts excellent speeds, top-class privacy and security, powerful streaming unblocking, and some great extra cybersecurity features. Gift cards worth $20, $40, and $50 are up for grabs in the US. NordVPN Plus: $20 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 74%: NordVPN is the provider we rate as #1 and the best pick for most people. Fast speeds, excellent privacy and security, plus powerful streaming unblocking, and great extra features are our reasons for this What you'll get... • $20 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• Protection for up to 10 devices• 900 Mbps+ speeds• Streaming service unblocking, including Netflix• Post-quantum encryption• Threat Protection Pro• NordPass password manager• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months protection for $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front pre-tax) NB: NordVPN is currently trialling different Plus plans, so you may see slight variation in the features offered. NordVPN Complete: $40 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 74%: NordVPN Complete is the next plan on offer. On top of NordVPN Plus features, you'll get 1TB of encrypted cloud storage and double your Amazon gift card. What you'll get... • $40 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• All NordVPN Plus features • 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months protection for $4.62 per month ($129.36 up front pre-tax) NordVPN Prime: $50 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 79%: NordProtect and complete cybersecurity protection is what you'll get from the US-exclusive NordVPN Prime. What you'll get... • $50 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• All NordVPN Complete features • NordProtect identity theft protection• Up to $1 million in ID theft insurance• Up to $100k in cyber extortion insurance• Credit & Dark Web monitoring• Dedicated case manager• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months of protection for $6.33 per month ($177.36 up front pre-tax) NordVPN Basic: our #1 rated VPN Save 74%: NordVPN Basic is the entry-level plan. There's no extra features or free gift cards, just a great VPN. What you'll get... • Protection for up to 10 devices• 900 Mbps+ speeds• Streaming service unblocking, including Netflix• Post-quantum encryption• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months of protection for $2.91 per month ($81.36 up front pre-tax) All two-year NordVPN plans come with the extra four months, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. All two-year plans except NordVPN Basic will see you pocket a free Amazon gift card. You'll receive your gift card between 31 and 50 days after purchase. So if you take advantage of the money-back guarantee, you won't receive a gift card. The deal is limited to users in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada and NordVPN prices and plans differ between the regions. But let's see what's on offer where you are. If you live in the US, you're in luck. This is where the best NordVPN deals are, and NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, NordVPN Complete, and NordVPN Prime are the plans you can purchase. Remember, all two-year plans come with an extra four months of protection for free and a 30-day money-back guarantee – but only three come with an Amazon gift card. NordVPN Plus is the first to include an Amazon gift card and this is worth $20. It comes to $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front pre-tax). You'll unlock great features like Threat Protection Pro – NordVPN's highly rated malware and threat protection – and NordPass, one of the best password managers. This is along with standard offerings that include speeds of 900 Mbps+, protection for up to 10 devices, post-quantum encryption support for all platforms, and one of the best streaming VPNs. Next we have NordVPN Complete and it'll cost you $4.62 per month ($129.36 up front pre-tax). For $24 more than NordVPN Plus, you'll unlock 1TB of encrypted cloud storage and a $40 Amazon gift card. American folks, NordVPN Prime is your most complete plan. It's not cheap, coming in at $6.33 per month ($177.36 up front pre-tax). This makes it one of the most expensive VPN plans out there, but you're well compensated when it comes to features. All previously mentioned features are included, along with NordProtect. This grants you up to $1 million in ID theft insurance and up to $100k in cyber extortion insurance. There's credit and dark web monitoring, plus a dedicated case manager available to you should you need to make a claim. If you just want a VPN, this might not be for you. But if you want total cybersecurity protection, it's a very reasonable price. Oh, and did we mention, you'll get your hands on a free $50 Amazon gift card. NordVPN Basic is the plan to go for if you simply want a class-leading VPN and no extra features. 