What is a VPN Kill Switch and How to Set One Up?

If something goes wrong with your VPN server or your device, even if it’s a temporary glitch, that extra layer of privacy and security is gone in an instant. what do you want if you’ve had trouble setting up a VPN in the first place?

A kill switch is how it’s done on cars– disables everything Your internet access will be automatically terminated when the VPN connection is lost. So while you have the inconvenience of suddenly being offline, you won’t be sending or receiving data that other people will be able to receive.

Without a kill switch, the website or app you’re connected to will suddenly have access to your IP address, for example, and from there, possibly your location and even more information about you , or sensitive information to protect, the more important it becomes to have a kill switch.

How to Enable VPN Kill Switch?

Kill switch option in Proton VPN.

David Neild

How you use the kill switch will depend on the VPN provider you choose and what features are available in the software you get 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 use on your computer, tablet, or phone, though you may have to dig into the advanced settings section to find it Proton VPN desktop application, for example, the kill switch button can be found on it Countries: tab on the main panel.

If you use NordVPN: on your computer, click the gear icon in the top toolbar, then select Kill Switch From the list of options on the left ExpressVPN: For users with the desktop client installed, the kill switch can be found by clicking the menu button (top left), then Options: and: GeneralThen you can check the box Stop all internet traffic if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly.

It’s in different places for VPN apps on different platforms, and sometimes it has different names, but the basic idea is the same. Also, some VPNs offer a kill switch that only activates when you use certain apps and apps, so it’s not a general rule that applies to all Internet access.