ExpressVPN Adds Web Protection to Browser Extension
The feature blocks known malicious, phishing and scam websites in real time, even when the VPN is not connected.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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ExpressVPN has added Web Protection to its browser extension, which blocks known malicious, phishing and scam websites in real time. The feature is available at no extra cost on the Basic, Advanced and Pro plans, and to users of ExpressVPN for Teams.
Why it matters
Threats appear during everyday browsing, where links in search results, adverts or messages can send users to fake login pages or scam storefronts. Because the protection works inside the browser, it operates even when the VPN is switched off.
Web Protection works inside the browser rather than at network level and can inspect the full web address of a page, with support for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave and other Chromium-based browsers. The extension also includes Smart Routing, WebRTC leak protection and HTML5 geolocation spoofing, though no detection statistics were disclosed.
The players
ExpressVPN
A virtual private network provider founded in 2009 and acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021, known for consumer privacy and security software.
The details
When a page begins to load, the tool checks it against updated lists of known malicious, phishing and scam sites; if a match is found, the page is withheld and a warning screen appears explaining what was stopped and why. Users can also build their own block and allow lists for domains.
Timeline
ExpressVPN introduced its hybrid browser extension earlier in 2026.
Web Protection was added to the extension on November 5, 2026.
The Tech Race
The move places ExpressVPN's hybrid browser extension within the broader shift of VPN providers toward in-browser security layers that operate on Chromium-based browsers rather than only at network level. It positions the company alongside browser-native and extension-based phishing defenses across the Chrome, Edge and Brave ecosystem.
Users on the Basic, Advanced or Pro plans, or on ExpressVPN for Teams, can use Web Protection at no added cost by installing the browser extension. The feature warns about fake login pages and scam storefronts during routine browsing, including when the VPN is disconnected.
The takeaway
Enabling browser-level protection can catch phishing and scam pages before they load, which matters most when a VPN is not running. Checking that your browser extension is active is a simple step for everyday safety.
Further reading
Explore more stories in the Cybersecurity section for context on how browser-based threats are being addressed.
Live Poll
Do you feel safe from online scams when you browse the web?
