NordVPN’s Advanced Features And Setting For Enhanced Security In 2025

We have been messing with NordVPN’s bells and whistles for years now and let us tell you, it is like finding hidden treasure in your favorite video game. Remember when VPNs were just about hiding your IP address? Well, those days are long gone. NordVPN has packed so many cool features into their app that it is like having a Swiss Army knife for the internet.

We have been through it all, battling censorship with obfuscated servers, playing hide-and-seek with trackers using CyberSec and even creating our own private networks with Meshnet. It has been quite the adventure and we are itching to share our discoveries with you.

Stick with us because we are about to take you on a tour of NordVPN’s advanced features that will have you feeling like a cybersecurity pro in no time. Let us dive in and turn your virtual private network service from a basic privacy tool into a powerhouse of online freedom.

NordVPN’s Advanced Features and Settings

In addition to the basic VPN functions, it bundles a lot of additional settings and features that might be helpful in increasing your security privacy or just getting more out of internet surfing.

With double-layered encryption and servers in specific locations these advanced options offer custom solutions that will meet your needs. Whether you want to go beyond geo-restrictions or do special things like having your network protected by a fixed IP, NordVPN’s advanced features can help. 

Protocol Selection

Choose from the best VPN protocols like NordLynx, OpenVPN (UDP / TCP) and IKEv2/IPSec. You can get speed, security and reliability with each protocol.

How to Access

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Auto-connect.
• Select your preferred protocol under VPN Protocol.

NordLynx Protocol

It is one of NordVPN’s advanced features that has been started by using WireGuard, which itself is an extraordinary modern version of the virtual private network. WireGuard provides excellent speeds. Initially, it is not as privacy-focused.

To address this, NordVPN created its own protocol named NordLynx, merging the speed of WireGuard with a double Network Address Translation (NAT) slap to make sure that no PII touches their servers. This makes NordLynx one of the most performant and secure VPN protocols which is perfect for streaming, gaming or other bandwidth-demanding tasks with maximum privacy.

How to Use 

NordLynx is NordVPN’s default protocol, so you don’t need to enable it yourself if you are using a current version of their app.

How to Enable

If you need to select it manually:

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Auto-connect.
• Under VPN Protocol, choose NordLynx from the list.

Double VPN

Double VPN, sometimes referred to as multi-hop VPN will send your internet connection through 2 separate countries. That provides an extra layer of encryption and anonymity. For example, your traffic will pass through a server in Germany and then to another server in Canada.

This means it is impossible to track your online actions back toward you. It does slow your connection speed a bit because it doubles the encryption. But this feature is ideal for anyone who needs more security like journalists, activists or people in politically hostile environments.

How to Enable

Leveraging this one of the advanced features of NordVPN you should:

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to the Specialty Servers section.
• Select Double VPN and choose a server pair from the list.

Onion Over VPN

Onion Over VPN is for the private concerned users. It brings the best of NordVPN with Tor (The Onion Router) over one another. By using it, you route your traffic through a NordVPN server first and then it travels from one node of the Tor network to another before reaching its destination.

Every hop of the Tor relay encrypts your data in a way that makes it impossible for anyone to snoop on what you do. This one of NordVPN’s advanced features is especially important for those who want to safely access the dark web or communicate anonymously in heavily censored areas. However, because of the several layers of encryption that are used you may face some decrease in speed.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Specialty servers.
• Select Onion Over VPN and connect to a server.

Obfuscated Servers

Obfuscated servers are specialized VPN servers designed to bypass internet censorship in high-censorship countries like China, Iran and Russia. How do these servers work to make VPN traveling traffic appear as plain old HTTPS? By cloaking their own fact of being a VPN connection themselves.

This is a must-have for those citizens of oppressive countries who are accessing the internet. Obfuscated servers improve in security and privacy but there will be some processing overheads due to the nature of having traffic obfuscated.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Auto-connect.
• Enable Obfuscated Servers and connect to an obfuscated server from the list.

CyberSec

CyberSec is one of NordVPN’s advanced features that stops ads, trackers, and malware sites. It makes the browsing experience more enjoyable as it stops annoying pop-ups and banners which also speeds up page load times while keeping you from falling victim to phishing sites or downloading malware. Moreover, you can check out our guide to learn how VPNs protect you from data threats.

It queries websites from a permanently updated blacklist and stops them in case they contain any threat. The feature is particularly useful on unknown or insecure websites, giving you an edge in defending yourself from online threats.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings.
• Toggle on CyberSec.

Kill Switch

Another important security feature is Kill Switch, which will stop your data from being leaked if the connection goes down unexpectedly for any reason. There are 2 types of Kill Switch on NordVPN, System-wide and App-specific. A Kill Switch for the whole system which shuts down your web connection completely if ever the VPN fails.

Meanwhile, there is even an App Kill Switch that will cut off the internet access to any app you want if the VPN connection drops. This is especially useful when you set the app to use a public Wi-Fi network, as it does not reveal your real IP address in case of an unfortunate connection drop. Check out this guide to learn more about the VPN kill switch feature.

Enabling Kill Switch NordVPN On Windows/macOS

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Kill Switch.
• Toggle on Kill Switch for system-wide protection or select specific apps.

Enabling Kill Switch NordVPN On Android/iOS

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Kill Switch.
• Toggle it on.

