Handshake
A handshake is the initial exchange where your device and the VPN server/node authenticate and agree on encryption keys and parameters. A …
VPN Glossary
History of VPNs
The history of VPNs begins with the need to connect remote computers to private corporate networks securely over the public internet. Early …
IKEv2/IPsec
IKEv2/IPsec is a VPN protocol suite known for fast reconnection and strong performance on mobile devices. IKEv2 manages session setup and …
IP Address Masking
IP address masking is the effect of routing traffic through a VPN exit so websites and services see the VPN’s public IP rather than …
IPv6
IPv6 is the newer version of the internet addressing system, designed to replace IPv4 with vastly more addresses and improved network …
IPv6 Leak
An IPv6 leak occurs when IPv6 traffic bypasses your VPN tunnel while IPv4 traffic is protected. This can expose your real network address …
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the legal environment that applies to a VPN operator - where the company is incorporated, where its servers are hosted, and …
Kill Switch
A kill switch is a safety feature that blocks internet traffic if your VPN disconnects unexpectedly. Without a kill switch, your device may …
Kill Switch Testing
Kill switch testing is the practice of verifying that your VPN’s kill switch actually prevents traffic from leaking when the tunnel …
L2TP/IPsec
L2TP/IPsec is an older VPN setup that combines L2TP tunneling with IPsec encryption. It’s still available on many devices because …