NordVPN rolled out a new protocol this week designed to help users bypass increasingly sophisticated VPN blocks by making their encrypted connections look like ordinary web traffic.
The protocol, called NordWhisper, comes as VPN providers face mounting pressure from governments and network administrators trying to restrict access to outside information. It uses web tunnel technology to blend in with regular internet activity, making it harder for advanced filtering systems to detect and block VPN usage.
Human rights organizations have been documenting rising VPN restrictions in multiple countries for years, with some governments implementing sophisticated detection systems to identify and block VPN traffic.
For example, Decrypt reported last month that Russia was testing a system capable of cutting off access to the global internet. According to reports, the idea was to beat even the most important VPN protocols and obfuscation techniques, with a first successful test in the regions of Chechnya and Ingushetia.
Also, last year, the government of Brazil imposed a ban on X after the company refused to comply with local regulations. The Supreme Federal Court ordered fines of nearly $9,000 per day to those who access the platform, even through VPNs.
“NordWhisper is designed specifically to allow users to connect to VPN servers from networks that usually limit traditional VPN traffic,” NordVPN said in a blog post announcing the protocol. The company said it developed the protocol after seeing users struggle with disrupted connections and limited access to essential services in restricted environments.
The new tool targeted specific scenarios where traditional VPN protocols failed. These included public WiFi hotspots with security filters at airports, cafes, and conferences, as well as other locations with managed internet access where VPN traffic faced sophisticated blocking attempts.
Some of the most-adopted VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard had distinct traffic signatures that network filters could identify. OpenVPN offered high configurability and AES-256 encryption, but couldn’t always hide its presence. WireGuard’s minimal codebase enhanced security, but still left detectable patterns.
NordWhisper takes a different approach, camouflaging itself as regular browsing data.
“Essentially, it blends in with ordinary internet activity, providing users with a reliable way to browse on restricted networks while maintaining the same strong encryption and security as other VPN protocols,” NordVPN said.
This stealth came with tradeoffs. NordWhisper ran slower than traditional protocols due to its traffic masking techniques. The company recommended users stick to standard protocols on unrestricted networks where speed mattered more than avoiding detection.
Decrypt tested the new protocol and there was a noticeable decrease in the download speeds. Using the same Speedtest.net server, a VPN connection under NordWhisper registered 423 Mb/s for download and 251 Mb/s for upload. However, letting the system choose the best protocol (usually NordVPN’s proprietary protocol, Nordlynx) registered 509 Mb/s for download and 278 Mb/s for upload.
Though there is actually a decrease in speed, that shouldn’t affect the normal usage unless you’re moving a lot of data. Streaming and gaming work fine on average connections.
Compared to other circumvention tools, NordWhisper struck a balance between usability and privacy. The Tor network provides better anonymity by routing traffic through multiple servers, but is too slow for streaming or real-time applications. Shadowsocks, another lightweight obfuscation alternative, requires extra configuration for proper encryption.
NordWhisper maintains strong encryption by default while focusing on accessibility—being overall less secure than Tor, but a lot more efficient and probably just as effective for a normal user.
The company began rolling out NordWhisper first on Windows, Android, and Linux platforms. Users can find the new protocol as a selection option within their VPN connection settings. Support for additional platforms is planned for future releases.
NordVPN emphasized that it would continue improving the protocol as network filtering technologies evolved. The company also included a clear disclaimer about legal compliance, noting they didn’t support or encourage any illegal activities through NordWhisper or other protocols.
Latest testing showed NordWhisper successfully bypassed most current-generation filters while maintaining encryption strength comparable to standard VPN protocols.
“The landscape of network filtering is constantly evolving,” NordVPN noted in its announcement. The company committed to making NordWhisper “smarter, faster, and more secure to keep up with these changes.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
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