28 months of protection works out at $2.91 per month ($81.36 up front pre-tax) but there's no Amazon gift card. NordVPN: Free Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 76%: £20 or £50 Amazon gift cards are being handed out to UK users thanks to the Tom's Guide EXCLUSIVE deal. What you'll get... NordVPN Plus: £2.99 per month (£83.76 up front pre-tax) • 4 extra months FREE• £20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Ultimate: £4.62 per month (£129.36 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• £50 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + £5,000 cyber insurance• 30-day money-back guarantee The UK's interest in VPNs has skyrocketed in the last two weeks following the introduction of the Online Safety Act. Many are wondering if VPNs can bypass new age verification checks. If you're interested in the best UK VPN, NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, and NordVPN Ultimate are what's on offer. Like the US, all two-year plans come with four extra free months and a 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN Plus comes with a £20 Amazon and is £2.99 per month (£83.76 up front pre-tax). Threat Protection Pro and NordPass are the features you unlock. There's no middle plan in the UK, we jump straight to NordVPN Ultimate for £4.62 per month (£129.36 up front pre-tax) and a £50 gift card. The NordProtect feature included with NordVPN Prime is a US-exclusive, but the UK gets a watered down version with NordVPN Ultimate. Up to £5,000 is offered to aid with scam and ID theft recovery costs. If you're not interested in an Amazon gift card, NordVPN Basic is £2.31 per month (£64.56 up front pre-tax). NordVPN: Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 74%: Only two Australian NordVPN plans come with Amazon gift cards, worth AU$20 and AU$40. NordVPN Plus: AU$5.65 per month (AU$158.16 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• AU$20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Complete: AU$6.93 per month (AU$194.16 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• AU$40 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee Australia has three NordVPN plans, NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, and NordVPN Complete. All come with free months and two come with Amazon gift cards. NordVPN Plus is AU$5.65 per month (AU$158.16 up front pre-tax). Four extra months of VPN protection and a AU$20 gift card are included. NordVPN Complete is Australia's premium NordVPN offering, and includes a AU$40 Amazon gift card. Like the US, you'll get all NordVPN Plus features along with 1TB of encrypted cloud storage. This plan costs AU$6.93 per month (AU$194.16 up front pre-tax). For the best Australia VPN, NordBasic, you're looking at AU$4.36 per month (AU$122.16 up front pre-tax). NordVPN: Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 77%: Canadians have access to four NordVPN plans and three come with Amazon gift cards worth CA$20, CA$40, and CA$50. NordVPN Plus: CA$4.88 per month (CA$136.56 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Complete: CA$5.99 per month (CA$167.76 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$40 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Ultra: CA$7.71 per month (CA$215.76 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$50 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Complete features + Incogni data removal• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN is our top pick for the best Canada VPN. It matches the US for number of plans, with NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, NordVPN Complete, and NordVPN Ultra available. 28 months of NordVPN Plus is CA$4.88 per month (CA$136.56 up front pre-tax), with a CA$20 Amazon gift card thrown in. If you're after a CA$40 Amazon gift card, check out NordVPN Complete for CA$5.99 per month (CA$167.76 up front pre-tax). NordVPN Ultra is exclusive to Canada, including a subscription to the data removal service Incogni instead of ID theft insurance. It comes with a CA$50 Amazon gift card and 28 months of protection comes to CA$7.71 per month (CA$215.76 up front pre-tax). Canada's entry NordVPN plan, NordVPN Basic, costs CA$3.76 per month (CA$105.36 up front pre-tax). There's four extra months but no Amazon gift card. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
31-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
A petition might not repeal the Online Safety Act, but you can still protect your privacy online
A petition calling for the UK government to repeal the Online Safety Act has topped 450,000 signatures. It's unlikely it will have a significant impact on the government's stance, but it shows the level of backlash ministers are facing over the law. The goal of the legislation is an honorable one – to protect children and vulnerable internet users from consuming "explicit content" by introducing age verification checks. But these checks require sharing sensitive personal data with third-party companies, and people are understandably cautious about doing this. The best VPNs have seen a huge spike in demand in the UK as people search for ways to bypass age verification checks and, as well as the petition, heated debate has been taking place. The government has said it won't repeal the Online Safety Act, but there are still a number of ways you can protect your privacy online – here are some examples. NordVPN: Our #1 VPN overall Thanks to its fast speeds, excellent privacy and security, and impressive array of features, we rate NordVPN as our #1 VPN. Premium plans include Threat Protection Pro malware protection, the NordPass password manager, plus free Amazon gift cards thanks to Tom's Guide's