Connection timeouts can occur for various reasons, including ISP outages, changes in network connection (e.g., switching from Wi-Fi to mobile), or issues with an upstream provider. When connectivity is restored, your device may reconnect to the internet before the VPN reconnects, which can briefly expose your traffic and reveal your real IP address.
To prevent this from happening, Private Internet Access (PIA) includes a feature called VPN Kill Switch. Read on to learn what it does and how to use it.
Jump to…
What does the VPN Kill Switch do?
What does the VPN Kill Switch do?
PIA’s VPN Kill Switch protects your privacy in situations where the VPN disconnects by blocking your internet connection until the VPN connection is restored.
PIA’s Windows app includes a feature called Advanced Kill Switch, too. Instead of reacting to unexpected VPN disconnections, it makes a VPN connection a requirement for internet access. It works even when the PIA app is closed.
Enable the VPN Kill Switch
PIA’s VPN Kill Switch is enabled by default, so no additional setup is required.
To enable the Advanced Kill Switch:
-
In the PIA client app, click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the upper-right corner.
-
Select Settings.
-
Go to the Privacy tab and enable Advanced Kill Switch.