Kill Switch
A VPN kill switch automatically blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops, preventing your real IP and data from leaking.
Kill Switch explained
A kill switch is a safety feature that cuts your device off from the internet the instant a VPN tunnel fails. Without it, a brief disconnect would silently route traffic through your normal connection, exposing your real IP and unencrypted data before the VPN reconnects.
Kill switches come in two flavors: a system-wide switch that blocks everything, and an app-level switch that only closes chosen applications. It is an essential feature for anyone relying on a VPN for privacy rather than convenience.
Examples
- 01Traffic freezing for a moment while a VPN server reconnects
- 02A torrent client closing automatically when the tunnel drops
- 03Blocking all connectivity until the VPN is verified up
Common use cases
Frequently asked questions
It blocks your internet access the moment the VPN connection drops, so no traffic escapes through your real, unprotected connection while the tunnel is down.
If you rely on a VPN for privacy, yes. Without one, even a momentary disconnect can leak your real IP and unencrypted traffic without you noticing.
A system-wide kill switch blocks all internet traffic on the device, while an app-level switch only shuts down specific chosen apps when the VPN drops.
No. It sits idle and only acts when the VPN fails, so it has no impact on normal browsing speed.
Network changes, switching Wi-Fi, server load, or brief signal loss can drop the tunnel. A kill switch protects you during these unavoidable interruptions.
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