Getting disconnected from your virtual private network (VPN) briefly can expose your online activities and IP address to your internet service provider (ISP), websites, hackers, and other prying eyes. But VPNs with an integrated kill switch prevent this exposure by automatically blocking all internet traffic whenever the VPN connection drops.
The kill switch is an essential security feature that every privacy-conscious individual needs in their VPN toolkit. This guide will cover the best VPN services that offer robust, leak-proof kill switches to keep your data ironclad.
What is a VPN Kill Switch?
A VPN kill switch (or network lock) is designed to instantly sever your internet traffic if the encrypted VPN tunnel fails for any reason. This could happen due to:
- Unstable internet connection on your end
- VPN server going down temporarily
- Changing networks/WiFi signals
- Temporary IP address lease expiration
Without a kill switch, those moments where you’re disconnected from the VPN would leave you exposed and vulnerable to:
- Your actual IP address being visible
- Your ISP and websites seeing your browsing data
- Potential interception of unencrypted internet activities
Quite simply, it’s a potential privacy and security disaster. But a kill switch automatically kills your internet access until the VPN reconnects, preventing leaks.
Best VPNs with Kill Switch Protection
Why have we picked these three as the best VPNs with a Kill Switch?
We believe it’s important to let you know why we’ve chosen the three VPNs above as being the best for having a Kill Switch, so here’s a quick summary of why these VPNs have made it to the top of our recommendations:
1. NordVPN
Offers app kill switches for Windows and Mac plus an internet kill switch to block all traffic on VPN drop. Also boasts obfuscation technology to conceal VPN
2. Private Internet Access
The VPN kill switch is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and on their router app. It blocks access if your specific applications get disconnected from the VPN too.
3. Perfect Privacy
Customizable kill switch options, including app-specific firewall rules. It automatically handles internet traffic routing so zero data leaks occur.
These elite VPNs go the extra mile, implementing true leak protection to safeguard your data and identity when VPN connections inevitably drop. Robust kill switch capabilities combined with other security features deliver maximum online anonymity.
How to Enable the Kill Switch
Most major VPN apps have the kill switch function enabled by default, requiring no manual setup. Although many allow you to tweak custom rules in the advanced settings.
To enable the kill switch on your VPN client:
- Open your VPN desktop app of choice
- Head to the Settings tab or Preferences pane
- Look for the Kill Switch option and toggle it on
- Some may require confirming prompts to activate
That’s it! Your VPN will now automatically block web traffic if the encrypted connection fails for any reason, preventing data leaks and exposure.
Protect Yourself With a Zero-Leaks VPN
A kill switch is an absolute must-have for every VPN user who values their online privacy and anonymity. Without it, your data could be compromised the second the VPN goes down.
Prioritise VPN services that offer robust, customizable, and battle-tested kill switches to avoid any chance of data leaks. Follow the guide to find a zero-logs provider with airtight protection. After all, your privacy is worth taking those extra precautions.
