| Updated: January 15, 2025
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A VPN kill switch is a crucial security feature that protects your data and maintains anonymity if your VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Running in the background, it constantly monitors your connection and instantly cuts off internet access if the VPN disconnects, only restoring it once the VPN is reconnected.
This feature is available in most modern VPNs and is especially useful for safeguarding financial data and preventing data leaks.
The kill switch operates through four steps: observe, detect, block, and restore. Its purpose is to ensure you stay secure and anonymous online, even during connection drops, making it a valuable feature for users concerned about privacy.
A VPN kill switch is an advanced security feature offered by most modern VPNs. It helps keep your data safe and your identity anonymous in case your VPN connection is dropped while browsing the internet. A VPN kill switch continuously runs in the background, examining your internet connection.
It cuts off your link with the internet when your VPN connection is dropped and restores connectivity when the VPN is back. This article will discuss everything you need to know about a VPN kill switch, how it works and what are the benefits of using a kill switch. We will also discuss different types of kill switches offered by commercial VPNs.
A kill switch is the wall of security between you and the bad guys. The easiest way to explain it is that it cuts off your device from the internet when it senses that the VPN connection is dropped. This feature is provided in most VPNs and is very useful in protecting financial and personal data online.
A kill switch kicks in when your VPN connection is dropped, and you are exposed to online data breaches and identity theft. This feature is integrated into most VPNs and works continuously behind the scenes to monitor your VPN connection.
Upon sensing a drop in your VPN connection, the kill switch will be triggered, cutting off your device’s connection with the internet. I recommend you keep the kill switch on whenever browsing the internet with a VPN.
In short, the VPN kill switch technology works in four steps:
Before answering why you need a kill switch, let me answer why you use a VPN & its benefits in the first place. You, me, or anyone else employs a VPN to hide our IP address from the public network of governments. We do that due to the nature of our job, personal preference, or maybe because we want to.
This establishes that we want to remain anonymous while we browse the Internet. Now, we come to the kill switch answer.
A kill switch helps you stay secure and anonymous online even when your VPN connection is accidentally dropped. Many people who are concerned about their online privacy benefit from this feature, and for this reason, most VPN providers now include it in their VPN applications.
As mentioned above, a kill switch keeps your data secure and identity protected while your VPN is disconnected. Here are a few use cases of kill switches that I know.
A kill switch adds an additional layer of security while using a VPN. Your online information, passwords, and other sensitive data are protected from hackers when you are using a VPN with an automatic kill switch feature.
If you are working with sensitive data or government organizations and can not afford data leaks. A kill switch is the best feature you can use with a VPN.
The loss of a social media account due to a password breach is felt for days. Even worse things can happen if the breached password belongs to your banking application or website. To avoid this, always use a VPN to encrypt your online activities and use the automatic kill switch as a backup.
Most VPN providers offer an application-wide kill switch and a system-wide kill switch, depending on your device. I checked the NordVPN application and found it offers different levels of kill switch based on your operating system.
For Windows, it provided two types of kill switches:
In iPhone (iOS) and Android, the NordVPN kill switch works system-wide and stops your device from connecting.
ExpressVPN offers the kill switch functionality ‘Network Lock’ for Windows and Mac. It detaches your system from the internet when the VPN connection is disconnected unexpectedly. You can also enable the kill switch option when installing a VPN on your router.
There are four types of kill switches.
A permanent kill switch ensures your device only connects to the internet when a VPN is active. Even if you manually disconnect from the VPN or restart your device, the kill switch blocks all internet access until a VPN connection is reestablished. This feature is only available in premium and freemium VPNs, and not offered in cracked VPNs.
A temporary kill switch stops internet access only if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly but does not activate if you manually disconnect from the VPN or restart your device. This type of kill switch is less ideal for users needing constant encryption.
An app-level kill switch disconnects only specific apps from the internet if the VPN connection is interrupted, while other apps remain unaffected. This is ideal when you are streaming or gaming that requires a continuous internet connection and doesn’t require a VPN.
We talked about a system-level kill switch offered by ExpressVPN in the beginning. It cuts off your entire system from the internet, making your data 100% secure. It will reconnect your system to the internet when the VPN connection is reestablished.
Most modern VPN providers come with the VPN kill switch feature automatically enabled. However, to be on the safe side, here are a few steps you need to follow to enable the kill switch in NordVPN or ExpressVPN.
Additionally, you should check which VPN protocol your VPN application is using to create a secure tunnel between you and the VPN server. For optimum online security, I highly recommend choosing modern VPN protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, or IKEv2.
To test a VPN kill switch, you can:
The kill switch feature is only offered in a VPN and not in Smart DNS or proxies. Here is a detailed article on the difference between VPN, Smart DNS, and proxy.
Using a VPN without a kill switch is like walking a tightrope without a safety net. You are exposed to the accidental, sudden, and unpredictable dangers of online PC & mobile data leaks and identity thefts. Therefore, I recommend keeping the kill switch always on.
There are other risks associated with not using a VPN kill switch, some of which are listed below.
| Risk | Description |
| IP Address Exposure | If the VPN connection drops, your IP address and browsing data become visible to your ISP, government, or others, leaving you vulnerable to surveillance and tracking. |
| Public Wi-Fi Risks | Without a kill switch, using public Wi-Fi becomes dangerous as hackers can exploit unprotected connections to access your data. |
| Identity Theft & Malware | Hackers can infect your device with malware and steal your personal information, leading to identity theft if your connection becomes exposed. |
| Risk of Censorship | In countries with restrictive internet laws, a kill switch prevents your IP address from being exposed, helping you avoid censorship and potential legal issues. |
Your online security also depends on the VPN protocol you are using. Don’t use PPTP and L2TP VPN protocols because they are outdated and retired by most commercial VPN providers due to security breaches.
I highly recommend using the VPN kill switch. This feature is present in all modern VPNs, and we have tested it with NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and many more.
Using a kill switch with a VPN is like adding another layer of security. If your VPN connection is terminated automatically, a kill switch will be activated, killing your internet connectivity for certain apps or complete systems.
I keep the kill switch enabled on my VPN application, saving me several times. I highly recommend you do the same.
A kill switch used with a VPN is like using the seat belts when you are driving a car. It adds an additional layer of security in case your VPN gets disconnected.
Most modren VPN providers offer a kill switch in the VPN application. We have tested several VPNs with kill switches like NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, etc.
You have to check the settings of your VPN. Generally the kill switch option is under the general settings tab.
We will not recommend doing it. However, you can disable the VPN kill switch from settings in the general settings tab.
Try disabling and re-enabling it from settings. If that does not work, try restarting your VPN client, and if that doesn’t fix it, contact your VPN provider. Check this guide if your VPN is not working and how to fix it.
As per my findings, Hotspot Shield, PiradoVPN, Proton VPN, and most free VPNs offer the kill switch feature.
I recommend avoiding this action. However, if you have other priorities in mind, you can disable the kill switch by opening your VPN app, navigating to Settings > General, and selecting the option to disable the kill switch or uncheck the kill switch box.
The exact steps may vary depending on the VPN app, but the general process remains the same.
Mustafa is a cybersecurity analyst and a co-founder of VPN for What. Since 2017, Mustafa has gained international experience, working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector as a cybersecurity and VPN expert and advisor.
