Not content with being our current choice for the best VPN provider, NordVPN has been working hard lately to protect people's cybersecurity even when they are not connected to a VPN.

One of these is its Threat Protection Pro system, a state-of-the-art tool for subscribers to Plus and Ultimate level plans, but even if you don't want to pay for NordVPN, its website has several useful services that are worth using ...

Along with a free link checker, NordVPN has added a file checker that provides additional peace of mind for the safety-conscious. Millions of people receive suspicious files and attachments via email every day, and now you can test them safely without exposing your PC to malware.

It couldn't be easier. There is no need to sign up for an account or even log in with your email address.

If you need to access a suspicious document or image, download it but do not open it. Instead, go to NordVPN's file checker, select "Add file," upload the file, and click "Analyze" to see the results. If your suspicions are confirmed, delete the file ASAP!

This is a great add-on for those who do not need to examine large numbers of files daily, and it works on both mobile and desktop. However, it may be a bit impractical for large-scale use; Vykintas Maknickas, head of project strategy at NordVPN, agrees.

"We believe that File Checker will be an invaluable tool for the Internet community to manually check files that have already been downloaded to their computers. However, if users want to check many files at once or need a file checking service at all times, they should consider using the threat protection feature."

Now, files from unknown sources can be dangerous when opened. It could be a virus or malware, or it could be part of a phishing scam designed to extract personal data.

According to Nord's own research, there are two types of files of particular concern: .exe and .zip.