As internet privacy rights become more skewed, people are understandably searching for ways in which they can retain some anonymity online. A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an essential piece of software if you want to keep your online browsing data hidden from third parties and your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
VPNs encrypt users’ online activity. This is beneficial for several reasons: firstly, it prevents ISPs from storing data and creating personal profiles about users’ internet activity. Secondly, should your network become compromised and accessed by a hacker, a VPN will make your data hard to decrypt. Using a VPN means that you’re less likely to be a victim of fraud or identity theft, as you’ll always be navigating the web under a secure connection.
So, what is a kill switch, and which VPN providers have a kill switch as one of their security features? For everything you’ve wanted to know about this integral feature, here at VPNSurfers, we’ve got you covered. Show more
Any VPN provider that’s worth its weight in gold will have a kill switch. With so many free and paid for VPNs available, it can make it difficult to know which are worth using. At VPNSurfers, we believe that a product you pay for will always be better than a free one, which is why we’re steering clear of free VPNs with kill switches.
We’ve tried and tested some of the best VPN software in the industry, to compile this list of the best VPNs with a kill switch.
| Max Speed: | 115000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Ultra-fast connection
No-logs policy
5400 servers in 54 countries
Limited payment options
No Split Tunneling on desktop
Only 6 simultaneous connection
One of the most frequently asked VPN-based questions on Google is, ‘Does NordVPN have a kill switch?’ The answer is yes, and its kill switch service is available on both the mobile and desktop versions of its VPN.
If you’re looking for extra secure browsing, then NordVPN is a great choice. NordVPN has a kill switch feature that is available on its dedicated apps and clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, and Android. While the kill switch is enabled by default upon download in the iOS mobile app, users must manually activate it on other clients by visiting the settings. Luckily, Nord’s desktop clients and mobile apps are easy to use, so activating the feature is easy.
NordVPN offers fantastic overall user protection thanks to its first-rate security features. Users can enjoy secure surfing thanks to the military-grade AES-256 bit encryption. What’s more, NordVPN offers customers the choice of several protocols, including its very own NordLynx which combines security and speed.
What’s more, NordVPN offers fantastic global server coverage. You can choose from popular VPN server locations including Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Sweden, and the UK.
If you’re worried about your data being misused by NordVPN, you needn’t. NordVPN is one of the best VPNs when it comes to anonymity. It has a strict privacy policy, assuring users that it will never store information such as your online activity or IP address. We have compared it to countless privacy-friendly VPNs like CyberGhost to verify its effectiveness in guarding user privacy.
| Max Speed: | 58000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dedicated |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows |
Tons of payment options
24-hour live chat suppot
30-day money back guarantee
More expensive than competitors
Only 5 simultaneous connections
No servers in Russia
One of the best VPN companies for all-around security, ExpressVPN has an internet kill switch that is automatically enabled in its VPN applications.
ExpressVPN is a dependable VPN provider that supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and several other major operating systems. The best thing about ExpressVPN’s kill switch option, known as the Network Lock, is that users don’t need to enable the kill switch after they’ve installed the VPN. Regardless of whether you are using the mobile or desktop version of ExpressVPN, the Network Lock will be automatically activated.
Every time you connect to a VPN server, the Network Lock will be running in the background. Should your internet access drop, your wi-fi connection change, or your computer shut down, the Network Lock will kick into action and ensure your anonymity is not affected.
The kill switch isn’t the only privacy protection that ExpressVPN offers. With DNS leak-protection, industry-standard encryption, and Perfect Forward Secrecy, Express provides one of the most secure VPN services for online security. Thanks to its impressive server network, your online traffic will remain anonymous as you visit geo-blocked sites from around the world.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 13 |
| Information sharing: | 5 Eyes Member |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, ChromeOS, FireOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One |
Awesome customer support
Netflix approved
Unlimited devices
No free trial unless you buy 24 months
Limited payment options
5-eyes member
IPVanish provides users with a reliable kill switch feature that is available on both its mobile and desktop software.
IPVanish works with several operating systems, but only its clients for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android have access to the VPN kill switch. To switch it on, all you need to do is access the client or app settings and activate it.
Depending on what you need a VPN for, you can access IPVanish’s split tunneling service. This tunnels your internet traffic on certain apps or websites through an encrypted tunnel, while the rest goes through your regular ISP network. Split tunneling is a great VPN service for people who require privacy for certain online activities but don’t want to encrypt all of their online data. However, IPVanish’s kill switch will still disconnect your entire internet connection if your VPN connection drops.
A reliable provider that has impressive VPN services, IPVanish is definitely one to consider if you want to support all of your devices with a VPN that has an effective internet kill switch.
| Max Speed: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Shared |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 15 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
Full 15 Netflix Libraries
Tons of server locations
Great deal on 24 months
No Apple Pay Payment Option
Very expensive monthly
Allows P2P from all servers
With unlimited device connections available, you can guarantee that all of your platforms have a secure VPN connection at all times.
