Even the best VPNs can drop their connection without warning. Sometimes it’s just a blip – a few seconds while switching networks or recovering from weak signal strength – but in that moment (or even minutes), your real IP address could be exposed. And if you don’t have VPN disconnection alerts turned on, you might not even know it happened. That’s why I always recommend turning on your VPN’s kill switch feature, which cuts your internet connection the moment your VPN fails.
Now Surfshark, the VPN I use and recommend, says its new “Everlink” technology can make those momentary dropouts a thing of the past. Instead of letting the VPN tunnel collapse and requiring a full reconnection, Everlink works behind the scenes to keep the connection alive by instantly rerouting traffic through alternate servers or reconfiguring the tunnel – all without kicking you offline.
In effect, it’s a self-healing layer built on top of the regular VPN infrastructure. According to Surfshark, this means you can maintain a secure, uninterrupted connection even during server maintenance or when the underlying connection hits a snag. Think of your VPN as a secure tunnel. Everlink is a backup tunnel that activates before anything breaks down.
Read next: Click, Paste, Infected: How a Fake CAPTCHA Hijacks Your PC
It’s an elegant solution to a common pain point. Surfshark CTO Donatas Budvytis positions Everlink as a smarter alternative to the traditional kill switch: “Instead of killing the connection, we want users to stay securely connected and private.” The tech is live now for everyone using the WireGuard protocol across iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and Linux – and it's on by default.
Still, as promising as Everlink is, I see it as a complement, not a replacement, to a kill switch. VPN disconnections can still occur for reasons beyond Surfshark’s control, such as your device entering sleep mode or experiencing software conflicts. In situations where privacy is critical, you don’t want to take chances. For journalists, whistleblowers, and anyone who requires absolute anonymity, I strongly recommend keeping your kill switch enabled.
Read next: The Best VPNs for Protecting Your Privacy (Spoiler alert: Surfshark is my Top Pick for most people.)
[Image credit:Surfshark]
