- NordVPN has launched Message Protection for Android users around the world, adding SMS filtering to its Call and Message Protection suite.
- The tool checks incoming SMS messages from unknown senders and sends a notification when a message appears malicious or suspicious.
- Flagged texts open in a secure view that prevents links from being exploited by accident, and NordVPN says it never stores message content.
NordVPN is rolling out a message protection feature to Android users worldwide, giving users a way to detect fraudulent text messages before they become a threat. The tool automatically filters incoming SMS messages and flags anything that looks like a scam.
The feature, already made available to iPhone users in early June, joins existing call protection on a single screen. So now there is one place to manage defenses against suspicious calls and malicious text messages.
NordVPN has long been a favorite for the title of best VPN, but this update is another step in its transition to an all-in-one privacy and security app, rather than a service that simply encrypts your traffic.
Why text message scams continue to rise
According to GASA’s Global State of Scams 2025 report, SMS and text messages rank as the second most common channel used by fraudsters. The same study, which surveyed 46,000 adults across 42 markets, found that 57% had been scammed in the past year, with global losses estimated at $442 billion.
Citing the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, NordVPN says losses from text message scams reached $639 million in 2025, an increase of 36% from the previous year. Fake package deliveries, false bank alerts and unpaid toll notices remain among the most common lures.
“Text messages have always been one of the easiest ways for scammers to reach people at scale,” says Domininkas Virbickas, director of product at NordVPN. “Message protection is about breaking that chain before it starts.”
How message protection works
The feature examines every incoming SMS from an unknown sender, comparing it to phone reputation data, URL analysis and content categorization. When a message is deemed malicious or suspicious, users receive an instant push notification indicating the threat type and recommended action.
If you want to view a reported message, you can do so in a secure viewer that prevents links from being opened, and you can track the number of reported messages and calls in the unified dashboard.
The feature works silently in the background, even when the VPN is turned off, and NordVPN says it doesn’t store the contents of any calls or text messages.
How to turn it on
On a new installation, you can enable message protection during the onboarding steps. Existing users can move from the Home screen to Call and Message Protection under the Product hub, then follow the permissions setup.
NordVPN also launched Prompt Guard, a separate Chrome and Edge extension that warns you before pasting sensitive data, such as passwords or card numbers, into AI tools.
