- NordVPN Call Protection is now available on Android in the UK and Canada
- The tool identifies potential scam calls and warns the user before they respond
- NordVPN is ready to expand support to iPhones, while adding additional features
As part of a significant expansion of its security features, NordVPN has launched its Call Protection tool for Android users in the UK and Canada.
The move continues to expand the provider’s security posture beyond internet browsing and directly into combating the growing epidemic of phone scams, making it a more comprehensive choice for users looking for the best VPN that also protects against broader threats.
First introduced to users in the United States in July, NordVPN’s call protection aims to give users a crucial early warning. It works by identifying suspicious numbers and alerting the recipient of a potential scam attempt before they even pick up the phone.
This preemptive warning gives the user vital context, making them less likely to fall for social engineering tactics that can lead to devastating financial losses or identity theft.
With the new version, the company has also renamed the feature from “fraudulent call protection” to the more comprehensive “call protection”. This reflects a broader ambition to go beyond just detecting scams and provide users with more detailed information about who is calling.
A global solution to a global problem
This expansion comes at a critical time, as telephone fraud continues to inflict enormous financial damage on a global scale.
According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), UK residents lost around £11 billion to scams in 2024, with phone calls accounting for 60% of these schemes. The situation is equally dire in Canada, where the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center reports that citizens have already lost CA$544 million this year, quickly approaching the total of CA$645 million for all of 2024.
It is against this backdrop that NordVPN’s call protection is designed to be a powerful tool in a user’s security arsenal, while reinforcing NordVPN’s ongoing commitment to comprehensive digital security – which echoes AV-Comparatives’ recent certification for its Threat Protection Pro feature.
“Scam calls are a global problem that requires a global solution,” said Domininkas Virbickas, director of product at NordVPN. “By extending call protection to the UK and Canada, we are taking another step towards our goal of making phone communications safer and more transparent for users around the world.”
Privacy First and Future Plans
One of the key aspects of the call protection feature is its privacy-focused design.
NordVPN emphasizes that the tool works by analyzing call patterns and metadata to identify potential scams, without ever accessing or listening to the content of the conversations themselves. Most importantly, it does not require an active VPN connection to work.
Setting up the feature is a simple process in the NordVPN Android app. Users navigate to the “Threat Protection” tab and enable the feature, after which the app guides them through the necessary Android permissions updates. Once activated, it provides real-time alerts without any further user intervention.
Expansion into the UK and Canada is just the next step in a broader roadmap. NordVPN has confirmed plans to launch call protection for iPhone users and roll it out to more countries.
Other improvements are also on the way, including a more advanced caller ID system for legitimate businesses, like healthcare providers and financial institutions, and a user reporting system that will allow users to report suspicious numbers, helping to strengthen the scam database for the entire community.
If you’re not yet a NordVPN subscriber, now is as good a time as any to become one, as the provider has already slashed prices with an early Black Friday VPN deal. Here are all the details:
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