Kill Switch is a VPN feature that immediately blocks all Internet traffic if the VPN connection is interrupted. It can also prevent the device from accessing Internet resources until the VPN connection has been successfully established.
Why Is a Kill Switch Used?
By blocking Internet traffic whenever the VPN connection is unavailable, a Kill Switch prevents the device from falling back to its regular Internet connection. This helps prevent your real IP address from being exposed to websites, online services, or other third parties.
Once a new secure VPN connection has been established, Internet access is restored and you can continue using online services normally.
How to Use a Kill Switch
A Kill Switch can be implemented in different ways. For example:
- in VPN applications provided by VPN services, as a dedicated switch or checkbox. The name of the option may vary between providers;
- in recent versions of Android, through the system VPN settings. Depending on the device and Android version, the option may be called Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN. The exact menu path may vary between devices.