What is a VPN Kill Switch? Here’s What You Need to Know
In our digital world, keeping our online activities private and safe is more important than ever.
You might already know that using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a great way to protect your internet privacy. But did you know there’s an extra safety feature called a VPN kill switch?
This handy tool is like a superhero for your online security. It keeps an eye on your VPN connection and makes sure that if something goes wrong, your internet stops working until it’s safe again.
Imagine it as a magical shield that blocks any leaks of your personal information if your VPN suddenly drops out.
A VPN kill switch is crucial for anyone who wants to stay safe online, whether you’re doing important tasks like online banking or just browsing the web.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about this powerful feature, including why it’s important, who should use it, how it works, and the different types available.
Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!
Why do I need a VPN kill switch?
A VPN kill switch is crucial for anyone serious about online privacy and security. Even the best VPNs can occasionally lose connection, which might expose your data if you’re not protected.
This is where a kill switch comes in. It automatically disconnects your internet if your VPN connection drops, ensuring your sensitive information stays encrypted and secure.
Without a kill switch, a sudden drop in VPN connection could cause your data to be transmitted over an unsecured network, risking exposure of details like your location, IP address, and browsing activity.
In short, a VPN kill switch helps you avoid accidental data leaks, maintains your anonymity, and shields your information from potential cyber threats.
It’s an essential tool for keeping your online identity safe from prying eyes.
Who Should Use a VPN Kill Switch?
Activists, journalists, lawyers, social workers, and anyone with confidential data and their sources should use a VPN Kill Switch to prevent their sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.
Here are some situations where the Kill Switch comes in handy:
Torrenting: To prevent peers in a swarm from discovering your IP address.
Public Wi-Fi connections: To protect yourself from hackers who might compromise the connection.
Mobile devices with frequent disconnections: To prevent data from being transmitted over an unsecured connection.
Using the Tor browser: To hide your Tor connection from your Internet Service Provider.
How Does VPN Kill Switch Technology Work?
A VPN kill switch works by constantly monitoring your connection to the VPN server, detecting issues, blocking your access to the internet, and restoring your connection as soon as it is safe. Here are the steps involved:
Monitoring/Scanning: The kill switch monitors your device’s connection to the VPN server in real time, checking for any changes in network status or IP address.
Detecting: It will immediately activate if the kill switch detects any changes that could compromise your privacy, such as a dropped VPN connection.
Blocking: Depending on your VPN service and its settings, the kill switch will stop your entire device from accessing the internet or certain apps that could leak your data.
Restoring/Reconnecting: As soon as the issue is resolved, the VPN kill switch will automatically restore your internet connection without input. It will ensure that your online activities remain private and secure.
What are the two types of VPN kill switches?
There are two main types of VPN kill switches: system-level and application-level.
System-level kill switches act as a comprehensive safety measure for your entire device. They monitor your connection to the VPN server and automatically disconnect all internet traffic if any issues are detected.
This ensures that your IP address and sensitive data remain concealed, offering protection against leaks.
Application-level kill switches provide more customization options. They empower you to select specific applications that should stop connecting to the internet in case of a VPN failure.
For example, you might have Skype open in one window and your web browser in another. If you set the kill switch to protect only your web browser, Skype continues to run, but if the VPN connection fails, your web browser stops sending and receiving data from the internet.
Application-level kill switches are ideal for those who want to manage their privacy more selectively.
Common applications with kill switches include web browsers, email platforms, video conferencing tools, and peer-to-peer file-sharing programs.
What is a Network lock, and how does it differ from a Kill Switch?
A network lock is a feature that blocks all traffic from and to the internet on your device unless it is connected to the VPN.
Just like a kill switch, it ensures that your online activities remain secure and private by preventing any data from leaking outside of the VPN tunnel.
However, the main difference between a kill switch and a network lock is that a network lock operates at the system level and cannot be disabled by the user.
It works in a way similar to a firewall, preventing any data from leaving or entering the device without the user’s consent, thereby shielding them from hackers, governments, and internet service providers.
A network lock is always on; in whereas, a kill switch can be turned off. This gives it even more reliability when ensuring online privacy.
In simple terms, the network lock is like a kind of kill switch that works at the system level, adding one more layer of security by blocking all forms of internet traffic unless connected to a VPN.
What Causes a VPN Kill Switch to Activate?
