NortonVPN has rolled out a significant update to its services, introducing a suite of new features across a variety of platforms.
The VPN now supports 37 additional countries and 16 new city-level locations across all platforms, bringing the total to 66 countries and 105 locations. The increase in server locations is designed to offer users faster connections and more comprehensive access to content worldwide.
A spokesperson outlined some of the enhancements, stating, “Norton VPN plans offer more server locations, including city-level, for faster connections and content access. They also include Smart TV apps for smoother streaming and advanced servers for extra privacy. Moreover, they feature Ad Blocker, more Auto-Connect options, or manual protocol selection. The Secure VPN feature in Norton 360 focuses on online security and shares some VPN capabilities like Compromised Network Detection, Kill Switch, DNS Leak Protection, and Split Tunneling.”
Platform and device updates
NortonVPN is now compatible with Smart TVs, including Google TV and Apple TV. This update is aimed at users who consume media across a range of devices and prefer VPN protection for enhanced privacy while streaming. The addition of Smart TV apps is intended to provide users with smoother streaming experiences, benefiting from privacy and geo-unblocking features typically delivered by VPN services.
Other platform-specific additions include browser extensions and ad blockers available on both Windows and Mac. Users on Android can take advantage of a new mobile widget, with an iOS widget planned for release later in the month. The advanced region selector, designed to offer more granular control, is available on both Android and iOS. Pause VPN is now accessible to users on Windows, Mac and Android devices, giving flexibility to pause the VPN connection on demand.
Enhanced privacy
The update introduces two new privacy features: Double VPN and IP Rotation. Double VPN operates by routing traffic through two distinct VPN servers, substantially increasing the difficulty for third parties to monitor or trace a user’s web traffic as it passes through multiple points of encryption.
Double VPN works by encrypting the data between the user and the first hop, then routes the traffic through a second VPN location making it harder for third parties to intercept and trace the traffic along the network. IP Rotation automatically rotates a user’s IP address without breaking the tunnel to help prevent tracking, website blocks, and dynamic pricing. It’s an all round secure service!
IP Rotation is another new function, automatically refreshing a user’s external IP address during a browsing session while maintaining the established VPN tunnel. This measure is designed to lessen the risk of tracking, dynamic pricing, and access blocks from websites that monitor users’ IP addresses.
Security protocols and transparency
NortonVPN’s latest update also brings its proprietary protocol, Mimic, to iOS devices for situations where traditional VPN protocols might be blocked via deep packet inspection or similar measures. Mimic is not intended as a primary connection protocol, but as a fallback to maintain access to VPN services in restrictive environments.
There has been some misunderstanding of the Mimic use case in the past, so worth sharing an explainer. Mimic is different from protocols like WireGuard. It’s designed as a fallback option in cases where other protocols fail or when ISPs and other services carry out deep packet inspection on internet traffic and block access if a connection to a VPN server is detected.
The Kill Switch feature, designed to cut internet access if the VPN connection drops, is now also available on iOS. Additional resources have been rolled out to support greater transparency. These include a regularly updated Transparency Report, pages outlining the assured No Logging Policy, and a new Privacy Centre.