NordVPN takes on phone scammers with new call protection feature for the UK and Canada

  • NordVPN’s call protection is now available on Android in the UK and Canada
  • The tool identifies potential scam calls and warns the user before they answer
  • NordVPN is set to expand support to iPhones, while adding extra features

In a significant expansion of its security features, NordVPN has launched its call protection tool for Android users in the UK and Canada.

The move keeps extending the provider’s security umbrella beyond internet browsing and directly into the fight against the growing epidemic of phone scams, making it a more comprehensive choice for users looking for the best VPN that also protects against wider threats.

First introduced to users in the US in July, NordVPN’s call protection aims to give people 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 pre-emptive warning gives the user vital context, making them less likely to fall for the social engineering tactics that can lead to devastating financial loss or identity theft.

With the new release, the company has also rebranded the feature from “scam call protection” to the more encompassing “call protection.” This reflects a broader ambition to move beyond simple scam detection and provide users with more detailed information about who is calling.

A global solution to a global problem

NordVPN's call protection feature on Android phone

(Image credit: NordVPN)

The expansion comes at a critical time, as phone-based fraud continues to inflict staggering financial damage on a global scale.

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), UK residents lost an estimated £11 billion to scams in 2024, with phone calls accounting for a massive 60% of these schemes. The situation is similarly dire in Canada, where the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that citizens have already lost C$544 million this year, fast approaching the C$645 million total for all of 2024.

It’s in this context 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 safety − something that echoes recent AV-Comparatives certification for its Threat Protection Pro feature.

“Scam calls are a global problem that requires a global solution,” said Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN. “By expanding call protection to the UK and Canada, we’re taking another step toward our goal of making phone communication safer and more transparent for users worldwide.”

Privacy-first protection and future plans

One of the key aspects of the call protection feature is its privacy-first 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, does not require an active VPN connection to work.

Setting up the feature is a simple process within the NordVPN Android app. Users navigate to the “Threat Protection” tab and toggle the feature on, after which the app guides them through the necessary Android permission updates. Once enabled, it provides real-time alerts without any further user input.

The expansion to the UK and Canada is just the next step in a broader roadmap. NordVPN has confirmed it plans to launch call protection for iPhone users and roll it out in more countries.

Further enhancements are also in the pipeline, including a more advanced caller ID system for legitimate businesses, like healthcare providers and financial institutions, and a user reporting system that will allow people to flag suspicious numbers, helping to strengthen the scam database for the entire community.

If you are not a NordVPN subscriber just yet, now it’s the most convenient time to become one, as the provider has already slashed its prices with an early Black Friday VPN deal. Here are all the details:

NordVPN Basic: $3.39 $2.99/month + 3 months free
NordVPN has gone early for Black Friday 2025. It’s knocked the price down across all of its 2-year plans. For us, the best bargain is NordVPN Basic for under $3 . We think NordVPN is the best VPN overall. Here’s what you get with NordVPN Basic:

Choose servers in over 126 countries
♾️ Unlimited data use
Connect from 10 devices at the same time
Blocks ads, malicious domains, and scam callsView Deal

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

Read more @ TechRadar

Latest posts

Apple is turning Siri into an AI bot that’s more like ChatGPT

Apple is planning a big Siri overhaul that will transform the voice assistant into an AI chatbot built directly into its iPhone and Mac,...

Anthropic’s new Claude ‘constitution’: be helpful and honest, and don’t destroy humanity

Anthropic is overhauling Claude's so-called "soul doc." The new missive is a 57-page document titled "Claude's Constitution," which details "Anthropic's intentions for the model's...

Apple is reportedly working on an AirTag-sized AI wearable

Apple is working on an AI-powered wearable pin with cameras and microphones designed to pick up a user's surroundings, according to a report from...

Everyone can hear your TV in their headphones using this transmitter

Sennheiser’s new Auracast transmitter can be purchased as part of a bundle with its new wireless headphones. | Image: Sennheiser As we've previously lamented, one...

Blue Origin’s Starlink rival TeraWave promises 6 terabit satellite internet

The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off at Launch Complex 36 in its second launch attempt at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on...

Apple is reportedly developing a wearable AI pin

Apple will reportedly try to succeed where Humane failed (miserably). On Wednesday, The Information reported that the iPhone maker is working on an AI...

Apple is reportedly overhauling Siri to be an AI chatbot

Apple has been spinning its wheels for many months over its approach to artificial intelligence, but a strategy finally appears to be emerging for...

Marshall’s new Heddon hub adds multi-room audio to speakers with Auracast

Marshall plans to add seamless multi-room audio to its Bluetooth speakers via a newly announced music streaming hub called Heddon. The $300 hub makes...

A new LinkedIn phishing scam is targeting executives online – make sure you don’t fall for this

Sophisticated LinkedIn phishing uses fake job ads to target executives Attacks employ DLL sideloading and Python tools to install remote access trojansReliaQuest warns phishing...

Report: Apple does about-face on Siri chatbot — and it might compete directly with ChatGPT and Google

Apple promised us this was never the plan...until we guess, it became the plan: A new report from Apple soothsayer Mark Gurman says Apple...