A VPN kill switch is an important feature that helps protect your online privacy by ensuring that all internet traffic is blocked if the VPN connection drops. However, what can cause the kill switch to activate? Let’s look at some common scenarios:
The VPN server experiences connectivity issues, causing your internet to disconnect from the server.
You switch to a different VPN server, causing the current VPN connection to drop.
Unreliable network connections, such as those found on public Wi-Fi, cause the VPN connection to drop.
Your computer automatically does an update and reconnects to the internet without reactivating your VPN connection.
A new firewall is installed, and an exception for the VPN is not added, causing the firewall to block the VPN connection.
Someone else borrows your device and restarts it without reconnecting to the VPN, causing the VPN connection to drop.
Conclusion
A VPN kill switch is an essential tool for online privacy and security. It guarantees that your connection is continuously monitored and that any changes that might compromise your security are promptly detected.
It also assures you that your sensitive data will remain safe even if your VPN connection breaks down. Anyone who uses public Wi-Fi networks or travels frequently and wants to keep their online activities private will need this tool.
VPN Kill Switch FAQs
Can I make the kill switch by myself?
Yes, it is possible to configure a firewall to act as a kill switch by only allowing internet traffic while the VPN is connected.
However, this requires manual configuration for each server and can lead to ignoring inevitable data leaks or disturbance scenarios.
We recommend caution when attempting to configure your kill switch, as it requires advanced networking skills.
Are kill switches on by default?
The default setting for VPN kill switches varies among providers and platforms. Some may activate automatically, while others require manual activation. NordVPN is the Best VPN with network and app kill switch.
Before connecting to a server, checking your VPN’s settings and ensuring the kill switch is turned on is critical.
A kill switch testing tool can be used to make sure that your data is safe. Make sure your kill switch is on to keep yourself safe.
How do you test a VPN kill switch?
Are you concerned about whether the kill switch on your VPN works as intended? Here’s a simple and quick method for finding out:
First, ensure your VPN is running and connected to a server.
Then, go ahead and surf the web, stream videos, or whatever online activity you prefer.
Now, let’s try to trick the kill switch. Use your firewall to block the VPN app, but keep your online activity going.
If the kill switch works, your internet connection should go down immediately. Finally! You now have a rock-solid VPN connection that keeps your sensitive data safe and secure.
Can I use a VPN kill switch and split tunneling simultaneously?
Yes, you can use a VPN kill switch and split tunneling at the same time. This setup can be useful if you want to keep your internet connection secure while allowing some apps or websites to bypass the VPN and connect to the internet without encryption.
To set this up, you’ll need to configure your VPN client. First, make sure the kill switch is enabled so that it cuts off your internet connection if the VPN drops.
Then, use the split tunneling feature to choose which applications and websites should bypass the VPN.
What this means is that if your VPN connection fails, traffic from apps and websites not included in the split tunneling list will be blocked.
However, traffic from the apps and sites you’ve specifically chosen will continue to go through the VPN, ensuring they remain protected.
The Best Free and Premium VPNs for Firestick and Amazon Fire TV
Table of Contents
This comprehensive guide will explore the top free and premium VPN options for Firestick and Amazon Fire TV. We’ll cover everything from the essentials of why you need a VPN for Firestick to the key factors to consider when choosing one.
Our motive is to equip you with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision. So, let’s dive in and discover the best VPN for Firestick to meet your streaming needs.
Why Do You Need a VPN for Firestick?
In today’s digital landscape, streaming content has become a cornerstone of entertainment.
The Amazon Firestick and Fire TV have revolutionized the way we consume media, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows, and live events at our fingertips.
However, with this convenience comes the need for enhanced security and unrestricted access to geo-restricted content.
Adding a virtual private network (VPN) to your Amazon Fire Stick devices allows you to access unlimited content libraries and have a better streaming experience.
A trustworthy VPN can also help you hide movie preferences from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and unblock the desired Netflix library or other geo-restricted content.
There are several restrictions and limitations imposed by the streaming services, ISPs, and probably your government.
A Fire Stick VPN is helpful for many reasons in addition to enhancing your online security, such as:
Hides from Government surveillance.
Hides Your Online Activity.
Protects Your Data and Identity.
Unblocks Netflix USA and Other Geo-Restricted Services.
Browse Safely on Public Networks.
Use Kodi / Similar Apps Freely.
