Internet Kill Switch
If your VPN connection drops, a kill switch helps stop traffic from leaving your device unprotected — so you're not accidentally exposed.
Designed for stability, built for moments when networks aren't.
What is a VPN kill switch?
A kill switch is a safety feature that blocks internet traffic if the VPN disconnects unexpectedly. Without it, your device may automatically fall back to your regular, unprotected connection, revealing your IP address and browsing activity to the local network.
This can happen during Wi-Fi handoffs, network congestion, or when your device wakes from sleep. Even brief disconnects can expose sensitive information.
A kill switch helps keep protection consistent during drops, reconnects, and network changes, reducing the window of exposure.
A kill switch helps protect:
- Your real IP address
- Location signals based on IP
- Traffic exposure on public networks
- Sensitive activity during reconnects
Why a kill switch matters for privacy
VPN connections can drop due to Wi-Fi handoffs, congestion, restrictive networks, or sleep/wake states. Even short disconnects can expose your IP address and unencrypted traffic to the network.
A kill switch reduces that risk by blocking traffic until the VPN tunnel is re-established, helping keep your connection consistent.
Common situations where a kill switch helps
- Public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, and cafés
- Commuting and switching Wi-Fi ↔ mobile data
- Streaming sessions that reconnect in background
- Remote work on unstable networks
- Travel through areas with poor coverage
How Shieldeum's kill switch works
Connect to Shieldeum VPN
Open the Shieldeum app and connect to any server in the network.
Kill switch is enabled in settings
The kill switch is active in your app settings, ready to protect if something goes wrong.
VPN drops unexpectedly
If the tunnel drops, Shieldeum blocks internet traffic at the device level to prevent unprotected data from leaving.
VPN reconnects, traffic resumes
When the tunnel is restored, traffic resumes through the protected connection, automatically.
Implementation details can vary by platform and network type, but the goal is the same: reduce accidental exposure during disconnects.
What happens with a kill switch enabled?
| Scenario | Without kill switch | With kill switch |
|---|---|---|
| VPN disconnects unexpectedly | Traffic may continue over your regular connection | Traffic is blocked until VPN protection returns |
| Wi-Fi network changes | Device may fall back briefly | Helps prevent exposure during the transition |
| You reconnect to VPN | Protection resumes after the fact | Protection resumes before traffic continues |
Kill switch = safer transitions.
Kill switch modes (and what to expect)
Kill switches can work in different ways depending on the VPN provider and platform:
System-wide protection
Blocks all internet traffic when the VPN drops. This is the most comprehensive approach and is the focus of Shieldeum's kill switch design.
App-level protection
Only blocks traffic from specific apps, allowing the rest to continue. This is useful when you want certain apps protected while others stay unaffected.
Shieldeum focuses on system-level protection to help reduce exposure. Options may vary by platform.
How to enable the kill switch
Open the Shieldeum app
Launch Shieldeum on the device you want to configure.
Go to Settings
Navigate to the settings or preferences panel.
Toggle "Kill Switch" on
Enable the kill switch toggle to activate protection.
Reconnect to apply
Reconnect to your VPN server to apply the updated settings.
Best practices
- Enable it before using public Wi-Fi
- Keep it on for sensitive activity like banking or email
- If you need temporary access without VPN, disconnect intentionally
Troubleshooting: if the internet stops working
If the kill switch is enabled and your VPN drops, your internet may be blocked — this is by design. It means the feature is working to prevent unprotected traffic.
Reconnect to Shieldeum VPN
Switch to a different server location
Toggle the kill switch off temporarily if needed
Contact support if the issue persists
If you're behind a captive portal (hotel or airport login page), complete the portal sign-in before connecting to Shieldeum VPN.
Frequently asked questions
Stay protected, even when networks fail
A kill switch is one more layer between you and accidental exposure.