VPN services are often marketed on the promise of privacy, but the reality is more complex. A persistent vulnerability in most VPN setups is how they handle network instability. When a server fails or the connection drops unexpectedly, even for a few seconds, there is a risk of real IP exposure unless a kill switch intervenes.
SurfShark Everlink is SurfShark’s response to this problem. Rather than severing the internet connection when a failure is detected, as the kill switch does; Everlink instead attempts to preserve the connection by rerouting traffic through a new VPN server. This feature is aimed at maintaining continuity without compromising privacy.
This review assesses Everlink’s functionality, relevance, and limitations, with particular attention to its practical implications for users concerned about information security and data protection.
How Everlink Works
At a high level, Everlink functions as a live failover system within Surfshark’s VPN infrastructure. It leverages a parallel network route to monitor the VPN session in real-time. If the primary connection becomes unstable or fails outright, Everlink redirects encrypted traffic to an alternative server; automatically and, ideally, without user interruption.
This capability is currently only supported when using the WireGuard protocol, which is known for its speed and simplicity compared to older standards like OpenVPN.
What sets Everlink apart is that it does not require the VPN to disconnect and reconnect. Instead, it operates as a background safeguard that attempts to keep the tunnel alive during transient disruptions.
Strengths and Use Cases
Reduced Exposure Risk During Failures
In a conventional setup, if a VPN server fails, there’s a moment—however brief, when traffic could leak outside the encrypted tunnel. Everlink mitigates this by rerouting the traffic before the failure leads to exposure. This is particularly useful for users in:
- Countries with strict internet surveillance.
- Remote roles handling sensitive data.
- Legal, journalistic, or investigatory work.
Improved Stability on Unreliable Networks
Everlink is valuable in environments with frequent network transitions; such as moving between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Rather than interrupting the connection, it attempts to sustain the session without visible impact to the user. This makes it practical for travellers or those working across variable signal environments.
Non-Disruptive User Experience
Unlike a kill switch, which intentionally halts all traffic to prevent leaks, Everlink prioritises continuity. Users aren’t required to take any action; the session persists, and their activity isn’t interrupted.
Limitations and Considerations
WireGuard Dependency
At the time of writing, Everlink only functions with the WireGuard protocol. This excludes users who rely on OpenVPN for compatibility or policy reasons. It’s unclear whether Surfshark plans to expand Everlink support across other protocols.
Not a Replacement for a Kill Switch
Everlink is best understood as complementary to (not a substitute for) a kill switch. In scenarios where the device itself loses connectivity (e.g. sleep mode, network card failure, VPN app crash), Everlink cannot intervene. A properly configured kill switch is still necessary as a final safety net.
Lack of Visibility Into Failovers
Currently, Everlink operates without notifying the user when a failover occurs. While this is likely by design; to ensure a seamless experience, it may limit awareness for those auditing their network activity. Advanced users might prefer some form of optional logging or alerting to understand when and why a reroute took place.
Conclusion
SurfShark Everlink is a technically sound and thoughtful enhancement to VPN functionality. It addresses a niche but important problem: what happens when a VPN connection is interrupted, and how can privacy be preserved without sacrificing usability?
Its strengths lie in improving session reliability, especially in dynamic environments. It offers real-world benefits to users who work across changing networks, particularly if those users rely on VPNs not just for streaming or region switching, but for maintaining operational privacy.
That said, it is not a catch-all solution. It does not eliminate the need for traditional kill switch features, and it does not address device-level failures. Additionally, the WireGuard-only limitation may restrict its applicability in some enterprise or legacy contexts.
As such, SurfShark Everlink is a welcome innovation. While its benefits are most apparent for mobile professionals and privacy-conscious users, its real value lies in addressing a silent failure mode that’s often overlooked. It strikes a balance between user experience and security, and it does so without introducing unnecessary complexity.
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