What is VPN Kill Switch and how to set it up

If something goes wrong with your VPN server or device, even if it’s just a temporary glitch, this extra layer of privacy and security disappears in an instant. Your browsing and app usage is then exposed, which is something you probably don’t want if you’ve gone through the trouble of installing a VPN initially.

Kill switch – as in On machines– It closes everything. You will be automatically disconnected from the Internet when you lose your VPN connection: So, while you will experience the inconvenience of suddenly being offline, you will not be able to send and receive data that others will be able to receive.

Without a kill switch, the site or app you’re connecting to would suddenly have access to your IP address, for example, and from there possibly your location and more information about you. The more serious your reasons for using a VPN are — to avoid censorship restrictions, perhaps, or to protect sensitive information — the more important it is to have a kill switch.

How to enable a VPN kill switch

Kill switch option in Proton VPN.

David Nield

How you take advantage of the kill switch depends on the VPN provider you choose and the features available in the software you get. Some VPNs don’t offer a kill switch feature, and those that do vary in whether or not it’s enabled by default. If this is a feature you definitely want to take advantage of, look into a VPN service that offers it.

The feature should be somewhere in the settings of the VPN apps you use on your computer, tablet, or phone — although you may have to look in the advanced section of settings to find it. in case Proton VPN The desktop application, for example, can find a kill switch button on countries tab on the main dashboard.

If you use NordVPN On your computer, click the gear icon in the top toolbar, then choose Kill switch From the list of options on the left. to ExpressVPN For users who have the desktop client installed, the kill switch can be found by clicking the menu button (top left), then… Options and general: You can then check the selected box Stop all internet traffic if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly.

It’s in different places for different VPN apps on different platforms — and sometimes has different names — but the basic idea is the same. In addition, some VPNs provide a kill switch that only activates when using certain programs and apps, so it’s not a blanket rule that applies to all Internet access.