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What Is a VPN Kill Switch and How Does It Protect Your Privacy?

VPN Kill Switch

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is essential for anyone who wants more security on the Internet because it addresses the top three online concerns: security, privacy, and anonymity. Along those lines, a VPN kill switch is a feature you want on your Virtual Private Network. It helps ensure your IP address isn’t accidentally and unexpectedly exposed.

After all, not all VPNs are created equal. Some VPNs have excellent security features, while others are running off outdated code with minimal security. 

For instance, what happens if, for some reason, your VPN connection were to get disconnected while you were online? Would your device continue to access the internet, broadcasting your real IP address to anyone who wants it? Or would a kill switch immediately shut off your access to the internet to prevent such security leaks. 

Here’s why that’s important to think about that:

Some VPN companies have established certain safety features that help guarantee your information will remain safe, secure and anonymous. But not all VPNs provide a kill switch. 

What is a VPN Kill Switch and why do you need one?

What does a VPN kill switch do? Well, it protects your device from accidentally broadcasting your IP address publicly. 

A VPN Kill Switch may also be called an Internet Kill Switch or a Network Lock. Whatever you want to call it, the meaning is the same. And if you want the benefits of a VPN, you really need the benefits of a kill switch, too. Without one, your VPN is only partially effective. 

A kill switch is a VPN feature that automatically disconnects your computer, phone or tablet) from the Internet if your VPN connection is interrupted.  the VPN connection is restored. With a kill switch, there’s no possibility that your IP address accidentally gets exposed. Also, you’re assured that the security and anonymity of your internet connection won’t be compromised.

Active vs. passive kill switch protocol

Active vs. passive kill switch protocol

An Active Kill Switch Protocol is designed to know when you are disconnected from the VPN service, send that information to your device, and prevent it from connecting to unsafe networks.

Here’s an example: Let’s say that you’re using a VPN while working on sensitive documents for work, and your VPN connection suddenly fails. An active kill switch instantly cuts off all internet access to your device, preventing any data from being sent over an unsecured connection. You’ll need to manually reconnect to the VPN or disable the kill switch to regain internet access.

A Passive Kill Switch Protocol, although it sounds tame, is actually more secure. The VPN application doesn’t wait to receive any information from the VPN server; but, the moment it stops receiving a signal from the server, it automatically prevents that device from sending your traffic.

How it works:  Like other VPN users, you may have set up firewall rules to only allow traffic through your VPN’s network interface. If your VPN disconnects while you’re browsing, your system won’t have a valid route to send internet traffic. This prevents VPN data leakage without actively monitoring the connection. Internet access is automatically restored when you reconnect to the VPN.

What is the best VPN with a kill switch? 

A good VPN provider will have a kill switch as a line of defense to prevent your IP address and other sensitive data from unintentionally being sent from an unsecured connection.

Here’s a look at some of the most popular VPNs with kill switches.

  1. ExpressVPN: Their kill switch feature, called Network Lock, is enabled by default. It is available using the desktop software for the more current versions of Windows and Mac. Network Lock also works with Linux through the ExpressVPN browser extension. To use a kill switch on an Android, go into your Network Protection settings, then Android settings. From there, select the option to “Block all Non-VPN traffic.” For a VPN kill switch on an iOS device, keep the default setting for blocking internet access without a VPN.
  2. NordVPN: They provide a kill switch option for mobile and desktop devices. The desktop version for Windows and Mac shuts down specified applications, whereas the mobile version for Android and iOS disables internet access across the system if the VPN connection goes down.
  3. VyprVPN: VyprVPN not only has a kill switch for Mac and Windows, but they also have detailed settings for two options: App and System. The App option means the kill switch will operate only when VyprVPN is running, denying internet use until you connect to a VPN server. The System option means that the kill switch will operate all the time, even when the VyprVPN software is not running.
  4. TorGuard: This is an “anonymous VPN” provider designed for torrent users. It offers what’s called an IP-bind kill switch, as well as DNS Leak Protection and a no-logs policy.
How to test your VPN kill switch

How to test your VPN kill switch in 6 different ways

Option 1: Disconnect your VPN

  • Connect to your VPN
  • Start a continuous ping to a website (e.g., ping google.com -t on Windows)
  • Manually disconnect your VPN
  • Check if the ping stops immediately. If it does, your kill switch is likely working.

Option 2: Force close the VPN application

  • Connect to your VPN
  • Forcibly close the VPN application (use Task Manager on Windows or Force Quit on macOS)
  • Try to access a website. If you can’t connect, the kill switch is functioning.

Option 3: Change network interfaces

  • Connect to your VPN while on Wi-Fi
  • Disable Wi-Fi and enable your ethernet connection (or vice versa)
  • Check if you can access the internet. You shouldn’t be able to if the kill switch is working.

Option 4: Use online IP/DNS leak tests:

  • Connect to your VPN
  • Visit a website that checks for IP/DNS leaks
  • Disconnect your VPN
  • Refresh the page. It should fail to load if the kill switch is active.

Option 5: Check your public IP address

  • Connect to your VPN
  • Check your IP address (use a site like whatismyipaddress.com)
  • Disconnect your VPN
  • Try to check your IP again. The page should not load if the kill switch is working.

Option 6: Monitor your network traffic

  • Use a network monitoring tool (like Wireshark)
  • Connect to your VPN and start the monitoring
  • Disconnect your VPN
  • Check if all traffic stops immediately

What to do if you don’t have a kill switch

If your VPN doesn’t have a kill switch, it may be time to switch providers. That’s especially important if you are paying for a VPN provider. That said, in the meantime, you can also “rig” kill switch protection for your VPN by trying out the following tools. 

  1.  VPN Watcher is a lightweight application that acts as an automated kill switch to prevent your running programs from directly connecting to the Internet when your VPN connection is down. It takes up less than 2MB of memory usage and nothing for CPU usage.
  2. VPN Lifeguard is a free and open-source portable program to prevent you from running applications and being unprotected if your VPN connection drops.
  3. VPNCheck comes in 2 versions: the feature-limited free version and the more robust PRO version.
  4. Windows Task Scheduler uses the built-in event-checking feature in Windows, which is more stable and barely uses any noticeable CPU or memory usage. All you need to do is create a new task that will automatically close the BitTorrent software you’re using when the operating system detects a termination on your VPN connection.

Stay safe with a VPN

Hacking a VPN server is practically impossible, so hackers may try spyware, cookies, and other malicious software and wait (and hope) for a VPN’s connection to drop. Then, they may try to mount an attack on your computer, phone, or network.

That’s why a reliable kill switch for your VPN is so important.

An effective kill switch built into your VPN software is a strong line of defense, protecting your VPN… and, therefore, protecting you.

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