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If something goes wrong with your VPN server or your device, even if it’s a temporary issue, that extra layer of privacy and security is gone in an instant. Your browsing and app usage is then exposed, which is probably not something you want if you’ve gone to the trouble of installing a VPN to begin with.
An off switch, like you do in machinery—turn everything off. Your Internet access will be automatically cut off when the VPN connection is lost: so, while you will have the inconvenience of suddenly being disconnected, you will not be able to send or receive data that other people can access.
Without a kill switch, the site or app you’re connected to would suddenly have access to your IP address, for example, and from there perhaps to your location and more information about you. The more serious your reasons for using a VPN are (to avoid censorship restrictions, perhaps, or to protect sensitive information), the more important it will be to have a kill switch.
How to enable a VPN kill switch
How you use a kill switch will depend on the VPN provider you choose and the features available in the software you get. Some VPNs don’t offer a kill switch, and those that do vary as to whether it’s enabled by default. If this is definitely a feature you want to use, look for 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 look in the advanced section of settings to find it. In the case of Proton VPN desktop application, for example, the shutdown button can be found on the Countries tab on the main panel.
if you use NordVPN on your computer, click the gear icon in the top toolbar, then choose off switch from the list of options on the left. For 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. Additionally, some VPNs offer a kill switch that activates only when you’re using certain programs and apps, so it’s not a general rule that applies to all Internet access.
