Imagine this: You’re sitting in a coffee shop or airport lounge, happily connected to a public Wi-Fi network. You’re tech-savvy and security-conscious, which is why you’re confidently using the protective cloak of a virtual private network (VPN) as you scroll, browse, or work remotely. Then without warning, your VPN connection drops, briefly exposing your real IP address and online activities. That’s where a VPN kill switch leaps in to help protect you. Find out how it works, why it’s indispensable, and what the different types are. Speaking of being safer and invisible online: Help shield your privacy with Avira Phantom VPN Pro.
What is a VPN kill switch?
This built-in security feature helps ensure that your device can’t connect to the internet unless the VPN is active. If your VPN connection unexpectedly drops, the kill switch automatically disconnects your computer from the internet to prevent any unencrypted data from leaking. If it didn’t “kill” your internet connection, your internet traffic would default to your regular network, leaving your activities exposed to your internet service provider (ISP), hackers, and anyone monitoring your network. Think of it as a privacy safety net or a digital emergency brake—if your VPN fails, the kill switch swiftly kicks in to help safeguard your online privacy. And it’s not just a “nice-to-have” feature: Security experts generally advise that if your VPN doesn’t include a kill switch, you should switch to one that does! Not having this “line breaker” is a deal breaker, so to speak.
If you need a reminder of why a VPN is so important, here’s how it works: A virtual private network routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a secure server in another location. This changes your device’s true IP address to the IP address of that server. If it’s in Iceland, so is your computer (at least digitally speaking, it would appear to be). Some people use a VPN to stream their favourite box sets in their hotel room when they travel. By encrypting your data and routing it through a private tunnel, a VPN also helps shield your IP address, communications, and web browsing from cybercriminals, advertisers, and other third parties who may want to snoop on you online. Find out more by reading our simple guide to anonymous browsing.
Why is a VPN kill switch important (and why do VPN disconnections happen)?
VPNs provide a layer of encryption and anonymity. Yet even the most reliable services can temporarily disconnect and during these lapses, your sensitive information—IP address, location, and browsing activity—may be exposed. There are many reasons why your VPN connection can drop, such as a popular public Wi-Fi being overloaded with too many users, your computer going to sleep, or an antivirus program or firewall interfering with your connection. You could also be jumping too quickly from one VPN server to another, or your VPN app or the VPN server you’re connected to might crash. No technology is foolproof.
While it may be annoying to miss the final episode of a nail-biting TV show if you’re using your VPN to access geo-based content, it can be downright dangerous if it fails in other instances. Imagine you’re a political activist, dissident or journalist whose safety depends on the security of their connection. Accidental leaks can cost lives or, at the very least, reveal that you’re trying to bypass censorship. Attorneys, doctors, and remote workers handling sensitive data also have critical privacy needs that their work and reputations depend on.
What if none of the above apply to you and you’re merely browsing Black Friday sales in your local coffee shop? Always use a VPN on public Wi-Fi networks (with a VPN kill switch) as these can be breeding grounds for cybercriminals eager to exploit even a brief lapse in your security and anonymity. If you’re still wondering “How many online threats can appear alongside a latte and my laptop,” consider these not uncommon scenarios: Hackers often use IP spoofing, whereby they change the source address in the header of an IP packet, so it appears to come from a trusted source. When IP spoofing is used to crash multiple servers or shut down websites, it’s called a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. A man-in-the-middle attack is another example of IP spoofing in action. Here bad actors (cybercriminals) intercept your communications to monitor what you do online, steal your personal data, or inject malware into your device. They can also set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to direct you to malicious websites that steal your credentials and personal information.
Stay safer by not auto-connecting to public Wi-Fi and avoiding sensitive activities like online banking when you use shared public networks. Also check the safety of a website by double-checking that it loads as HTTPS.
How does a VPN kill switch help protect you?
A VPN kill switch helps protect your data integrity and digital identity by immediately severing your internet access if the VPN connection is lost. No VPN, no internet. Simple. Here’s why that’s significant for your ongoing online privacy as it:
- Helps prevent exposure of your IP address: Your device’s real IP address remains hidden, even during VPN interruptions.
- Helps safeguard sensitive information: Your personal and financial data stays more secure from the sticky fingers of cybercriminals and the eyes of those trying to track you.
- Helps maintain your anonymity: If you really want to view content when you travel, it can ensure that your privacy remains uninterrupted.
How does a VPN kill switch work?
We know it kills your internet connection, but what exactly does it do? When it’s enabled, your VPN kill switch is like a bodyguard that never sleeps as it constantly monitors your VPN connection and scans for changes in your IP address or network status. If it detects a change in either, it engages and blocks your internet connection. If you reconnect to a VPN server or the VPN reestablishes itself automatically, the kill switch backs off and allows your internet connection to resume.