exclusive deal. Two-year plans start at $2.91 / £2.31 per month ($81.36 / £64.56 up front pre-tax). You'll receive an extra 4 months of protection for FREE and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Whether it's scams, hackers, malware, or data harvesting, there are countless ways our privacy and security can be exploited online. Specifically addressing age verification checks, privacy advocates believe you shouldn't have to hand over information such as credit card details, photo ID, or selfies to access websites. VPN provider IPVanish described privacy as a "fundamental right," and "not something to be traded for access." There are serious security concerns, and many cybersecurity experts cited these as their reason for opposing age verification checks. Centralized databases full of highly sensitive data will be created. They'd be a gold mine and prime target for hackers and should they be breached, the consequences would be catastrophic. Obscura VPN founder Carl Dong called the law a "ticking time-bomb." He said "the question isn't if a site gets breached, but when." This threat isn't exclusive to the Online Safety Act. Our data is valuable to big tech companies, governments, data brokers, and hackers. Data breaches are regularly seen and the likes of Google, Meta, and Amazon profit off tracking us and our data. But how do we start to reclaim control of this data and protect ourselves online? Although not a silver bullet, VPNs are one of the most popular tools people use to protect their data. When you connect to the internet through a VPN, your traffic travels through an encrypted tunnel and is protected from hackers and third-parties. Your IP address is also changed, with it being possible to appear as though you're visiting a site from another country. Many VPNs have dedicated ad and tracker blockers, with malware protection features also common – although their effectiveness varies between VPN providers. Scams are one of the main ways hackers can steal your data. Fake, malicious links, alongside scam texts, emails, or calls are popular methods of attack. They trick you into thinking links or sites are legitimate, but in fact they're specifically set up to steal your data. If you fall victim to a scam, most VPNs won't be able to help you. But threat protection features are effective at warning you a link may be suspicious. The best rule of thumb to follow is never click on anything unless you're 100% sure it's genuine. NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro has been rated as the best VPN malware protection and is a certified anti-phishing tool. Surfshark also has an award-winning antivirus software. Leading VPN providers offer additional security features such as Double VPN (sometimes called multihop). Connecting to one of these dedicated servers sees your VPN traffic routed through two secure servers rather than one, doubling your layers of encryption. You may find this added protection comes at the sacrifice of speed because of the extra distance your data has to travel. We wouldn't recommend Double VPN for everyday browsing. But if your data is particularly sensitive or you're living under internet restrictions, it's a much needed feature. NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, and Mullvad VPN are just some of the providers to offer this option. Although not everyone needs a VPN, there will be one to suit you. The most secure VPNs are ideal for those valuing privacy and security. If you're on a budget, consider the best cheap VPNs or even the best free VPNs. We also have guides on the fastest VPNs and the best streaming VPNs, if all you want to do is unblock Netflix. You don't need to be a cybersecurity expert or even subscribe to a VPN to begin protecting your data online. Weak passwords are a major cause of data breaches, for both individuals and businesses. Last year, 123456 was the world's most popular password, and many can be cracked in seconds. People often re-use passwords. If one is included in a breach, it's highly likely hackers will get into multiple accounts belonging to you. Complex and lengthy passwords are the solution, and the best password managers make things easy by generating and storing secure passwords for you. Password managers can be downloaded individually but NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Proton VPN include them in some of their VPN plans. How we behave online goes a long way in protecting our data. Be mindful of what you're signing up to and accepting. Always reject cookies where possible, and always try to verify the validity of the sites you visit, messages you receive, and links you click. We know they're long and boring, but it's important to read privacy policies to understand what data is being collected, how it's stored, and if it's shared or sold. This is seen to be an issue with age-check services, as not all of them make this clear. If people don't trust third-parties, they won't hand their data over. Despite the sheer amount of data collection taking place, individuals can begin to take steps to stop it. So, while the Online Safety Act is unlikely to be repealed, people can turn their attention to practical ways of protecting their data. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
