If something goes wrong with your VPN server or your device, even a temporary blip, that extra layer of privacy and security is removed in an instant. Your browsing and app usage is exposed—which is probably not something you want if you’ve gone to the trouble of setting up a VPN to begin with.
A kill switch — as it does On the machinery– Turns everything off. Your internet access will be automatically cut off when the VPN connection is lost: so when you suddenly have the inconvenience of being offline, you won’t be able to send and receive data that other people will be able to access.
Without a kill switch, the site or app you’re connected to would suddenly have access to your IP address, for example, and from there perhaps your location and other information about you. The more serious your reasons for using a VPN—to avoid censorship restrictions, perhaps, or to protect sensitive information—the more important it becomes to have a kill switch in place.
How to enable a VPN kill switch
How you use the kill switch will depend on the VPN provider you choose and the features available in the software you get. Some VPNs don’t offer a kill switch, and those that do vary in whether it’s enabled by default. If this is definitely a feature you want to use, find a VPN service that offers it.
The feature should be somewhere in the settings of the VPN apps you’re using on your computer, tablet, or phone—though you may need to dig into the advanced section of the settings to find it. In the case of Proton VPN The desktop app, for example, can be found on the kill switch button the country tab on the main dashboard.
If you use NordVPN On your computer, click the gear icon on the top toolbar, then select Hit the switch From the list of options on the left. for ExpressVPN For users with 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 marked box Stop all internet traffic if the VPN suddenly disconnects.
It’s in different places for different VPN apps on different platforms—and sometimes has different names—but the basic idea is the same. Additionally, some VPNs offer a kill switch that only activates when you’re using certain programs and apps, so it’s not a blanket rule that applies to all Internet access.
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