A VPN protects your data, keeps your internet activity private, and secures file sharing from third parties. Sometimes, however, a VPN connection can drop. What happens if it does?
What happens when a VPN disconnects
VPNs allow you to access restricted content. They also keep your internet activities secret from government agencies and ISPs. It even protects your identity on the websites that you visit.
Here are the consequences of a VPN disconnect:
- Your IP address is visible on the websites you visit
- ISPs now have access to all your internet activities
- You cannot bypass internet censorship
- Restricted content cannot be unblocked
- Private data could be exposed
This is known as an IP leak. A VPN will protect you against IP leaks, even in the event of an accidental disconnect or drop. Let’s look at some situations where the VPN can be turned off.
VPN disabled while torrenting
Your ISP may have seen your torrent traffic if your VPN was accidentally turned off or disconnected while you were torrenting. You lose all privacy online and your downloads can be tracked without a VPN. You could be fined depending on what the law in your country says about torrenting.
VPN is disabled when you stream Netflix or watch videos online. This means your location will be visible to the site and you can no longer unblock any content. Your ISP may throttle your connection if you disconnect from VPN.
How can you prevent IP leaks from the VPN connection dropping
an Internet Kill Switch is one feature that can protect you against IP leaks and accidental VPN connection dropouts. This is a must-have tool for torrenting, streaming, and browsing online.
What does it do? An Internet Kill Switch protects your traffic from accidental IP leaks. Your unencrypted traffic will be blocked from the internet if your VPN connection is lost. This will stop your ISP knowing what you do online and where you connect. Websites will also not be able to see who you are. A VPN kill switch restricts access to connections that are sent to it.
Why is my VPN constantly disconnecting
There is a reason your VPN connection isn’t stable or you experience sudden disconnections.
These are the most common reasons your VPN disconnects.
- Signal strength is weak
- The wrong VPN protocol
- Blocks for the Firewall
- Incorrect server configuration
How to fix a VPN that keeps disconnecting.
Increase your internet signal strength.To keep a VPN connection active, you must have stable and reliable internet signals. VPNs must constantly re-negotiate encryption algorithms. Encrypted traffic has more data to transmit so a weak WiFi signal could cause VPNs to disconnect.
Select the right VPN protocol:Â If you experience frequent drops, you might switch between TCP or UDP protocols (usually an inside-app setting). You can also switch between VPN protocols. IKEv2 is an example of a good choice, as it can quickly reconnect.
Set firewall rules:sometimes firewall rules in advanced systems might block or deny VPN traffic, causing connections to drop completely or prevent access altogether. The problem might be solved by reviewing the firewall rules.
Select the right VPN service. Sometimes the problem is with the VPN service. A VPN service may not be as reliable as you think. Slow connections and drop in connection speeds are signs that it isn’t working well. You might consider trying other providers, as many of them offer a money back guarantee.
Conclusion
All your data is encrypted when using a VPN. However, accidental connection drops can cause your IP address to leak and your privacy to be lost. The Internet Kill Switch is a protection feature that VPNs offer. This is particularly important if your VPN shuts down while you stream or torrent.