Bypass ISP’s Internet Throttling.
What to look for in the best Free Firestick VPN?
When looking for the best Free VPN for Firestick, there are a few important things to consider and make a wise decision.
Need a VPN for your Amazon Fire TV stick? The following are some of the essential features to look for:
What’s their logging policy?
This is a crucial component of every VPN business model and is taken for granted by most free VPN users. Unfortunately, many free VPN providers take advantage of customer’s trust by stealing their personal information.
Strong security and data privacy:
A VPN not only allows you to unblock streaming services, but it also keeps your browsing and data private.
The 256-bit AES keys most secure VPN providers use are virtually impossible to crack. No-logs policy that guarantees the anonymity of your data.
Connection speed:
VPNs are known to slow things down, so fast speed is essential for a VPN to be suitable for streaming; it needs to have fast connections so that you can still stream in HD and 4K quality without having to worry about buffering speed.
Support for Firestick:
We need a VPN that gives us access to an official APK file that we can sideload onto our device or, if that fails, a native Fire TV app.
The service is only eligible if these are available, and the APK can only be found on questionable hosting sites.
The 5 Best Free VPN Apps for Firestick
The fully featured streaming player known as the Amazon Fire TV Stick, or Firestick for short, transforms your standard television into a “smart” television.
On a platform that is simple to use, you can access your preferred streaming apps, such as YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer.
However, you will need the best free VPN for Amazon Firestick to use these apps to their full potential.
There’s no perfect free VPN for Firestick, as hundreds of free VPNs are available, but most are pointless, particularly if you want to stream.
The best free VPNs for the Amazon Firestick and Fire TV are discussed below; we’ll show you the best free VPNs for Amazon Fire TV Stick in this guide.
1. Proton VPN
A well-known free VPN with unlimited bandwidth for the Firestick is ProtonVPN. On its free plan, it has three servers in the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands.
Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Amazon Firestick, and routers.
Positives to consider:
Unlimited bandwidth for free
User-friendly Fire TV app
No-logging policy
Negatives to Avoid:
Does not support Torrenting
Limited server network
Cannot unblock many streaming services
2. Windscribe VPN
Windscribe provides 10GB of free data usage and is the best free VPN for Firestick. It imposes a bandwidth cap of 10GB per month, limiting free users to 20-25 hours of streaming at the standard quality on their Fire TV device.
24/7 live chat agents to get help when you need it
Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, etc.
Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, Amazon Firestick, Chromebook, Xbox, PlayStation, etc.
Positives to consider:
User-friendly app
Provides essential safeguard for personal data
Good choice of servers
Fast speed
Negatives to Avoid:
Based in a 5-eyes country Canada
It does not support IPV6.
4. Hide.me VPN
Hide.me is a free VPN with a neat dedicated Fire TV/Firestick VPN app. It provides free user access to five server locations in the United States (East and West), Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Atlas VPN is a robust and completely secure VPN service that works with Firestick and lets you watch your favorite movies and TV shows from anywhere in the world.
Your connection will be shielded from all external interference thanks to the VPN’s network of speedy servers.
Unblocks Netflix, IPlayer, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.
Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, Amazon Firestick, and iOS devices.
Positives to consider:
Extra privacy with safe swap servers
Military-Grade Encryption
Excellent Quality of Customer Support
Negatives to Avoid:
Member of the Five Eyes Alliance and based in the United States
Poor user experience
Limited server network
How Do I Set Up a VPN on My Firestick?
Setting up a VPN on your Fire TV Stick is simple as long as the VPN service has a native Fire OS application.
All VPNs we recommend in this guide can be installed directly on your Firestick from the Fire OS app store in just a few easy steps.
Install a VPN on Fire Stick through the Amazon Appstore
Go to the Amazon App Store, and look for the VPN on your Firestick.
Click ‘Get’ to install the free VPN (and, if necessary, affirm by entering your Amazon account password).
Open the free VPN and enter your login information (if prompted) once it has been installed.
Press “Connect” after selecting the location of a VPN server.
Open any other Fire TV app once connected to the VPN server.
Sideloading a VPN App on Amazon Fire TV Stick
Here are bit-by-bit directions on setting up a VPN using its APK file and the Downloader application as follows;
Click Device after you have reached the Settings page.
Select the Developer options from this menu.
Make sure that ADB Debugging and Apps from Unknown Sources are turned on.