30-07-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
This exclusive NordVPN deal has been extended again – and free Amazon gift cards are still up for grabs
Tom's Guide's exclusive NordVPN deal has been extended for another two weeks. We rate NordVPN as the best VPN overall and this extension means it stays at the lowest price we've seen for a long time – plans start at $2.91 / £2.31 per month. Until August 12, new subscribers to NordVPN will receive an additional four months of protection for free on all two-year plans. Free Amazon gift cards worth up to $50 / £50 are also being given away with selected tiers of NordVPN. Users in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada are the only ones who can access this deal, and it's also being offered by our friends at TechRadar. In the US, you can get your hands on Amazon gift cards worth $20, $40, and $50. NordVPN Plus: $20 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 74%: We rate NordVPN as the #1 VPN out there. It's super fast, great for streaming, and boasts rock-solid privacy. What you'll get... • $20 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• Protection for up to 10 devices• 900 Mbps+ speeds• Streaming service unblocking, including Netflix• Post-quantum encryption• Threat Protection Pro• NordPass password manager • 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months protection for $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front pre-tax) NB: NordVPN is currently trialling different Plus plans, so you may see slight variation in the features offered. NordVPN Complete: $40 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 74%: The next step up from NordVPN Plus doubles your Amazon gift card and adds 1TB of encrypted cloud storage. What you'll get... • $40 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• All NordVPN Plus features • 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months protection for $4.62 per month ($129.36 up front pre-tax) NordVPN Prime: $50 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE Save 79%: This US-exclusive is NordVPN's complete cybersecurity package What you'll get... • $50 Amazon gift card• 4 months FREE• All NordVPN Complete features • NordProtect identity theft protection• Up to $1 million in ID theft insurance• Up to $100k in cyber extortion insurance• Credit & Dark Web monitoring• Dedicated case manager• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months of protection for $6.33 per month ($177.36 up front pre-tax) NordVPN Basic: our #1 rated VPN Save 74%: If you're not interested in extra features, then NordVPN Basic is the most simple package. What you'll get... • Protection for up to 10 devices• 900 Mbps+ speeds• Streaming service unblocking, including Netflix• Post-quantum encryption• 30-day money-back guarantee• 28 months of protection for $2.91 per month ($81.36 up front pre-tax) Gift card values and plans differ between the global regions. You can read our NordVPN prices and plans page to find out which plans are available where you are. Gift cards will be delivered to you between 31 and 50 days after purchase. You could spend them right away or perhaps save them for Black Friday, the choice is yours. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee but should you decide to take advantage of this, you won't receive your gift card. You can read all about NordVPN's fast speeds, excellent streaming capabilities, and class-leading privacy credentials in our NordVPN review. But for now, let's dive into the deals. The US has four NordVPN plans to choose from: NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, NordVPN Complete, and NordVPN Prime. All plans come with the four additional months but NordVPN Plus is the first to include a free Amazon gift card – this one is worth $20. It costs $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front pre-tax) and is a significant improvement on NordVPN Basic. You'll get access to NordVPN's highly rated threat and malware protection, Threat Protection Pro. It's been rated as the best VPN malware protection and is a certified anti-phishing tool. Alongside this, NordVPN Plus includes NordPass, one of the best password managers. These are two great additions and join the 900 Mbps+ speeds, protection for up to 10 devices, streaming site unblocking, and post-quantum encryption support included as standard on all plans. However, we've seen some users get a variation of the Plus plan that doesn't include NordPass. The next step up is NordVPN Complete. For $4.62 per month ($129.36 up front pre-tax) you'll benefit from 28 months of VPN protection and a free $40 Amazon gift card. This plan costs $24 more up front than NordVPN Plus and the only extra feature you get is 1TB of encrypted cloud storage. But your Amazon gift card value is doubled, so you may decide it's worth the upgrade. If you're after NordVPN's most complete package, consider NordVPN Prime. It includes everything offered in previous plans plus NordProtect – an ID theft protection suite. NordProtect aims to protect your personal data from being exploited. Up to $1 million in ID theft insurance is available, alongside up to $100k in cyber extortion insurance. It will monitor your credit score, as well as searching the dark web for your data. Finally, should you need