Split Tunneling

Split Tunneling gives you the right to choose which applications are able to handle using the VPN connection and also by whom they can bypass it. This feature helps to reach out to local services like online banking or streaming platforms and not have a need to disconnect from a VPN.

For example, you could tell NordVPN to use the VPN for your torrenting app but connect directly through local IP addresses with your web browser. Split tunneling NordVPN gives you the freedom to balance security and convenience according to your requirements.

Enabling Split Tunneling NordVPN On Windows/Android

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Split Tunneling.
• Enable split tunneling and select apps to bypass the VPN.

Dedicated IP

A Dedicated IP is a unique IP address that is used only by you, rather than shared IP addresses many VPN services use. It is those users that require a fixed IP for accessing corporate networks and great security with services like online banking or other kind of services where they whitelist your IP.

By purchasing a Dedicated IP, you can side-step the CAPTCHA prompts and prevent your IP from being identified as one performing some fishy activities which often occurs when dozens of users share an address. NordVPN has dedicated IPs in different locations where you can select one of the choices that perfectly fits your use cases.

How to Enable

• Purchase a Dedicated IP from the NordVPN website.
• Open the NordVPN app and go to Specialty servers.
• Select Dedicated IP and connect to your assigned IP.

SmartPlay

SmartPlay is a type of service that helps to bypass geo-restrictions with the benefit of Smart DNS. It does not need any manual setup, unlike the traditional Smart DNS service. It will launch itself when you connect through a streaming-optimized server so that you can unlock the content you want to watch from around the world while still remaining protected. This one of NordVPN’s advanced features also prevents buffering and makes sure you can stream in HD.

How to Enable

SmartPlay is automatically enabled. You just have to connect to a NordVPN server optimized for streaming and it works in the background.

P2P-Optimized Servers

NordVPN has specialized P2P servers designed to handle torrent traffic. Their servers are optimized and fine-tuned to offer a speedy, stable and safe connection for downloading or sharing big-sized files. NordVPN also hides your IP address and encrypts all the data that is being transferred, allowing none of them to track your downloads. Using these servers also means that your ISP is unlikely to throttle your bandwidth if they detect and limit P2P traffic.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Specialty servers.
• Select P2P and connect to a server.

Dark Web Monitor

This is one of the advanced features of NordVPN, which scans the dark web at regular intervals for your email address. If any of the leaked databases include your email address or link it to a compromised account, it will alert you immediately so that users can take appropriate action before hackers use those accounts.

This ability is important in the digital world today, with more data breaches taking place each day. Knowing threats as soon as they arise is key to then resetting your passwords and locking down accounts before any real harm can be done.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings.
• Toggle on Dark Web Monitor.

Invisibility on LAN

The Invisibility in LAN feature makes your device undetectable from other devices on a local area network (LAN). This is very beneficial in public Wi-Fi, such as in coffee shops, airports, or hotels where other users may attempt to access your device.

If it is turned on, your device won’t be visible in the network list and it can’t be used for any unauthorized access. It is an additional layer of security that keeps your data private even on unsecured networks.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Advanced.
• Toggle on Invisibility on LAN.

Custom DNS

One of the advanced features of NordVPN, to the best of our knowledge, is being able to set up your own DNS server and not use Nord’s default ones. This feature can be used for a range of activities including speeding up browsing, accessing geo-locked content and boosting your privacy.

Using your custom DNS servers can prevent a DNS leak. DNS leaks occur when all or some queries are sent straight away instead and reveal you with regard to ISP. The DNS of NordVPN is maintained by the secure VPN switcher so that each other’s requests can pass through it, which stops any eavesdropping from third parties on your online activity.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Advanced.
• Enable Custom DNS and enter your preferred DNS server addresses.

Meshnet

Meshnet is an interesting and one of NordVPN’s advanced features that enables you to establish a private network that can be used with no more than 60 devices (no matter where they are) at the same time. The network can be used for a wide variety of purposes such as sharing files, playing multiplayer games or working on collaborative projects.

It operates by providing encrypted tunnels between devices that cause them to behave as if they were on the same local network. This helps a lot of telecommuters and solitary workers get access to resources through different locations in one secure manner.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Meshnet from the sidebar.
• Enable Meshnet and invite devices to join your private network.

Threat Protection

As one of NordVPN’s advanced features, Threat protection is a feature that scans incoming files for potential risks and stops them before they harm your device. This includes stopping trackers and aggressive ads to give you a safer, clutter-free browsing experience.

How to Enable

• Open the NordVPN app.
• Go to Settings > Threat Protection.
• Toggle on Threat Protection or Threat Protection Lite depending on your needs.

After reviewing NordVPN’s advanced features, we think you might want to get NordVPN. You are in luck because you can get a NordVPN subscription at a discount of 67% through our website, vpn.com.

Frequently Asked Questions 

The Bottom Line

We have covered everything from the speed NordLynx protocol to the ultra-secure Double VPN and even got into the Dark Web Monitor. These NordVPN’s advanced features aren’t just fancy add-ons, they are powerful tools that can seriously level up your online security and freedom. Whether you’re trying to stream your favorite shows from abroad, work remotely without worry or just browse the web with peace of mind, there is a NordVPN feature that’s got your back.

The next time you fire up NordVPN, take a moment to explore these advanced features. Play around, experiment and find the perfect setup for your needs. After all, in this digital age, a little bit of tech goes a long way in keeping you safe and free online. Happy browsing and may your internet always be fast, secure and restriction-free.