Faster OpenVPN, P2P on every server, and fewer commands: NordVPN 6.0 lands on Linux

NordVPN has released version 6.0.0 for Linux, introducing a range of improvements and changes. Obfuscated servers are now running on NordWhisper protocol, replacing the previous OpenVPN XOR. This automatic obfuscation means the command nordvpn set obfuscate is no longer needed. OpenVPN has been upgraded to version 2.7.7, and Data Channel Offload (DCO) now functions out-of-the-box on newer Linux kernels (6.16 or higher).

This offloading technique improves performance by allowing OpenVPN's data handling to be managed directly by the Linux kernel, rather than through slower kernel-user space transfers. The P2P server group has been discontinued, as now every standard server supports P2P functionality, enabling users to select a location directly. Additionally, legacy commands such as threatprotectionlite, tplite, tpl, and cybersec have been retired, and real-time protection can now be enabled using nordvpn set protection on.

The auto-connect feature has also been updated, no longer targeting specific server numbers but instead allowing users to choose by country, city, server group, or the fastest server available. Other fixes include improved LAN discovery with multicast and SSDP support, as well as enhancements to the tray Pause menu in Linux Mint. Users should review their scripts before updating due to these changes.