On the Fire TV Stick, visit the Amazon Appstore.
Install the Downloader app that you have found.
Look for the APK file used for manual Android device installation on the VPN provider’s website.
Please enter the address of the APK file into the Downloader app when it is launched.
After the download is finished, check the app’s permissions before clicking the Install button.
To activate the app, return to your device and sign in again.
After activating the app and selecting a server, you are ready to go.
Install a VPN on Fire Stick with Your Router
There is also the option to install your VPN on a compatible router if it does not come with an APK file.
This way, all devices connected to the router, including your Fire Stick and Fire TV, can use the VPN connection.
Just make sure you choose a VPN that is compatible with routers.
Get the VPN firmware downloaded. It is available for download from the VPN website.
Go to your Dashboard, select routers, and click “set up other devices.” Under the “Firmware download” area, select your switch model from the rundown and snap Download Firmware.
Connect the internet to your router. After that, connect the router to the device you used to download the firmware. If you are already connected, skip this step.
Set up the VPN software. Enter 192.168.1.1 into the address bar of your web browser. To sign in, enter your router credentials if prompted.
Select the firmware you just downloaded by clicking Connectivity on the admin panel and selecting Choose File. Next, select Start. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation and start the router’s reboot.
Complete the router’s setup. Connect the router to your device. The setup page for your router should appear once you are connected. To complete the VPN setup, follow the on-screen instructions.
Free VPN vs Paid VPN: What is Better for Your Firestick?
Free VPNs can be good for basic use, but they come with limitations.
They often experience slow speeds due to high traffic and rely on ads, which can compromise your privacy.
These services might track and sell your data to make money.
In contrast, paid VPNs offer better privacy and security.use high-quality servers and provide faster speeds and reliable customer support.
The subscription fees help cover the costs of maintaining and upgrading their infrastructure, ensuring a better overall experience.
Premium Fire TV Stick VPNs have the following key Features:
A popular and highly trusted VPN is a security giant and an excellent VPN for the Fire Stick. It provides impressive streaming speeds, many servers, and nationwide support, among other features.
Key Features:
Thousands of servers spread across 110 countries
100 Mbps connection with a speed of 82 Mbps
Smart DNS feature
Kill switch feature
Zero logs policy
Unblocks Netflix, HBO, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Spotify, CBS, NBC Live, etc.
Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, Router, Android, Android TV, Roku, PlayStation, etc.
Positives to consider:
Provide Fire TV-specific app downloadable directly from Amazon
Primary security and privacy focus
High-speed performance
Speedy servers
24/7 live chat agents to get help when you need it
Negatives to Avoid:
No split tunneling
No router app
Plans and pricing:
Plan
2-Year Plan
1-Year Plan
Monthly Plan
Get Basic
$3.99 /month
$4.99 /month
$12.99 /month
Get Plus
$4.99 /month
$5.99 /month
$13.99 /month
Get Ultimate
$5.99 /month
$6.99 /month
$14.99 /month
Check out our NordVPN review to learn more about one of the best VPNs available.
2. CyberGhost VPN
Excellent Fire TV Stick VPN is CyberGhost VPN. The most user-friendly and cost-effective VPN for Firestick is CyberGhost. It is a perfect option for new VPN users because it is easy to use.
Key Features:
Thousands of servers spread across 100 countries
71.4 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
Optimized P2P servers
Smart DNS
Strict zero-logs policy
Kill switch feature
Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, etc
Compatible with Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, etc
A cheap and growing popular VPN that can compete with some expensive providers. One of the best and most affordable VPN providers, Surfshark provides excellent features and unlimited connections at an extremely low cost.
Key Features:
Thousands of servers spread across 100 nations
75.12 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
Firestick versions: 4K, 2nd, and 3rd generation
Smart DNS
AES-256 encryption
No-logs policy
Unblocks Netflix, Hulu, Hotstar, Amazon prime video, Disney, Peacock BBC iPlayer, BT-Sports, etc.
Compatible with Windows, Amazon Firestick, Mac, Android, Linux, iOS, Chromebook, Android TV, etc.
Positives to consider:
Excellent for streaming
Good overall speeds
Kill switch feature
Very cheap
User-friendly Fire TV Stick app
Negatives to Avoid:
Apps are simpler and basic
No free version
Inefficient customer service.
