Enabling Threat Protection Pro™ on macOS

What is Threat Protection Pro™?

Threat Protection Pro™ is a special NordVPN feature that automatically blocks ads, trackers, and malicious URLs. When you visit a website known for scamming people, this feature displays an in-browser alert to warn you about possible fraud. Threat Protection Pro™ also scans downloads for malware and checks your apps for security vulnerabilities. Available with selected NordVPN plans, Threat Protection Pro™ can work without an active VPN connection.

How to use Threat Protection™ on macOS?

Threat Protection Pro™ is only available with selected NordVPN plans. 

To use Threat Protection Pro™ on your macOS device, follow these steps:

1. Download NordVPN’s macOS version.
2. Log into NordVPN app.
3. Click on the shield icon on the left side menu and activate Threat Protection Pro™.

If you already have NordVPN on macOS but cannot find Threat Protection Pro™, you are probably using the App Store version. In that case, follow these instructions:

1. Remove the NordVPN app from your device. Here’s how: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mh35835/mac.
2. Download NordVPN’s macOS version from our website.

Setting up Threat Protection Pro™ on macOS

1. Open the NordVPN application and click on the shield icon in the left bar.
   
   
    
2. Click Turn on in the Overview tab.
   
   
    
3. You’ll see a window with the steps for activating Threat Protection Pro™. Click Open System Settings. 
   
   
   
   Note: if the Threat Protection Pro™ extension is not yet enabled, a window will inform you that the extension is blocked:
   
   Alternatively, do it manually by clicking on the Apple Menu in the upper left corner and clicking on System Settings… .On macOS Monterey and older versions: Open Privacy Preferences.
   
   
    
4. Once you are in System Settings, head to Privacy & Security and click Allow under System software from application “NordVPN” was blocked from loading:
   
    
5. Confirm this action by typing in your computer’s password and clicking Update Settings.
   
    
6. Go back to the onboarding page and click Continue.
   
   
    
7. Choose if you want Threat Protection Pro™ to deep-scan files for malware. You can close this window.
   
   
   You have successfully enabled Threat Protection Pro™ for NordVPN on macOS. 
   
   
8. To pause or disable Threat Protection Pro™, click the Pause button and select the option you prefer.
   
   
    

Enabling cloud-based threat scanning for malware in files

We recommend enabling cloud-based deep threat scanner to protect your devices from malware. There are a couple of ways to do so: 

1. In the onboarding widget, mark Deep-scan files for malware and click Open System Settings.
   
   
   
   Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and click on the toggle icon next to NordVPN Threat Protection Pro™.
   
   
   
   If you’re using macOS Monterey version or older — go to Security & Privacy, select Full Disk Access in the left panel, and click on the lock icon at the bottom.
   
   
   
   

You’ve successfully set up the cloud-based deep threat scanner function. 

To turn on the cloud-based threat scanner for malware, go to the NordVPN app > Threat Protection Pro™ > Settings and click the toggle next to Cloud-based threat detection.



You’ve successfully enabled the cloud-based deep threat scanning for malware detection.