How to set up a DIY torrent VPN kill switch

Torrenting is a great way to download and share large files efficiently. The trouble is that torrenting is built on peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, which means your IP address is visible to every user in the swarm. This runs the risk of privacy breaches and legal trouble in countries with strict copyright laws and aggressive enforcement.

You might already have a VPN to hide your downloads, but VPN connections sometimes falter when torrenting and can leave you unprotected. This is where a kill switch comes in. It may be a simple tool, but it’s essential. A VPN kill switch blocks your internet connection if your VPN unexpectedly disconnects. With it, your torrent client will only download with the security and privacy of the VPN tunnel intact.

Regardless of how much or how little you torrent, taking the time to set up a DIY torrent VPN kill switch is a smart step in protecting yourself. In this post, we’ll cover the various options and how to get set up.

What is a kill switch?

A kill switch is a security feature that automatically disconnects your internet access if your VPN connection drops. By cutting your internet traffic when the VPN isn’t connected, the kill switch prevents data from being leaked and exposed to hackers, snoopers, or even your ISP.

Why does it matter for torrenting?

When you use a VPN for torrenting, you do so to hide your IP address and torrent files. The trouble is that if the VPN fails – even for a second – your real IP address becomes visible to your peers in the torrent swarm, potentially compromising your privacy in the process.

If you’re torrenting in the US or any country with strict copyright enforcement, the VPN connection dropping and exposure of your IP address can leave you vulnerable. A kill switch ensures that all of your traffic, including that traveling through your torrent client, is blocked until the VPN is restored.

There are two types of kill switches. Some are system-wide and block all internet traffic on your device. Others are app-specific and only block specific apps, such as your torrent client, from connecting outside the VPN.

Even a brief dip in the VPN connection can expose your torrenting activity. Using a kill switch prevents that risk and provides peace of mind that your online activities are protected and private.

How to set up a DIY torrent VPN kill switch

Here’s how to set up a DIY torrent VPN kill switch:

1. qBittorrent built-in IP binding

One of the most straightforward and effective ways of protecting your IP address and torrenting activities is to create a kill switch using qBittorrent’s built-in network interface binding feature.

Your computer uses network interfaces, such as Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or a VPN, to connect to the internet. By binding qBittorrent to the VPN’s interface, it won’t be able to send or receive data through any other interface. It therefore only connects when the VPN is active.

Here’s how to bind qBittorrent to your VPN:

1. First, you’ll need to connect to your VPN.
2. Next, open qBittorrent and go to Tools > Options > Advanced.
3. Under Network Interface, find the one related to your VPN.
4. Select your VPN interface and click Apply.
5. qBittorrent should now be unable to transfer data unless connected through the VPN interface.

2. Firewall-based kill switch

If you use a torrent client other than qBittorrent, you can create a firewall rule that blocks your torrent client unless it’s using the VPN interface. Although this is a slightly more advanced DIY method, it provides a greater degree of control over how the torrent VPN kill switch works.

Here’s how to set up a firewall-based kill switch on Windows:

1. First, identify your VPN interface. Press Windows key + R, type cmd in the Run box, and press OK. Then type ipconfig in the Command Prompt.
2. Look for the section related to your VPN and take note of the interface name and the IP address it assigns.
3. You’ll now need to create a block rule. Open Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security. Click Outbound Rules > New Rule. Choose Program, and then Next.
4. Navigate to your torrent client’s .exe file and then select Block the connection, before applying it to all profiles.
5. Next up is creating an allow rule. Go to Outbound Rules > New Rule, select Custom, and select the torrent program.
6. Under “Which local IP addresses do this rule apply to?”, specify your VPN’s IP address or subnet.
7. Finally, choose Allow the connection and apply it to all profiles.

3. Using a VPN client with built-in kill switch

If you don’t want the hassle of configuring a firewall, know that most major VPNs offer built-in kill switches that you can toggle on and off in their settings. In most cases, these are system-wide kill switches that stop all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. However, a select few such as NordVPN have app-specific kill switches.

Here’s how to use a VPN client with a built-in kill switch:

1. Sign up with a VPN if you haven’t already. We recommend NordVPN, which has both system-wide and app-specific kill switches.
2. Download and install the VPN app on the device on which you plan to torrent.
3. Log in to the VPN app and go to the settings page to find the kill switch feature before turning it on.
4. Connect to a VPN server in your preferred torrenting location. You should now be able to torrent securely thanks to the VPN’s kill switch feature.

Which torrent VPN kill switch should I use?

If you only want and need a VPN for torrenting, then binding your VPN to qBittorrent probably makes the most sense. This allows you to protect torrent traffic while continuing to use the internet if the VPN happens to disconnect.

For more privacy-conscious users who don’t mind going through a more lengthy setup process, the firewall-based kill switch may be more suitable. It provides you with a greater degree of control over which apps can access the internet and when. This option is also probably best if you use a torrent client that doesn’t support interface or IP binding.

The simplest, most user-friendly option is making use of a VPN app’s kill switch because no setup is required aside from perhaps activating the kill switch in the VPN app settings. This is great if you occasionally torrent and want system-wide protection with a low risk of leaks.

Can I use a free VPN with a kill switch?

We don’t recommend you use a free VPN with a kill switch as they tend to lack robust kill switch features. Free VPNs also tend to use weak encryption which only further increases the risk of your data being exposed. Besides, free VPNs tend to throttle bandwidth so you’d have very slow speeds when torrenting. When the best VPNs all offer generous money-back guarantees so you can try them risk-free, there’s no need to risk a free VPN.

DIY torrent VPN kill switch FAQ