Cyberghost VPN: how to activate the kill switch?

The kill switch is undoubtedly a feature that has become essential for VPN users, since it guarantees the protection of connection data and the anonymity of the Internet user if a traffic leak outside the VPN tunnel were to take place. It is therefore necessary to benefit from the safest possible protection, and CyberGhost VPN is one of the providers that offers such a function. Here’s how to configure it on CyberGhost.

In our comparison of the best VPNs, CyberGhost VPN is one of the most interesting on the market, especially with its 9000+ servers located across more than 100 countries around the world. A clever mix of comprehensive features and an easy-to-use interface, Cyberghost is therefore a great option in a market that is increasingly saturated. And then, it also stands out for its numerous options allowing complete data security, including the kill switch. This absolutely essential function helps guarantee the secrecy of the Internet user’s identity, acting as an emergency stop button in the event of an unexpected VPN interruption. A good way to avoid any data leaks.

What is the kill switch?

The kill switch is an emergency stop button, a must-have security option that automatically shuts down incoming and outgoing internet traffic in the event of a VPN interruption. We even find the kill switch in some free VPNs.

Concretely, when you connect to the Internet using a VPN, the traffic is encrypted and routed to the VPN server in a secure tunnel, isolated from other HTTP/HTTPS traffic. To generate this tunnel, the VPN service uses a specific protocol called tunneling. For example, at CyberGhost, the Internet user can opt for OpenVPN, WireGuard or IKEv2/IPSec. The speed of the connection, its stability and above all its security depend on the protocol.

Despite all the precautions taken (AES-256 encryption, OpenVPN TCP protocol to guarantee the integrity of transmitted data packets), various incidents independent of the VPN can occur and expose the connection. This is called traffic leaking outside the VPN tunnel. Recurring causes include Internet outages, power outages or network changes.

In the majority of cases, these events go completely unnoticed, as do the data leaks that accompany them. Hence the importance of benefiting from a safety net, the kill switch, capable of interrupting any network transmission until the VPN connection is reestablished.

There was a time when the kill switch emerged as a strong commercial argument. Today, all serious VPNs must integrate such functionality. Otherwise, change supplier.

What are the risks if I don’t activate the kill switch?

Briefly mentioned above, traffic leakage outside the VPN tunnel constitutes the most significant risk if the kill switch is not activated. It must then be understood that the encrypted data, supposed to circulate via the private, isolated and secure connection generated by the VPN, is again routed via the public Internet network without the Internet user realizing it. As a result, VPN protection loses all its effectiveness, and the connection becomes visible and exploitable again by third parties such as ISPs, authorities or hackers.

The information exposed concerns the identity of the websites visited, the browsing behavior of users (time spent on a website, number of pages viewed, clicks made) and, in the most sensitive cases, confidential data entered as usernames, passwords, credit card number.

Traffic leaks also reveal the Internet user’s real IP address, allowing ISPs and authorities to access their civil identity and associate online activities with it. The user’s real IP address also offers the web platforms consulted the possibility of tracking their browsing, drawing up their detailed profile and submitting targeted advertising to them. Falling into the hands of hackers, an IP address can be used to impersonate a device, either to access restricted services or to carry out covert network attacks.

Activate the kill switch on Cyberghost

In principle, CyberGhost triggers the kill switch by default. Two precautions are better than one, however it is advisable to check its activation in the VPN client settings.

Configure the kill switch on Windows

Open the CyberGhost client. If the VPN is active, exit your browsing and cut off the secure connection.

From the CyberGhost compact home page, click the center arrow to expand the client window. Locate the Privacy Settings, at the bottom left of the interface, under the list of server categories.

In Privacy Settings, enable Automatic Kill Switch.

Start the VPN connection. In the event of a dropout and data leak outside the secure tunnel, CyberGhost automatically cuts off the Internet connection. Incoming and outgoing traffic is instantly blocked while the VPN connection is reestablished.

Configure the kill switch on Android

The kill switch is always activated on mobile. As such, CyberGhost does not offer a configurable connection blocking option on the Android application.