What the Latest NordVPN Security Review Actually Confirms – Everything You Need to Know

• Audit Scope: Cure53 tested apps, APIs, and servers, covering mobile, desktop, browser, and backend systems thoroughly.
• Findings: No critical vulnerabilities found; high-severity issues were promptly fixed and verified by auditors.
• Ongoing Assurance: NordVPN conducts annual audits since 2018, maintaining security and transparency for all users.

The latest NordVPN security review by Cure53 is not a standalone claim. It is a technical validation backed by two detailed penetration testing reports, covering both NordVPN’s applications and its server infrastructure.

Together, these reports show that NordVPN’s security is not based on marketing statements but on independent, repeatable, and documented testing carried out by recognized cybersecurity firms.

What the Cure53 Reports Cover (And Why They Matter)

The 2025 review is supported by two official Cure53 penetration testing reports, both publicly accessible and highly technical in nature.

1. VPN Server Infrastructure Penetration Test

The VPN Servers – Infrastructure report focuses on NordVPN’s backend and server-level security. This includes:

• VPN servers and supporting systems
• Containerized services and isolation
• Firewall rules and access controls
• Authentication logic within server environments

According to the report, Cure53 did not find any critical vulnerabilities that could compromise user traffic or server integrity. A small number of high-severity findings were identified, but all were remediated promptly, and Cure53 later verified the fixes.

This confirms that NordVPN’s server infrastructure is hardened against real-world attack scenarios, not just theoretical risks.

2. Apps, UIs, Browser Extensions, APIs, and Identity Systems

The second report focuses on user-facing and account-related components, including:

• Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux apps
• Browser extensions (Chrome, Edge, Firefox)
• APIs used for VPN, Threat Protection, Meshnet, and subscriptions
• NordAccount login system, authentication flows, and MFA

Cure53 reviewed source code and conducted penetration testing on these components. The findings show:

• Secure handling of authentication tokens
• Proper session isolation and state validation
• Strong API access controls and data sanitization
• No viable methods found to bypass malware scanning or traffic filtering

Any issues identified were medium to low severity or informational and did not pose direct risks to users.

Why This Audit Matters (And Why It’s Not a One-Off)

What makes this review important is not just the result, but the history behind it.

NordVPN has been undergoing independent security audits for several years. This Cure53 review fits into a clear timeline of repeated third-party verification, not a single marketing event.

Internal Audit Timeline (Very Important Context)

• First independent audit – 2018: NordVPN began third-party verification after early infrastructure concerns. This marked the start of external transparency.
• PwC Switzerland audit – 2020: PwC audited NordVPN’s no-logs policy and internal processes, confirming that user activity data was not stored.
• Deloitte security and infrastructure audits – 2022 & 2023: Deloitte conducted multiple audits covering Infrastructure security and Internal control. These audits strengthened confidence in NordVPN’s server and system security.
• Fifth annual audit completed – Late 2024: By 2024, NordVPN had already completed its fifth annual independent audit, showing consistency rather than reactionary checks.
• Cure53 audit – 2025 (Current Review): The Cure53 assessment builds on all previous audits and focuses heavily on Code-level security and App behavior. This shows a shift toward deeper technical testing, not just policy verification.

What This Means for Users

The document does not claim NordVPN is flawless. Instead, it shows that:

• Independent experts actively try to break the system
• Problems are acknowledged and fixed
• Fixes are checked again by the same auditors

This is how security is supposed to work in practice.

The Cure53 security review confirms that NordVPN’s security claims are backed by real testing, real reports, and real fixes. When viewed alongside earlier audits by PwC and Deloitte, it reinforces the idea that NordVPN’s security posture is continuously tested, not assumed.