So, a kill switch follows the following four-step process as it:
- Observes the connection.
- Detects a change.
- Blocks some or all apps from accessing the internet.
- Restores the connection when it’s safe to do so.
Explore the types of VPN kill switches
VPN kill switches fall into two categories depending on whether they work on an application or a system level. Each type comes with its own advantages and drawbacks.
- System-level kill switches
As the name suggests, these cut all network traffic on your device system-wide when the VPN disconnects. This means that no app or program can transmit data until the VPN is reconnected.- Pros:
- Can offer more comprehensive protection across all applications.
- Helps prevent accidental data leaks.
- Cons:
- May disrupt ongoing tasks like downloads and updates.
- Pros:
- Application-level kill switches
An application-level kill switch is more selective and flexible. It allows you to specify which apps will be terminated to prevent them from sending data, while others will remain unaffected. You’ll need to choose carefully!- Pros:
- Can give you greater flexibility and productivity.
- Ideal if you only need certain apps protected.
- Cons:
- Leaves unprotected apps vulnerable.
- Pros:
Some VPNs offer both an application-level and a system-level kill switch, while others come with a single option. Remember that if your VPN kill switch isn’t enabled by default, you’ll need to go to the VPN settings and activate it. Don’t forget!
Avira Phantom VPN Pro for Windows has a kill switch that works at the operating system level and uses the industry standard AES 256-bit encryption. This makes your data nearly impossible for hackers to access.
How to enable and disable a VPN kill switch
Enabling or disabling a VPN kill switch is generally straightforward and varies depending on your VPN provider:
- Log in to your VPN app and navigate to the settings.
- Find the kill switch option. This is usually labelled “Kill Switch,” “Network Lock,” or similar.
- Toggle it on/off: Turn it on to activate, and off if you need to disable it temporarily.
Make sure that you explore these settings to match your security needs.
When should you use a VPN kill switch?
If a VPN is essential to your online privacy and the security of your web browsing and communications, then a VPN kill switch is equally indispensable. Neither are mere frills for the security-conscious or paranoid—but a necessity in some situations:
Do you use public Wi-Fi? As you’ll have realised by now, free Wi-Fi is often unsecured, making it an easy target for hackers.
Do you need to download or share files safely? Downloading files without encryption can expose your IP address to trackers. A kill switch helps guard your privacy.
Do you work remotely? Professionals handling sensitive corporate data can’t risk exposing information to competitors or attackers.
What are the risks of using a VPN without a kill switch?
If your VPN offers industry-leading encryption, the absence of a kill switch can still leave gaps in your security, possibly exposing you to several risks, including:
- Exposure of your IP address and location: Your real IP address can be visible the moment your VPN disconnects, compromising your online anonymity. If you’re thinking “So what?”, remember that every IP address is a globally unique sequence of numbers that allows websites and online services to track your location and activities. Learn how to find your IP address and what it reveals. And did you know that there are different types of IP addresses? If you’re feeling inspired (and geeky) explore public versus private IP addresses and even static and dynamic IP addresses, which offer varying security and come with their own advantages.
- Data interception and vulnerability to tracking: Without encryption, your sensitive data and browsing activities could become accessible to ISPs, hackers, advertisers, trackers, or even governments and surveillance agencies.
- Increased cyber threats: Hackers are patient and lurk everywhere, ready to exploit even brief lapses in VPN coverage to launch their attacks.
Are there downsides to using a VPN kill switch?
A VPN kill switch can disrupt whatever you’re doing online, so it might be inconvenient. If you’re only browsing, it’s simple to reconnect the VPN and reload your web page. If, however, you’re downloading a large file, playing an online game, working on an important document, or are in the middle of a video conference with your boss or a client, a VPN kill switch can be a real hassle. There are a few ways to help minimise the disruption: A reliable VPN can offer a more stable connection, so the kill switch is less likely to leap into action. And always make sure that the autosave function in any document is turned on so you’re less likely to lose your work.
Feel like an online phantom with a trusted, premium VPN
Take a stand against your activities and data being tracked and exposed online with a VPN like Avira Phantom VPN Pro with an in-built VPN kill switch for Windows devices. It helps encrypt your private data on unsecure networks and makes you virtually untraceable online. It also frees you from data limits, so it’s ideal for streaming. If you’re not ready to subscribe, try the free Avira Phantom VPN (minus the kill switch) which can encrypt your web traffic on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
A VPN kill switch is a critical safeguard for your online privacy and security. Its rather ruthless name is a great reminder to show no mercy to cybercriminals and online threats. By enabling a kill switch, you can browse, stream, and share online with even greater confidence that (hopefully) no one is watching, even if your VPN fails.