- Norton VPN has strengthened its network with new locations and P2P servers
- The provider also introduced new OpenVPN options for better speeds.
- It also released the first third-party audit of its proprietary Mimic protocol.
Norton VPN has spent most of this year playing catch-up, and its latest 2025 update is a clear statement of intent. The provider, long known for its antivirus software, has rolled out a series of significant improvements to its VPN service, aimed at giving users a faster, more flexible and even more secure experience.
As part of its final release, Norton VPN has upgraded its servers to 25Gbps in several key international locations, including New York, Chicago, London and Tokyo. For users who engage in peer-to-peer file sharing, there are five new P2P-optimized cities to choose from, ensuring better speeds and more stable connections for torrenting. The network expansion also includes a new virtual site in India and a new server in Berlin.
These network improvements are part of a broader push by Norton to be considered one of the best VPN services available. Throughout 2025, the Norton VPN team has continued to add features and improve performance, demonstrating a serious effort to compete with the heavyweights in the industry. The company’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with recent reviews highlighting a significantly improved service that is quickly closing the gap on its more established competitors.
More control, more speed
Perhaps the most important part of this update for everyday users is the introduction of more OpenVPN protocol options. Users can now choose between OpenVPN UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). For those who prioritize speed for activities like streaming, gaming, or VoIP calls, UDP is the ideal choice because it doesn’t sacrifice speed for perfect data transmission.
This follows the introduction of OpenVPN DCO support on Windows in September, a feature that very few VPN services currently offer and which promises to increase speeds while reducing latency. For activities where data integrity is paramount, such as browsing, emailing, or file transfers, TCP is actually still the most reliable option.
This level of customization is a welcome addition, however, giving users more granular control over their connection to meet their specific needs. It’s a feature that directly addresses one of the service’s few remaining criticisms: its previously mediocre OpenVPN speeds.
Future-ready security
On the security front, Norton has redoubled its commitment to user privacy throughout the year, and also reinforced this in its latest release with the first third-party audit of its proprietary Mimic protocol.
The assessment, conducted by cybersecurity firm VerSprite, found the protocol to be “zero” in terms of technical risk and privacy impact. This is a strong endorsement of Norton’s in-house technology and should give users confidence that their data is in safe hands.
Additionally, the latest version of Mimic now supports quantum-resistant cipher suites. This forward-thinking approach to security ensures that Norton VPN is ready to face the next generation of cyber threats, putting it ahead of many competitors in the race to secure user data against the powerful computers of the future. The protocol also includes stealth improvements designed to make it less likely for websites and services to detect VPNs.
This latest batch of updates for 2025 solidifies Norton VPN’s position as a serious contender in the crowded VPN market. The company has demonstrated a clear desire to address its previous shortcomings and is innovating at a rapid pace. Although it still has a way to go to topple the industry giants, Norton VPN is undoubtedly a dark horse in the race.
