Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are popular tools, and their best use case for most people is accessing content they shouldn’t. Behind every VPN is a set of protocols that determine how reliable your connection is when you browse. When the protocol is blocked, so goes your ability to connect securely, regardless of whether you’re using a high-end service or not.
That’s why VPN providers constantly refine their technology to stay ahead of restrictions and provide a stress-free experience. NordVPN has now introduced NordWhisper, a new protocol designed specifically for situations where your VPN gets blocked. Whatever filtered network you’re using, it disguises your traffic as regular web activity to keep you connected. Here’s everything to know about it.
What is NordWhisper, and how does it work?
In short, NordWhisper is a new VPN protocol from NordVPN designed to help people connect to the internet when normal VPNs are blocked. It’s slowly rolling out the NordWhisper protocol to users, and it’s currently accessible on Windows, Android, and Linux devices. Over time, we’ll see it on more platforms.
When NordWhisper reaches you, go to profile > settings > VPN protocol, and select NordWhisper to use it.
We saw the need for a solution for users unable to connect to NordVPN in restrictive environments. This problem often results in disrupted work and limited access to essential services. To address these issues, we developed NordWhisper — a VPN protocol specifically designed to avoid advanced network filters.
While some networks may limit what you can access, we believe everyone deserves the ability to browse freely, safely, and without interruptions. This protocol is our latest step toward enabling a more open internet.
As for why you need NordWhisper, a full explanation will benefit you. Businesses often use filters in their wireless networks to detect and block them. They can use deep packet inspection (DPI), which looks closely at the data to spot and block VPN connections, Domain Name System (DNS) filtering, which can stop access to certain websites through redirecting requests, or Internet Protocol (IP) blocking that blocks access to specific servers or addresses.
It’s a lot of technical jargon to take in. But the bottom line is that someone is working hard to keep you out for some reason.
Now, a protocol in the context of VPNs, is simply a set of rules or instructions that determine how your data is transmitted over the internet securely. Different VPN protocols use different techniques to create a safe and private connection, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
Some protocols are designed to be faster, while others focus more on providing stronger security and may be slow. So, when you use any VPN, you’re basically choosing one of these protocols, and the filters are someone’s defense mechanism.
Traditional protocols that have been around for long include OpenVPN and WireGuard. They have specific packet structures, headers, and traffic patterns that network administrators or deep packet inspection (DPI) systems can easily spot. OpenVPN, for example, typically uses the TCP port 443 that quickly gives it away.
NordVPN, on the other hand, creates a web tunnel technology to make VPN traffic look like Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) traffic and appear as though you’re just visiting a normal, secure website. HTTPS is a standard for secure web browsing, so it’s not something that gets blocked easily.
Since almost all websites use it to encrypt data and protect user privacy, blocking HTTPS traffic would mean disrupting regular internet use for nearly everyone. As your data travels through the network, Nordwhisper uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to shield it, which is the same encryption used for regular HTTPS, and the Advanced Encryption Standard with a 256-bit key (AES-256).
Related: 5 Reasons You Need A VPN
Break through network barriers without breaking the rules
As stated earlier, it’s a known habit that people use VPNs to get past censorship. Like NordVPN has stressed, nobody is encouraging illegal activity or breaking laws here. Instead, NordWhisper was designed with the intent to help you face restricted network environments and access the internet freely and securely.
It’s actually common for networks, especially public ones in airports, cafes, or hotels, to block VPNs, even if you’re not doing anything wrong. The filters they use can be overly eager to protect against potential security risks or limit the amount of bandwidth you’re using. A business could also block VPNs to prevent employees from bypassing their internal systems or to restrict access to certain types of content meant for higher-level staff.