to open a case, a dedicated case manager will assist you with your claim. A premium plan means a premium price and NordVPN Prime is $6.33 per month ($177.36 up front pre-tax), making it the most expensive plan NordVPN offers. This covers you for 28 months and grants you a free $50 Amazon gift card. This is very expensive for a VPN plan. However we rarely see NordVPN Prime drop below $7 per month. It's more than just a VPN, it's a total cybersecurity package. So if you're in the market for something like this, now is a good time to check out NordVPN Prime. NordVPN Basic is $2.91 per month ($81.36 up front pre-tax). There's an extra four months of protection but no free Amazon gift cards. NordVPN: Free Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 76%: UK users can get their hands on a £20 or £50 Amazon gift card thanks to the Tom's Guide EXCLUSIVE deal. What you'll get... NordVPN Plus: £2.99 per month (£83.76 up front pre-tax) • 4 extra months FREE• £20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Ultimate: £4.62 per month (£129.36 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• £50 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + £5,000 cyber insurance• 30-day money-back guarantee The UK has three NordVPN plans: NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, and NordVPN Ultimate. As with the US, all two-year plans come with four extra months of VPN protection but only two come with free Amazon gift cards. Regardless of where you are in the world, all NordVPN Plus and NordVPN Basic plans come with the same features. 28 months of NordVPN Plus is £2.99 per month (£83.76 up front pre-tax) and comes with a £20 Amazon gift card. We jump straight to NordVPN Ultimate in the UK, and it's the most premium plan offered in the country. It's £4.62 per month (£129.36 up front pre-tax) for a 28 month plan and comes with a £50 Amazon gift card. NordProtect is a US-only feature, but NordVPN Ultimate does include a form of ID protection for UK users. Up to £5,000 is available to aid with scam and ID theft recovery costs. NordVPN Basic is £2.31 per month (£64.56 up front pre-tax). But remember, there's no Amazon gift card with this plan. NordVPN: Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 74%: Two NordVPN plans in Australia will get you AU$20 and AU$40 Amazon gift cards. NordVPN Plus: AU$5.65 per month (AU$158.16 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• AU$20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Complete: AU$6.93 per month (AU$194.16 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• AU$40 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee There's three NordVPN plans in Australia: NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, and NordVPN Complete. Two come with free Amazon gift cards. NordVPN Plus is AU$5.65 per month (AU$158.16 up front pre-tax). Four extra months of VPN protection and a AU$20 gift card are included. NordVPN Complete is the highest level of NordVPN plan in Australia. It's AU$6.93 per month (AU$194.16 up front pre-tax), with a AU$40 gift card included. Like the US, 1TB of encrypted cloud storage is the additional feature for this plan. If you simply want one of the best Australia VPNs with four extra months and no extra features, NordVPN Basic is AU$4.36 per month (AU$122.16 up front pre-tax). NordVPN: Amazon gift cards + 4 months FREE Save 77%: Amazon gift cards worth CA$20, CA$40, and CA$50 are up for grabs in Canada. NordVPN Plus: CA$4.88 per month (CA$136.56 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$20 Amazon gift card• NordVPN, Threat Protection Pro, NordPass• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Complete: CA$5.99 per month (CA$167.76 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$40 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Plus features + 1TB encrypted cloud storage• 30-day money-back guarantee NordVPN Ultra: CA$7.71 per month (CA$215.76 up front pre-tax)• 4 extra months FREE• CA$50 Amazon gift card• All NordVPN Complete features + Incogni data removal• 30-day money-back guarantee Canada joins the US in having four NordVPN plans to select from: NordVPN Basic, NordVPN Plus, NordVPN Complete, and NordVPN Ultra. As always, all these plans come with four extra months of protection for free but only three come with free Amazon gift cards. NordVPN Plus is CA$4.88 per month (CA$136.56 up front pre-tax) and comes with a CA$20 Amazon gift card. A CA$40 Amazon gift card is included with NordVPN Complete and it's CA$5.99 per month (CA$167.76 up front pre-tax). NordVPN Ultra is a Canadian exclusive and costs CA$7.71 per month (CA$215.76 up front pre-tax), with a CA$50 Amazon gift card. This plan is the most premium offering in Canada but doesn't include any form of ID theft insurance like the US and UK. Instead, this plan includes a subscription to the data removal service Incogni. This is a paid add-on for international users and the tool sends out data removal requests to data brokers on your behalf. For those just after one of the best Canada VPNs, NordVPN Basic is CA$3.76 per month (CA$105.36 up front pre-tax). We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
25-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
VPNs can get around the UK's age verification laws – but is it necessary?
