In an era when nearly everything we do involves screens, from bingeing our favorite shows to scrolling social media, NordVPN is spotlighting digital privacy. Ahead of Black Friday, NordVPN has plans discounted up to 77% off, and took to Times Square with its new “Talk to a hacker” stunt to raise awareness about internet privacy.
As part of the campaign, NordVPN showed passerbys how exposed they really were and how relying on antivirus alone is a false sense of security. Additionally, the VPN company released a new survey to show how “half-naked” users are online and why you should take simple privacy steps right now.
NordVPN’s Stunt Has Everyone Talking
NordVPN set up an interactive billboard in Times Square that let people talk live with ethical hackers. The hackers demonstrated how much personal information can be scraped or reconstructed: passwords, phone numbers, home addresses, Social Security numbers, and even the make and model of someone’s car.
The takeaway from NordVPN’s “an antivirus is only half-protection” campaign was chilling: 73% of Americans mistakenly think antivirus protects them from identity theft, guarantees online privacy, and secures them on public Wi-Fi — when in reality it does not.
NordVPN’s team — including CTO Marijus Briedis, and cybersecurity advisor Adrianus Warmenhoven — was joined by YouTuber and tech educator Liron Segev (TheTechieGuy) and used the stunt to make invisible threats visible, while promoting practical tools on their campaign page, like a Dark Web Monitor you can use to check whether your information has already leaked.
“The participants’ reactions were powerful – we saw genuine shock on people’s faces as they realized just how exposed they really were. Many were visibly stunned to learn that their current software had been giving them a false sense of security all along. That moment of surprise and realization is exactly what this campaign needed to deliver,” said Sabaliauskiene.
You can watch the reactions from Times Square at the bottom of the page.
Why Cord Cutters Should Care
In today’s digital age, cord cutters spend more time online, in apps, on smart TVs, and using free or ad-supported services. Many of those experiences depend on cookies, trackers, and third-party ad networks, and an earlier study revealed the dark side of cookie pop-ups and “Accept All” buttons. By accepting all, it can open the door to aggressive tracking and even session hijacking.
At the same time, studies find increasing public worry about online privacy and data exposure. To put it simply, the streaming habits that make cord cutting convenient also create more places for data to leak, and antivirus software alone does not stop that.
Last month, Plex urged users to change their passwords after the streaming platform suffered a data leak. Plex is one of many services that have experienced some sort of data breach in recent years, which is why cord cutters can never be too cautious online. The influx of cyberattacks poses a significant risk to users worldwide, with reports of over 16 billion usernames and passwords circulating on the dark web.
“Such widespread misunderstanding about online protection is exactly why we created this campaign,” said Toma Sabaliauskiene, CMO at NordVPN in a statement. “Americans are walking around with a dangerous false sense of security. It’s like installing a sophisticated alarm system on your front door while leaving all your windows wide open. Our Times Square experience demonstrated this vulnerability live and up close.”
Other Takeaways from the NordVPN Stunt & Study
- A large share of people overestimate what antivirus software protects them from.
- Public Wi-Fi remains a major risk (nearly 40% of people use it regularly, but only about half take protective measures).
- Data leaks are not hypothetical: roughly half of Americans have discovered personal data leaks, and many were notified by third parties or discovered breaches themselves.
- People worry most about Social Security numbers (71%) and credit card information (62%), but leaked contact details are often the first gateway to exploitation and fraud.
“While people rightly worry about Social Security numbers and credit card details, a leak of contact details is often the critical first domino to fall. This data acts as a primary tool for attackers to conduct highly targeted phishing attempts or sophisticated social engineering scams, ultimately leading to the very financial and identity theft people fear the most,” a cybersecurity expert warned in NordVPN’s statement.
How to Protect Yourself Online
Like any internet-based task, cord cutting saves money and gives choice, but can also increase exposure to trackers, cookie-based profiling, and opportunistic attackers on public networks. NordVPN’s Times Square stunt was a vivid reminder that visible protections (antivirus logos, “secure” app labels) don’t equal complete safety.
If you’re worried about your data online and want to protect yourself, there are a few simple steps to help mitigate risk:
- Don’t hit “Accept All” by reflex: Reject unnecessary cookies and limit third-party tracking in cookie dialogs whenever possible.
- Use a reputable VPN: A trusted VPN encrypts traffic on public Wi-Fi and hides device identifiers that trackers use. Popular services like NordVPN have plans up to 77% off, while Norton currently offers up to 58% off.
- Check the dark web: Use services like NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor, or Have I Been Pwned to see if your email, passwords, or other data appear in leaks.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on email, streaming accounts, and any financial services. 2FA is the single best protection against account takeover.
- Audit app permissions on smart TVs and streaming boxes — many apps request more access than they actually need.
Protect Your Privacy With NordVPN Black Friday Deal
With the NordVPN Black Friday deal, you can secure long-term protection at an elevated value. For only $2.99 per month, you get 27 months of VPN protection for a more secure browsing experience, and it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you use streaming services, travel, or connect from multiple devices, the risk profile is higher, so paying a little now for a trusted VPN can pay off in security and peace of mind down the road.
NordVPN offers comprehensive protection with 8,300+ VPN servers in more than 165+ locations, so you can get the fastest connection. Beyond basic VPN tunneling, it includes top cybersecurity features like anti-malware and ad/track blocker (Threat Protection), password manager, data breach scanner, and support for 10 devices simultaneously.
Whether you stream content from multiple regions or use public Wi-Fi, using a premium VPN helps keep your data encrypted and your signal safe. For many users, combining 2FA with a VPN and simple behavior changes is the difference between staying comfortably private and waking up to an account takeover headline.