Plans and pricing
Plans
Starter
One
One+
2- Year Plan
$ 2.19 /month
$ 2.69 /month
$ 4.29 /month
1- Year Plan
$ 2.79 /month
$ 3.19 /month
$ 5.09 /month
Monthly Plan
$ 15.45 /month
$ 15.95 /month
$ 17.95 /month
4. IPVanish VPN
IPVanish is a great client for people who want to learn about the ins and outs of a VPN because of its fun and customizable interface. IPVanish is the fastest VPN for the Firestick, and it will be our top pick for the Firestick, Fire TV, and Fire TV Cube.
Key Features:
Thousands of servers spread across 75 countries
Firestick versions: 2nd generation and above
Smart DNS
AES 256-bit encryption
No-logs Policy
Unblocks Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Vudu, etc
Compatible with iOS, Amazon Fire TV, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, etc
Positives to consider:
Great app for Fire TV Stick
Good overall speeds
Fast downloading speed
The intuitive app user interface works well with remote control use.
Negatives to Avoid:
It finds it challenging to unblock larger streaming services
PrivadoVPN is a newcomer yet highly rated, no-log VPN service that’s lightweight and robust. It offers fantastic speeds due to WireGuard and includes a decent free plan without speed limits.
Can VPNs be used with all versions of the Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick?
The answer is No, VPNs do not work with the 1st generation of the Fire TV Stick. The versions of Firestick and Fire TV that work with VPNs are Fire TV (All versions) and Firestick (2nd generation and 3rd generation).
You can use a VPN that works with Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other streaming services with the following Firestick versions.
You don’t own any Firestick models from the first generation because they were discontinued in 2016.
Fortunately, you can still use a virtual private network (VPN) with a first-generation Fire Stick by connecting it to your router and installing a VPN.
How to Update a VPN on Fire TV Stick?
One potential issue when Sideloading VPN apps on a Firestick is that they do not receive automatic updates. As a result, we have provided a straightforward method for updating sideloaded Firestick VPN apps:
Go to Settings in Firestick.
Click Manage Installed Applications after selecting Applications.
Choose Force Stop after finding the VPN app you want to update and clicking on it.
On your Firestick, sideload or install the most recent APK version of the VPN app you want to update.
You will now be asked to install an update to the current app. Choose “Yes.”
Once refreshed, launch the app. You must log back into the app.
Final Thoughts on the Best VPN for Firestick
Getting a Fire Stick VPN is an excellent idea to protect your traffic and expand your platform options.
You should always conduct thorough testing to determine whether the performance is adequate for 4K or HD.
Look for a Smart DNS feature that only hides your IP address if you do not care much about encryption.
Before committing, check the potential outcomes the supplier offers: how much they cost, how many supported devices there are, and how good the customer service is.
You can explore our detailed Buying Guide before choosing a VPN to help you make the right decision.
In conclusion, NordVPN is our preferred Fire TV Stick VPN. It has the best speeds and meets all requirements.
FAQs on the Best VPN for Firestick
What is the Amazon Fire TV Stick?
The Amazon Fire TV Stick is like a USB flash drive and connects directly to the HDMI port on your television, much like the Roku.
It’s a full-featured streaming player that can turn almost any television into Smart TV despite its small size.
With a Firestick, you can watch movies and TV shows from popular streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu.
You can also connect additional Amazon smart devices, such as an Echo, to gain access to new features.
What to do if VPN is not working on Fire Stick?
There are a few possible solutions to the problem of your VPN not working with the Fire Stick if you encounter it. What you should do is:
Verify that the Fire device you are using supports VPNs.
Make sure you have the most recent version of the VPN app.
Check your connection to the internet.
Start the Fire TV device over.
What happens if I do not use a VPN on my Fire Stick?
If you download content protected by copyright, you risk legal trouble and possible imprisonment. Without a VPN, anyone on the same network, including your ISP or other users, can see what you’re downloading.
To keep your online activities safe, always use the best VPN for Firestick. A VPN encrypts your activities, making them invisible to others.
Is using a VPN with a Firestick legal?
Except for a few nations where VPNs are prohibited, using a VPN on a Fire TV is, in fact, legal.
Remember that a streaming service’s terms and conditions may prohibit using a VPN to bypass location restrictions.
With or without a VPN, it is illegal to access dark web markets or download pirated copyrighted content.