Friday, July 25, 2025, sees new age verification laws come into effect in the UK. The Online Safety Act aims to protect under-18s from viewing harmful content online through more robust age checks – with an emphasis on sites hosting "explicit material." Until now, many sites that require the visitor to be over 18 simply require you to click a button confirming your age, with no actual checks in place. Credit card checks, facial age estimation, and submitting photographic ID are some of the ways age verification could be done – and these all pose concerning cybersecurity and privacy risks. How comfortable will users be in handing over this sensitive personal information to an unknown third-party? While the law is well intentioned, using one of the best VPNs appears to be a simple solution to getting around it. A user could connect to a server in a country where age verification laws don't apply and access sites without the need to submit any proof of age. But is it necessary? NordVPN Plus: $20 Amazon gift card + 4 months FREE A VPN can bypass age verification laws and we rate NordVPN as the #1 provider. It's fast, has a great range of servers, and boasts class-leading security and privacy. What you'll get... • 8,000+ servers in 126 countries • Protection for up to 10 devices• 950+ Mbps speeds• Post-quantum encryption• Streaming service unblocking, inlcuding BBC iPlayer• Threat Protection Pro• NordPass password manager• 30-day money-back guarantee• £20 / $20 Amazon gift card (for a limited time only)• 28 months of protection from £2.31 per month (£64.56 up front) or $2.91 per month ($81.36 up front) A virtual private network (VPN) is a legal tool which acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. Your data is sent through an encrypted tunnel before connecting to the internet, protecting it from hackers, third-parties, and your internet service provider. When you access a site with age restriction measures, it uses your IP address to determine your location. If your IP address is in the UK, the site will then require you to submit proof of age. With a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country and obtain an IP address from that location – the site will then think you're based in that country. As long as your chosen location doesn't have age verification laws you won't be subject to checks. NordVPN is the VPN we recommend for most people. It's our #1 VPN overall and combines speed, security, and functionality – our NordVPN review allows you to explore it in detail. With over 7,000 servers in 126 countries worldwide, you'll have plenty of locations to choose from. Connecting is easy, simply select your country of choice from the home screen list, and get started. NordVPN protects your data with the highest standards of encryption – now post-quantum encryption – across all of its apps. There's support for all major platforms, including Windows, Android, iOS, Mac, and Linux. It's also one of the fastest VPNs, with speeds topping 950 Mbps. For reference, 4K Netflix streaming requires speeds of 25 Mbps. This means NordVPN will be able to handle everyday browsing and sees it named as one of the best streaming VPNs. Sites that require age verification may be more susceptible to malware, ads, and trackers. NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro feature can help protect your device from threats. Its a certified anti-phishing tool and was rated as the best VPN malware protection. It's not a silver bullet, but it's effective at blocking ads and trackers and will warn you if you click on potentially malicious links. Until the end of July, Tom's Guide has an exclusive NordVPN deal. All two-year plans come with four extra months of VPN protection for free and selected plans include free Amazon gift cards. NordVPN Plus represents the best value for money as you get a best-in-class VPN, with fast speeds and protection for up to 10 devices, but also one of the best password managers, NordPass, Threat Protection Pro, and a $20 or £20 Amazon gift card. In the UK, the 28 month plan works out as £2.99 per month (£83.76 up front, pre-tax). For US users, It's $3.76 per month ($105.36 up front, pre-tax) for 28 months of protection. Both plans include a £20 and $20 Amazon gift card respectively, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. The deal is also available to those in Canada and Australia. Cheap plans starting at $2.31 / $2.91 per month are also available, although these do not include any gift cards. As mentioned above, the legislation has good intentions and it's important to protect under-18s from harmful content. However, how age verification laws are expected to be enforced raises significant cybersecurity and privacy concerns. There are numerous ways age verification checks can be achieved, with each site deciding which third-party provider it uses and what methods it employs. Some examples include: All these methods present concerning privacy and cybersecurity risks. All require giving the third-party age-check service access to highly sensitive personal information such as your credit card, passport, or driving licence. Many age-check services say they securely store and access this data, but as users we can't guarantee this. Many businesses have been victims of notable cyberattacks in recent months – including retailers in the UK – and should an age-check service suffer a breach, the consequences for users could be catastrophic. Hackers could get hold of highly sensitive information and commit cybercrime with ease. Understandably, many people will feel uncomfortable in handing over such sensitive information and bypassing these checks will appear very appealing. Reddit has recently introduced age verification checks. It uses the firm Persona and requires users to upload a selfie or photo of their government ID. According to the BBC, the site said it doesn't have access to any photos uploaded and Persona would "promise not to retain the picture for longer than seven days." Social media site X is another company to introduce age verification checks. You can upload a government-issued ID but the site also utilises AI-powered facial age estimation. Firstly, "guessing" someone's age based on a live selfie isn't a reliable method of verification. Secondly, many won't be comfortable in having an AI tool accessing images of them and how AI will store and use these images isn't clear. In its "Age Assurance on X" policy, X states it "prioritizes your privacy." It says "third party providers will also be bound by strict data protection standards" and it will update its use and storage information as it rolls out estimation methods. If you're in any way concerned about handing over your personal information, it's worth understanding alternative ways of accessing age-restricted sites. Clearly, although well-intentioned, the UK's age verification law poses significant privacy and security risks. People wanting to access sites operating checks will have an important decision to make regarding their personal information. Many won't be comfortable with the risks associated with age-check services One comment under a BBC article read: "Sure, I will give out my sensitive information to some random, unproven company or.. I will use VPN. Difficult choice." In an age where our online privacy is constantly being threatened, people are increasingly taking steps to protect their data – and age verification laws are a contributing factor. We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
