News JVTech How to use NordVPN well? 8 practical tips
Published on 29/11/2022 at 20:50
You have chosen NordVPN to secure your internet activity and more. If this is your first time using a VPN, here are some practical tips for using your newly created account. You will see, there is nothing very complicated.
Summary
Download the app on PC and mobileAdd the extension to your browserEnable automatic connectionOn computerOn browserOn mobilePause VPNMore protection: Double VPNEnable Dark Web monitoringEnable Kill SwitchSplit tunneling
Download the application on PC and mobile
We start with the obvious, it’s about download the application on both your smartphone and your computer. This is because the NordVPN website is mostly for viewing offers and creating an account, otherwise you won’t be able to do much there. So go to this page to download NordVPN on all the devices you want (Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android).
https://my.nordaccount.com/fr/downloads/nordvpn/
Once the application is downloaded, just log in with your credentials. You land on NordVPN’s main page: a world map that displays all available servers. It is possible to zoom with the mouse wheel to see each area in more detail. A click on a dot connects you to the server in question. You can connect up to 6 devices simultaneously.
Add the extension to your browser
A VPN extension allows you to connect to a VPN from a web browser, and activate it independently from the rest of the computer. For example, you can connect to a VPN in Japan directly on Google Chrome via the extension, and play a video game while remaining connected to France.
https://my.nordaccount.com/fr/downloads/nordvpn/
To add NordVPN extensions, it’s always with the same link above. When it’s done, a small window opens to log in with your credentials. Now you can access NordVPN directly from the top right corner of your browser.
Compatible web browsers are: Chrome, Firefox et Microsoft Edge. Please note that this is not available on Safari.
Enable automatic login
Automatic connection allows you to activate the connection to your VPN automatically when you turn on your computer or when your smartphone connects to the Internet.
On computer
From the application (here Windows), you must first:
Go to the Settings (gear at bottom left) -> General -> Launch application when Windows starts. 
Now that the app opens when you turn on your computer, the connection to the VPN must be done by itself:
Always in the Settings -> Connection -> Automatic connection. You can choose to choose based on the type of internet connection (Wi-Fi, Ethernet or mobile networks) and also select which server the VPN connects to (either the fastest or a custom server).
On browser
From the browser, just open the NordVPN extension in the top right, then select “VPN settings”. Then check the box “When launching the browser”. A section appears to choose between the fastest server or a custom server.
On mobile
Click on the small character bottom right Tap the gear at the top right Select Automatic connection Here you can choose between only “On Wi-Fi networks” or “Always”.
Further down, you can add a trusted Wi-Fi network. NordVPN will not automatically connect to this network.
Pause the VPN
Whether on a computer, on the extension or on the NordVPN mobile application, it is possible to pause the VPN connection for a specified time. So, if you need to deactivate it for only a few minutes, it can automatically reactivate after the time you have selected.
To do this, click on the “Pause” button which replaces the “Connection” button when you activate the VPN.
More protection: Double VPN
If you are looking to protect yourself even further, then you can opt for the double VPN. This function is useful for those who find themselves in a very restrictive country at the level of activity that is permitted on the Internet. NordVPN also recommends double VPN for political journalists or those wishing to protect their sources. The Double VPN will encrypt your data from a server, which will itself encrypt its data via another server.
To do this, activate the drop-down menu, then go to “Double VPN”. Click on the three small dots to view connection details. Here you can choose the fastest server or a specific country.
Enable Dark Web Monitoring
In addition to safe browsing thanks to protected and anti-tracking IP addresses, NordVPN can protect against data leaks on the Darknet. This kind of leak is much more common than you think. The Dark Web Monitoring option works in the background and does not slow down browsing.
To enable it, go to the “Dark Web Monitoring” tab. Just check the box to enable it, and from there, NordVPN takes care of everything. If ever your data is exposed, you receive an alert and you are prompted to change your compromised passwords.
Activer le Kill Switch
If you use sites or applications that you do not fully trust, then you can decide to completely cut off Internet access or completely close these applications when your VPN is not activated.
In NordVPN settings on the desktop app only, go to Kill Switch. Here you can choose when the Kill Switch will activate, but also select the applications that should be killed when the VPN is deactivated.
Split tunneling
Split Tunneling is an advanced VPN feature that lets you choose which apps need VPN protection and which can access the Internet directly. The first group enjoys the security of your VPN’s secure tunnel, while the second group enjoys faster speeds and access to local services. Available only on Windows and Android.
Settings -> Split Tunneling
