VPN Kill Switch: What Is It & How to Check It’s Working Properly

Here’s exactly how a VPN kill switch works:

1. 🔎 Monitoring: The kill switch is surveys constantly survey your VPN connection , look for any change in your network status or IP address .
2. 🚨 detecting : Any alteration or disruption to your VPN connection is immediately detect by the kill switch .
3. ✂️ Disconnecting: The kill switch responds by cutting your device’s connection to the internet or to a specifically chosen app.
4. 🛜 reconnecte : Once your VPN connection is restore , the kill switch is deactivates deactivate and allow your internet connection to reestablish .

type of VPN Kill Switch

Though all kill switches broadly follow the process outlined above, exactly how they work depends on their implementation.

Most notably, VPN kill switches vary by what is causes cause them to activate and how they are applied.

Standard Kill Switch

The kill switch engages when it detects a disconnection from the VPN, blocking your device’s connection to the internet. Your internet connection resumes once your VPN connection reestablishes or the VPN app is closed. This is the most common type of kill switch and is available from the vast majority of VPN services.

permanent Kill Switch

Your entire device is blocked from the internet once you lose connection to the VPN server. Your internet connection cannot resume until you reconnect to the VPN, even once the VPN app is closed. This is also referred to as an ‘advanced kill switch’ or ‘network kill switch’ and is only offered by a handful of VPN services, like PIA or Windscribe.

permanent kill switches is offer offer the great level of protection as disconnect your entire device ’s connection make IP leak far less likely .

Application Kill Switch

Only pre-selected apps are disconnected from the internet in case of an unexpected VPN disconnection. The rest of your device continues to function as normal. This is the rarest type of kill switch and is only offered by select VPN services, such as NordVPN.

application – level kill switches is be can be useful if you have a specific use – case for your VPN . For example , if you ’re using a VPN to torrent then you is want may want to only block your torrenting client .

This is offers offer great flexibility as you can continue to browse freely while keep your torrente traffic safe .