NordVPN
NordVPN is a personal virtual private network service provider. NordVPN is based in Panama. The country has no mandatory data retention laws and does not participate in the Five Eyes or Fourteen Eyes alliances. The Linux Version only use Command-line.
Contents
Create Account
In order to use NordVPN, you must create your own account on the official NordVPN website. http://nordvpn.com
There are different payment options to choose.
Installation
NordVPN can be installed with a package nordvpn-binAUR, available in the AUR.
Systemd
In order to use NordVPN. You must enable nordvpnd
service.
$ sudo systemctl enable nordvpnd.service $ sudo systemctl start nordvpnd.service
Configuration
Here are many different commands to use NordVPN.
Login/Logout
$ nordvpn login
Logs you in to your NordVPN Account.
$ nordvpn logout
Logs you out from your NordVPN Account.
Enable NordLynx
NordVPN has introduced NordLynx technology which is based on Wireguard protocol. Compared to default OpenVPN technology, NordLynx provides lower latency, higher speeds and better connection stability.
Enable it with the below command:
$ nordvpn set technology nordlynx
To see all available technologies:
$ nordvpn set technology --help
Connect to VPN
$ nordvpn connect [[country]/[server]/[country_code]/[city] or [country] [city]]
Provide a [country] argument to automatically connect to a specific country. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on Australia' Provide a [country_code] argument to automatically connect to a specific country. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on us' Provide a [city] argument to automatically connect to a specific city. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on Hungary Budapest'
Connect you to VPN.
$ nordvpn disconnect
Disconnect you from VPN.
$ nordvpn status
Shows the connection status.
Settings
$ nordvpn set protocol [protocol]
Supported values for [protocol]: TCP, UDP Example: nordvpn set protocol TCP
Sets the protocol.
$ nordvpn set killswitch [enabled]/[disabled]
Supported values for [disabled]: 0, false, disable, off, disabled Example: nordvpn set killswitch off Supported values for [enabled]: 1, true, enable, on, enabled Example: nordvpn set killswitch on
Enables or disables Kill Switch. This security feature blocks your device from accessing the Internet outside the secure VPN tunnel, in case connection with a VPN server is lost.
$ nordvpn set cybersec [enabled]/[disabled]
Supported values for [disabled]: 0, false, disable, off, disabled Example: nordvpn set cybersec off Supported values for [enabled]: 1, true, enable, on, enabled Example: nordvpn set cybersec on
Enables or disables CyberSec. When enabled, the CyberSec feature will automatically block suspicious websites so that no malware or other cyber threats can infect your device. Additionally, no flashy ads will come into your sight. More information on how it works: https://nordvpn.com/features/cybersec/.
$ nordvpn set autoconnect [enabled]/[disabled] [[country]/[server]/[country_code]/[city] or [country] [city]]
Supported values for [disabled]: 0, false, disable, off, disabled Example: nordvpn set autoconnect off Supported values for [enabled]: 1, true, enable, on, enabled Example: nordvpn set autoconnect on Provide a [country] argument to automatically connect to a specific country. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on Australia' Provide a [country_code] argument to automatically connect to a specific country. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on us' Provide a [city] argument to automatically connect to a specific city. For example: 'nordvpn set autoconnect on Hungary Budapest'
Enables or disables auto connect. When enabled, this feature will automatically try to connect to VPN on operating system startup.
$ nordvpn set obfuscate [enabled]/[disabled]
Supported values for [disabled]: 0, false, disable, off, disabled Example: nordvpn set obfuscate off Supported values for [enabled]: 1, true, enable, on, enabled Example: nordvpn set obfuscate on
Enables or disables obfuscation. When enabled, this feature allows to bypass network traffic sensors which aim to detect usage of the protocol and log, throttle or block it.
$ nordvpn set dns [servers]/[disabled]
Supported values for [disabled]: 0, false, disable, off, disabled Example: nordvpn set dns off Arguments [servers] is a list of IP addresses separated by space Example: nordvpn set dns 0.0.0.0 1.2.3.4
Sets DNS servers.
$ nordvpn whitelist command [command options] [arguments...]
Commands: add Adds option to whitelist remove Removes option from whitelist
Adds or removes option from whitelist.
$ nordvpn settings
Shows the current settings.
Server List
$ nordvpn countries
Shows the country list.
$ nordvpn cities [country]
Use this command to show cities of specific country. Example: nordvpn cities United_States
Shows the city list.
Alternative Method : connecting to NordVPN using NetworkManager
Installation
1. Install networkmanager and networkmanager-openvpn.
2. Choose an appropriate server using the NordVPN servers page : https://nordvpn.com/servers/ Download the corresponding openvpn configuration file on the NordVPN site : https://nordvpn.com/ovpn/ Save the file to a place in your user home directory or elsewhere that is memorable for future access.
Configuration
1. Right click on the NetworkManager applet from your desktop environment, and click Edit Connections. Click the Plus sign in the bottom left corner of the Network Connections window that appears.
2. When you choose a connection type, click the drop down menu and scroll all the way down until you reach "Import a saved VPN configuration". Select that option. Now, click Create.
3. Navigate to the directory you extracted all of the openvpn files to earlier, then open one of the files from that folder. Generally speaking, you will want to open the file that is associated with the connection you specifically want.
4. After you have opened one of the openvpn files, the window that appears should be "Editing <connection type>". Type in your NordVPN Username and Password. There is an icon in the password box indicating user permission of the credentials; change the settings as you wish ("Save for all users" if you don't want to enter your password every time you connect).
Avoid DNS leak
To prevent DNS leak you must :
1. click on the "ipv4 settings"
2. On method : choose "automatic adresses only (VPN)" and manually enter the NordVPN DNS adresses in "DNS servers" : "103.86.96.100, 103.86.99.100" (Separated by a coma)
3. Click Save at the bottom left of the "Editing <connection type>" window.
Automatic connection to the VPN
1. Right click on the NetworkManager applet from your desktop environment, and click Edit Connections.
2. Double click on the ethernet or Wifi connection for whom you want to automatically connect to the VPN
3. On the "General" tab, click on "Automatically connect to VPN when using this connection" in every connection you want, and choosing the right configuration file.
4. Repeat the operation for the other connections you'll use with the VPN.
Disable ipv6
NordVPN is not ipv6 compatible. You may want to completely disable it.
Or you can also :
1. Right click on the NetworkManager applet from your desktop environment, and click Edit Connections.
2. Double click on the ethernet or Wifi connection for whom you want to automatically connect to the VPN
3. On the "ipv6" tab, choose "ignore" in the method box.
Use a killswitch
The NordVPN killswitch won't work with this method, you'll have to create your own using ufw or iptables.
Here is an example with UFW.
Test your configuration
You can use these site :