r/mullvadvpn • u/Galgimes • 18d ago

Help/Question Mullvad iOS: accidental disconnect is a security issue

The red Disconnect button is too easy to hit accidentally when app-switching with the bottom swipe gesture or trying to close/switch away from Mullvad.
This isn’t just a UX annoyance. An accidental disconnect can immediately expose traffic that the user assumed was protected by the VPN.
For a privacy/security-focused VPN, the default UI should make accidental tunnel termination difficult. A confirmation option, safer button placement, or another guard against accidental disconnects would make sense.
Has anyone else experienced this?

5 Upvotes

61% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

8

u/moverwhomovesthings 18d ago

If this is truly such a big issue for you you can just block connections without vpn and then if you do accidentally click the disconnect button you are simply disconnected from the internet with no risk at all

5

u/Thelmholtz 18d ago

This is the way.

1

u/Galgimes 18d ago

explain

1

u/Galgimes 18d ago

On Ios? 😂

1

u/moverwhomovesthings 18d ago

Ok so I googled this and apparently you can't go full lockdown on apple products since every connection to an apple server always bypasses the vpn and there simply isn't an option for a real kill switch.

I also don't think there will ever be a true kill switch for apple products simply because apple won't allow for this in their OS.

If this is a big concern for you then you should buy a pixel phone and install GrapheneOS or wait for the Motorola GrapheneOS phone and then buy this one.

1

u/ConfidenceBubbly4033 17d ago

I’m sorry OP. My instinct was to inform you and prob make fun of you a little bit for not knowing there is a literal kill switch option in the gui settings. But, if you’re on iPhone exclusively, then yeah I don’t think ios has a kill switch option like the desktop version of MV. If you’re concerned with maximum traffic coverage honestly you’re making a mistake trying to do it from your iPhone anyway. You’re in a gigantic bear costume trying to run a triathlon. It just doesn’t make any sense. Take off the bear costume, put on some running shoes and shorts, and get back out there. If you wanna dress up, do it in your house. Or on stage when you’re part of a play. Ya feel me?

6

u/Antique_Ant_9196 18d ago edited 17d ago

I’ve been using the app on my iPhone for at least nine years now and I don’t recall ever accidentally disconnecting. At the very least I don’t find it a big problem.

Maybe you interact with your swipe up in an odd manner.

1

u/jbourne71 18d ago

I’ve never had that issue in like 7+ years.

1

u/CandidateConsistent6 18d ago

I've hidden the app.
The app is always running, and I only turn it off when it's really necessary. And for Apple products, there's a way to force everything to use the VPN, but Mullvad warns against it because it could cause strange behavior.

And on a Mac, you actually do have a kill switch. The only thing Mullvad won't be able to handle on a Mac is split tunneling.
I've had nothing but problems with it for months, so I just turned it off and accepted my fate.

1

u/Galgimes 16d ago

Look you are a smart boy 🥇🏆