Norton VPN gets even faster thanks to DCO boost
Nothing ruins streaming, gaming, or workflows faster than a VPN that can’t keep up. That’s why the latest Norton VPN update for Windows is built to deliver faster speeds without sacrificing security. How? We’re turning up the dial with Data Channel Offload (DCO) for the OpenVPN protocol. Keep your connection smooth, private, and protected.
Our old friend, OpenVPN. Trusted, secure… sometimes slow
There’s a reason why OpenVPN is one of the most widely used VPN protocols. As well as delivering strong encryption to keep your data secure, it works reliably across a wide range of devices and network types.
But its hallmark reliability can come at the cost of performance. Because OpenVPN runs entirely in software, speeds can drop during high-volume or high-speed use. Your connection stays secure, but it may not feel as snappy as you’d like.
Meet Data Channel Offload (DCO) for OpenVPN
By integrating DCO with OpenVPN on Windows, Norton VPN has achieved game-changing performance improvements. It boosts speeds by shifting intensive encryption and decryption processing from software into the kernel — the part of your PC’s operating system that communicates directly with your hardware.
In simple terms, DCO:
- Eliminates extra steps in the encryption process.
- Utilizes system resources more efficiently.
- Delivers the same level of security, but with faster speeds.
It’s like leaving a crowded city street for a high-speed express lane. Same destination, far less congestion.
“With the implementation of Data Channel Offload for OpenVPN, key data-handling tasks shift to the operating system’s kernel, reducing processing overhead. This preserves the strong encryption and privacy our users expect, while delivering major performance gains, especially for bandwidth-heavy activities like 4K streaming and large file transfers.”
— John Mah, Technical Director, Norton.
Why DCO means a faster Norton VPN
DCO speeds up Norton VPN for Windows by making OpenVPN much more efficient. When you switch to the OpenVPN protocol with DCO, you’ll enjoy:
- Faster speeds for streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
- Lower latency, making video calls feel more natural.
- More efficient performance that puts less strain on your CPU.
For everyday VPN users, DCO means less waiting and more doing — smoother browsing, faster downloads, and a more seamless online experience.
“OpenVPN is one of the most established open-source protocols, trusted for its maturity and broad compatibility. With the addition of Data Channel Offload, Norton VPN customers get the same reliable security on Windows they expect, now with noticeably faster speeds that make everyday online activities smoother and more enjoyable.”
— Himmat Bains, Norton VPN Product Lead.
Norton VPN speeds: before and after
We ran internal speed tests comparing Norton VPN on Windows with and without DCO on OpenVPN, measuring performance both on local connections and across global servers.
The results revealed a dramatic boost with DCO enabled: connection speeds more than doubled, and latency fell by 15%.1
In multiple real-world scenarios, you can expect noticeably faster downloads and more consistent speeds, even under heavier loads such as 4K streaming.
Speed you’ll notice, privacy you can trust
Privacy or performance? With Norton VPN, you don’t have to choose. Thanks to DCO for OpenVPN, you now get the same trusted protection with even faster, more stable connections.
We’re rolling out DCO to existing Windows users over the next few weeks. New customers will get the upgrade right away, and current users can unlock it by updating to the Norton VPN app for Windows v25.8 or higher.
Ready to feel the difference? Start your free trial of Norton VPN for Windows today and enjoy faster, more private, and less restricted browsing.
1 Based on internal testing. Speed and latency improvements vary based on server distance.
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