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If something goes wrong with your VPN server or your device, even if it’s a temporary blip, that extra layer of privacy and security disappears in an instant. Your browsing and app usage are then exposed, which is probably not something you want if you’ve taken the trouble to install a VPN to begin with.
A kill switch – like on the machine– close everything. Your Internet access will be automatically cut when the VPN connection is lost: So, while you have the inconvenience of being suddenly offline, you will not be sending and receiving data that other people will be able to reach.
Without a kill switch, the site or app you are connected to would suddenly have access to your IP address, for example, and from there maybe your location and more 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 activate a VPN Kill Switch
How to use a kill switch will depend on the VPN provider you choose and the features available in the software you have. 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, although you may have to dig into the advanced settings section to find it. In the case of the Proton VPN desktop app, for example, the kill switch button can be found on the The countries tab on the main dashboard.
If you use NordVPN on your computer, click on the gear icon on the top toolbar, then select Kill Switch from the list of options on the left. In order ExpressVPN 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 disconnects unexpectedly.
It’s in different places for different VPN apps on different platforms – and sometimes has different names – but the basic idea is the same. In addition, some VPNs offer a kill switch that is only activated when you are using certain programs and apps, so it is not a general rule that applies to all Internet access.
