Introduction
The search results safety indicator, a feature of Threat Protection Pro™, adds safety icons next to links in your search results. It helps you instantly identify and avoid dangerous websites directly from the search page on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo before you even click.
How does the search results safety indicator work?
- Visual safety cues – Displays clear icons next to each search result—green for safe and red for potentially dangerous—so you can browse with confidence.
- Pre-emptive threat analysis – Checks links against blocklists, phishing activity, and poor domain reputation to flag risks before you visit a page.
- Detailed warnings – Allows you to hover over a warning icon to see why a site was flagged (e.g., malware, scams) and gives a final alert if you proceed to a risky site.
- Multi-engine support – Works seamlessly across popular search engines, including Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.
Requirements
Ensure that you have the NordVPN Plus or Ultimate subscription active and that the NordVPN application is installed on your macOS or Windows device.
Here's what to do
- Open the NordVPN app.
- Click the shield icon on the left side of the NordVPN application.
- Click "Advanced browsing protection."
- Enable the "Search results safety indicator" by clicking the toggle.
Additional tips
- Hover over a red warning icon to get more details on why a site was flagged as unsafe.
- Even with a green light, quickly check the URL for misspellings of well-known brands.
- Remember that a padlock (HTTPS) indicates an encrypted connection, but it does not guarantee the website itself is trustworthy.
