NordVPN has expanded its iOS and Android applications with a built-in next-generation antivirus, promising real-time protection against malware, phishing, and scams - capabilities that have long sat outside the traditional scope of a VPN. The move positions NordVPN more directly against rivals that have already bundled threat-blocking tools into their services, and it arrives at a moment when mobile devices have become the primary target for a growing volume of digital fraud. To mark the launch, NordVPN is offering up to 75% off subscriptions plus three additional months at no extra cost.
Why a VPN Alone Has Never Been Enough
There is a persistent and dangerous misconception that running a VPN shields your device from viruses and malware. It does not. A VPN encrypts the data travelling between your device and the internet - wrapping your traffic in a layer of cryptographic protection that prevents your broadband provider, advertisers, and third parties from reading or recording what you do online. That encryption is genuinely valuable. But it says nothing about what arrives at the other end.
If you click a malicious link, download an infected file, or hand your credentials to a convincing phishing page, the VPN tunnel does nothing to stop the damage. Encryption protects data in transit; it does not inspect, filter, or block the content itself. This distinction matters enormously as phishing attacks grow more sophisticated and malware increasingly targets mobile operating systems that users have historically treated as inherently safe.
NordVPN's antivirus addition is designed to close that gap. According to the company, the feature will scan for known malicious websites before a connection is established, flag suspicious links in emails and messages, and prevent malware from being downloaded to the device. These protections operate alongside - not instead of - the VPN's encryption layer, creating a more complete security posture than either tool offers independently.
A Converging Market: Where VPNs and Security Software Meet
NordVPN is not the first major provider to move in this direction. ExpressVPN has offered its Advanced Protection tier for some time, using a DNS-based traffic blocker that halts communication with known malicious domains, blocks intrusive trackers, and filters out unwanted advertising across all apps and browsers on a connected device - not just within the VPN app itself. More recently, ExpressVPN launched MailGuard, a service that blocks spam and malicious emails while allowing users to create disposable aliases that forward to their real inbox. When an alias starts attracting spam, it can simply be discarded, leaving the genuine address untouched.
The broader trend reflects a recognition that consumers increasingly want a single, trusted application managing their digital security rather than a patchwork of separate tools. Antivirus software, VPNs, password managers, and email protection have historically been sold as distinct products by different companies. That model is giving way to consolidated platforms, with VPN providers well placed to lead the consolidation given their existing foothold on users' devices and their established billing relationships.
What the Current Deals Actually Offer
For anyone considering one of these expanded security suites, the commercial terms are worth examining carefully rather than treating the headline discounts at face value.
NordVPN's current promotion offers up to 75% off its standard pricing, with an extra three months added to qualifying subscriptions. On a two-year plan - the longest available, and therefore the one carrying the deepest discount - that translates to 27 months of coverage for an upfront cost of £72.63. No further payment would be due until September 2028, which represents reasonable value if you intend to use both the VPN and the new antivirus features consistently.
ExpressVPN is currently offering up to 80% off its subscriptions alongside four free months, bringing the cost of a comparable long-term plan to approximately £69.72 for 28 months of protection. That package includes malware protection, the Advanced Protection suite, and MailGuard. ExpressVPN also supports Klarna and other instalment payment options, which allows subscribers to lock in the longest-contract savings while spreading the cost over shorter billing cycles. The service runs on up to ten devices simultaneously, covering iPhone, Android, Mac, iPad, Windows, Linux, Fire TV Stick, and Wi-Fi routers.
- NordVPN deal: Up to 75% off plus 3 free months - 27 months for £72.63 on a two-year plan
- ExpressVPN deal: Up to 80% off plus 4 free months - 28 months for £69.72, includes MailGuard and Advanced Protection
- ExpressVPN device limit: Up to 10 simultaneous connections across all major platforms
- Payment flexibility: ExpressVPN accepts Klarna, Apple Pay, and Google Pay
Choosing the Right Tool for Your Threat Model
The practical question for most users is not whether to use a VPN, but whether a bundled security suite genuinely replaces standalone antivirus software or simply supplements it. For the majority of mobile users whose primary risks are phishing, malicious links, and drive-by malware downloads, an integrated solution of this kind offers meaningful protection without requiring the management of multiple applications. Power users with more complex security requirements - or those handling sensitive professional data - may still benefit from dedicated endpoint security tools running in parallel.
What NordVPN's launch makes clear is that the definition of a VPN is changing. These applications began as narrow tools for encrypting traffic, favoured by privacy advocates, remote workers, and people living under restrictive internet regimes. They have since evolved into broader digital safety platforms, bundling capabilities that were once the exclusive domain of traditional security software. For consumers, that convergence is broadly positive - provided the underlying antivirus engine is genuinely robust and kept up to date, rather than serving as a marketing feature attached to an otherwise unchanged product. The real test of NordVPN's new antivirus will come from independent evaluation, not launch-day promises.