Surfshark is an impressive VPN provider, thanks to its fantastic security features that include an effective kill switch. Should your VPN server connection drop, instead of allowing your internet connection to become compromised, Surfshark’s kill switch will cut off your internet access completely.
Surfshark is compatible across all major platforms, which means you can protect all of your and your family’s devices at once. Its Windows and macOS computer clients are extremely user friendly, as is each version of its mobile applications. To activate the kill switch, all you need to do is go to the app settings and click a button to switch it on.
There is good customer support with Surfshark, in the form of a live chat and email service. Should you have any issue with its VPN apps, you can also find information, articles, and guides on the help section of the provider’s website.
| Max Speed: | 300000 Mbps |
|---|---|
| Type of IP offered: | Dynamic |
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
| Number of Netflix Libraries: | 12 |
| Information sharing: | None |
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
No-log policy
Unlimited Bandwidth
Free version available
No dedicated IP option
Only 5 simultaneous devices
Few payment options
A VPN provider that is big on security, it’s no surprise that ProtonVPN has a kill switch that is available on all of its plans.
The ProtonVPN kill switch is available for Mac and Windows. By activating this service in the client settings, should your connection to a VPN server ever go down while you are using the computer version of this provider’s VPN, your online traffic won’t be exposed and visible for ISPs and third parties to see.
Although ProtonVPN doesn’t have kill switches on its Android and iOS devices, there is the Always-on option. This feature ensures that if your device disconnects from the VPN, a secure VPN connection to a server will be established as quickly as possible. Although this isn’t as effective as a kill switch, it’s a good way to ensure your connection isn’t exposed for a long amount of time.
In addition to both of these features, ProtonVPN offers users access to its Secure Core network, which offers an extra layer of security to the VPN connection when you’re surfing the web.
When you connect to a VPN server, all of your internet data gets hidden in an encrypted VPN tunnel. This means your activity is hidden from your ISP and any spies who may access your network. What’s more, with a VPN, your real IP address and location are never revealed. This is important since every device has a unique IP address, and websites and advertising companies can collect this information to build user profiles.
Using a VPN to surf the net is, therefore, essential if you want to remain anonymous online. However, there are times when your VPN connection drops, which can sever your connection to a VPN server. This can be caused by a misconfiguration with your router, or due to a low wi-fi signal strength. Should your VPN connection drop, you’d be surfing the web with no protection, leaving your IP exposed and your device vulnerable to hackers.
When your VPN connection fails, the kill switch will kick in. If you get disconnected from your VPN, the kill switch will cut your internet connection entirely, to make sure that your traffic isn’t redirected through your regular network and you don’t continue to browse online without any form of protection. Essentially, a VPN kill switch works by blocking your internet connection until the VPN connection has been restored.
VPN kill switches are essential features for all VPN surfers. However, it’s not always apparent as to whether your VPN connection has dropped. Having a kill switch activated is integral if online anonymity is your main reason for using a VPN service.
A lot of people see the kill switch as an extra bonus feature, and not something that is essential. However, here at VPNSurfers, we feel as though kill switches are fundamental aspects of good VPN providers.
Whether you already have a VPN that you use regularly, or you’re looking to install one, you should check your settings to see whether it comes with the kill switch feature. Many providers offer this service, although it is often overlooked and not utilized by users.
There are some providers such as ExpressVPN, that have the kill switch activated upon installation. With other providers, you’ll need to enable it yourself. Assuming that your VPN has an easy-to-use app or client, you should be able to find the kill switch feature and switch it on.
Without enabling the kill switch, when your VPN connection goes down, your internet traffic will be unprotected. Your IP address won’t be hidden and you’ll be at risk of carrying out a lot of online tasks on an unsecured connection. This is dangerous if you’re sending confidential emails, carrying out banking, or torrenting.
Therefore, we can’t stress enough the importance of enabling the kill switch feature if your VPN has one. Knowing that this function is activated in the background will allow you to use the web with peace of mind, knowing that your data and IP will never be exposed should your VPN connection drop.
A VPN kill switch is a feature that cuts off your internet access if the VPN server connection drops. This ensures your data is not exposed.
No, not all VPNs have a kill switch. It is an advanced feature that only the best VPN services offer.
To activate the VPN kill switch, you need to open your VPN app or client and access the settings section. From here, find the kill switch and switch it on.
Hi there! I'm Monique, and I am a writer at VPNSurfers. I live in New York, but I'm originally from Delware. I love traveling, but the US will always be home to me.
I have more than 5 years of experience using VPNs, and I ha...
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