In an increasingly hostile online landscape where privacy threats and cybercrime are on the rise, Norton VPN has taken bold steps in 2025 to expand its reach from a basic bundled tool to a more robust and mainstream VPN solution. Traditionally bundled with Norton’s popular antivirus suites, Norton VPN has historically served as an entry-level option — but this year, strategic upgrades have positioned it closer to full-featured competitors.
Central to this transformation are improvements in network speed and architecture, verified independent audits, and plans to bring advanced protocols like WireGuard to Apple platforms in 2026. These efforts aim to make Norton VPN both easier for everyday users to adopt and significantly more secure, reliable, and competitive in the broader VPN market.
Network Overhaul: 25 Gbps Servers for Faster Connections
One of the standout developments for Norton VPN in 2025 was the deployment of 25 Gbps servers across major global hubs, including cities such as New York, Chicago, London, and Tokyo. These high-capacity servers significantly boost performance, helping users enjoy smoother connections during streaming, video conferencing, and general browsing — crucial for a seamless VPN experience.
Networking upgrades this robust usually come from standalone VPN providers with dedicated infrastructure. By investing in these next-generation servers, Norton is signaling its intent to support heavier traffic loads and better handle peak usage times without compromising security or privacy.
Norton’s VPN product lead stated bluntly:
“Privacy shouldn’t come at the cost of speed. We’re proving that every day — rolling out 25-Gbps upgrades in key cities, optimizing performance, and giving users a faster, safer VPN experience.”
These improvements matter, especially as streaming content, gaming, and cloud-based workflows increasingly demand low latency and high throughput.
Transparency and Trust: Independent Audits & Privacy Reinforcement
A common critique of bundled VPN services (especially those tied to antivirus brands) has been a lack of transparency or independent verification of privacy practices. In 2025, Norton moved to address this concern by subjecting its Mimic protocol — a proprietary VPN obfuscation technology — and backend systems to independent security assessments.
These audits help confirm that:
The VPN behaves as claimed under scrutiny.
Mimic successfully disguises VPN traffic to blend with normal HTTPS connections.
The service adheres to its no-logs policy and security standards.
In addition to third-party testing, Norton also updated its Transparency Report and privacy notices, emphasizing that it does not log browsing history, DNS queries, or originating IP addresses. These reporting practices align with industry standards and give users confidence that their data remains private and untraceable.
This focus on transparency places Norton VPN closer to established privacy-first services like ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, which regularly share audit results and privacy reports to build trust with users.
Access & Protocol Expansion: WireGuard on Apple Platforms
Looking ahead, Norton plans to further modernize its VPN protocols by introducing WireGuard support on Apple devices (iOS and macOS) in 2026.
WireGuard is widely regarded as a next-generation VPN protocol due to its:
Simpler, more efficient codebase than legacy options such as OpenVPN.
Potential for faster connection speeds.
Improved battery life on mobile devices due to lower overhead.
While Norton already supports WireGuard on Windows and Android, users of Apple devices have until now relied on IPSec or other traditional protocols. Adding WireGuard to these platforms will help balance performance and security more effectively and bring Norton VPN in line with competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark, which already use WireGuard extensively.
User-Friendly Protection for a Broader Audience
Beyond raw performance and security upgrades, Norton is actively making its VPN more approachable for mainstream users. The company acknowledges that average internet users — not just tech enthusiasts — now face sophisticated threats like phishing, ad fraud, and invasive tracking. By simplifying setup and reinforcing privacy protections, Norton VPN aims to become the de facto choice for everyday online safety.
This includes:
Clear privacy policies.
Intuitive interface design.
Easy connection options.
Broad device compatibility.
Such features reduce entry barriers for users who may have previously found standalone VPN apps too complex or intimidating.
Conclusion: A New Era for Norton VPN in 2026
In 2025, Norton VPN significantly upgraded its infrastructure, security transparency, and roadmap direction — all with the goal of appealing to a wider audience and addressing everyday privacy concerns. The deployment of 25 Gbps servers, independent audits, and the upcoming expansion of WireGuard support on Apple platforms highlight Norton’s intent to compete not just as a bundled extra but as a serious VPN contender.
As digital privacy continues to gain importance, Norton’s enhancements may position it well for users seeking both simplicity and robust protection, from casual browsers to more demanding use cases like remote work or global streaming.
The shift toward 25 Gbps infrastructure and verified independent audits is a pretty big indicator that Norton is trying to move beyond the ‘basic add-on’ reputation it’s had for years. I’m especially interested to see how the rollout of WireGuard on Apple devices plays out, since that’s been a missing piece for a lot of users who value both speed and simplicity. It feels like they’re finally aligning the service with what mainstream users actually expect from modern privacy tools.