HostingRanker: VPN kill-switch test worksheet
Guide: https://www.hostingranker.com/what-is-a-vpn-kill-switch/
Prepared: September 9, 2026

Use harmless activity on a device and network you control. Save work and keep
recovery instructions offline. Do not run a test that can remove your only
remote access to the device.

SETUP
Date and time zone:
Device and OS version:
VPN app and version:
Protocol and server:
Kill-switch mode and documented trigger:
Apps intended to use the VPN:
Split-tunnel / LAN exceptions:
DNS configuration:
IPv4 available? IPv6 available?
Baseline public IP (keep private):
VPN public IP (keep private):
Recovery steps:

COPY THIS BLOCK FOR EACH SCENARIO
Event tested:
Expected behavior (write before testing):
Underlying internet available during the event? How established?
Requests attempted and observation method:
Start / interruption / recovery timestamps:
Observed route or failure for fresh requests:
Address families and applications actually checked:
DNS observations:
Recovery result:
Result: observed as expected / unexpected / inconclusive / not tested
Limitations and follow-up:

SCENARIOS TO CONSIDER
[ ] Manual Disconnect: interpret against the chosen mode.
[ ] Unexpected tunnel loss with underlying internet available: only use a
    supported procedure or an isolated environment you can restore.
[ ] Server switch.
[ ] Sleep / wake.
[ ] Network transition.
[ ] App exit (different from closing its window).
[ ] Device restart / first connection.
[ ] Split-tunnel apps and LAN exceptions.

INTERPRETATION
- Nothing loading while Wi-Fi is off is not proof of a working kill switch.
- The final VPN IP does not rule out direct traffic during the transition.
- Cached pages and buffered media do not demonstrate a live connection.
- A failed DNS lookup alone does not establish all traffic was blocked.
- A successful manual-disconnect check does not cover unexpected crashes.
- An unavailable IPv6 connection is not a passing IPv6 leak test.
- A browser check does not establish the route of every background app.
- Record one specific observation, not a claim that a provider never leaks.
- Restore intended settings and verify normal tasks after testing.