It's ridiculous this is even an issue... If you can't connect to servers on launch after say like 3 attempts it should just go into an offline mode, simple as that... Why the heck does it even need a connection to launch/use.

Currently the only workaround is not use a NordVPN's app but instead use OpenVPN or routers equipped with VPN but I've yet to test this personally.

Otherwise the workaround is don't use VPN at all when using Unity which is simply idiotic, and for some people not an option.

That's absurdity at it's most

I am also getting this and the weirdness is all over the place.

I turned off NordVPN, launched Unity in offline mode, re-nabled NordVPN. Now when I even try to create something like a UI element, Unity will freeze momentarily and I get the messages:

Assertion failed: Shader Compiler Socket Exception: Terminating shader compiler process, 0 retries left
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr)

Assertion failed: Shader compiler: internal error compiling shader snippet type=0 platform=4: Protocol error - failed to read correct magic number
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr)

Shader error in 'UI/Default': Internal error communicating with the shader compiler process

Failed to get socket connection from UnityShaderCompiler.exe shader compiler! D:/Program Files/Unity/Editor/Data/Tools/UnityShaderCompiler.exe
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr)

Definitely not like this whole socket connection for things like the shader compiler!

But most of the time it is the same as the original bug: Unity freezes and crashes if I have NordVPN enabled.

What is more:
1. Run Unity (with project)
2. Then run NordVPN
3. Force Unity to refresh (eg. change some code)

Expected: Code is recompiling properly
Actual: Unity freez

Is connection really needed to recompile?