If your VPN connection breaks, the VPN kill switch disconnects your device from the internet immediately. Until your VPN connection is reestablished, Kill Switch safeguards your data and privacy by preventing insecure internet connections.
VPNs provide various advantages, including the ability to access the web discreetly and securely, but even a momentary break in your VPN connection might disclose your identity. Having a standby mode that kicks on automatically if your VPN goes down is essential for keeping your online anonymity.
VPN kill switches, also known as connection kill switches, network locks, or network kill switches, are VPN features that safeguard privacy in the case of a breakdown of a private network.
What is a VPN kill switch used for?
The VPN kill switch works by continually checking your connection, identifying faults, and then shutting down your internet access until everything is secure.
1. Surveillance. The VPN kill switch regularly monitors the status of your VPN connection and its IP address.
2. Discovery. The VPN kill switch will then detect any changes that could cause your VPN to stop working properly.
3. Block. Depending on your VPN, the VPN kill switch can block specific apps or your entire device from connecting to the internet.
4. Re-Establish the internet connection. Once the issue is resolved, the VPN kill switch will instantly restore your internet connection.
VPN kill switches come in many forms, including system-level and application-level kill switches, although not all VPNs have them.
What’s the difference between them? At the system level, the kill switch completely disables all network activity. On the other hand, the application-level kill switch is more specialized. You can choose which programs or web applications to close before reconnecting to the VPN.
6 Reasons To Ditch a VPN
When entering a tunnel, losing Wi-Fi access is not necessarily the reason why the VPN is disabled. You should be aware of the following six typical reasons for disconnecting a VPN.
1. Set up a firewall or router. Your firewall, antivirus, or spyware settings may be causing you to frequently lose connection. If you see this, try disabling them. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to add the VPN to your firewall’s exception list.
2. VPN protocol. VPN Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) can be more reliable and stable than User Datagram Protocol (UDP) (UDP). Consider switching network protocols if using UDP.
3. Unstable or poor Wi-Fi connection. Your connection may drop due to poor Wi-Fi signal. If your internet connection drops, you will not be able to connect to the VPN service.
4. Overflow of traffic in the network. Your connection may be interrupted due to heavy internet traffic.
5. Internet Service Provider (ISP) Interference. Your VPN server may be down due to interference from your ISP.
6. Problems with VPN client-server communication. While VPN providers are generally safe, with multiple servers around the world, anything can break a server. You lose connection when your VPN provider’s servers go down.
What Is The Purpose of a VPN Kill Switch?
In the event of a network failure, a VPN kill switch is required to maintain the integrity of secure connections. Suppose you are connected to a network that does not have a switch and the connection drops. Your device will revert to the default public IP address whenever possible, thereby exposing your digital identity and compromising your privacy.
Because no private network connection can be 100% secure, the only proven way to maintain your anonymity and prevent your online activity from being tracked is to intentionally avoid unsecured Internet connections. The VPN kill switch hides your IP address while protecting and encrypting your sensitive data.
