Surfshark has introduced Everlink, a new self-healing VPN infrastructure designed to maintain uninterrupted service even during server failures or maintenance.
The feature, now available to all Surfshark VPN users by default when using the WireGuard protocol, reconfigures VPN tunnels in real-time without dropping the connection, offering users continuous protection and privacy.
Surfshark is a Netherlands-based cybersecurity company and one of the more prominent players in the consumer VPN market, serving millions of users globally with privacy tools that include a highly regarded VPN tool, a privacy-oriented DNS service, an antivirus, and data leak alert services.
The Everlink advantage
The technology behind Everlink is protected by two U.S. patents (US11190491B1 and US20240080302A1). It represents a structural shift in how VPN resiliency is handled. Unlike traditional VPN setups that require manual reconnections or rely on reactive kill switch mechanisms to prevent data leaks, Everlink introduces a proactive, autonomous solution. The feature works by rerouting traffic to an alternative server instantly when a disruption occurs, effectively bypassing the need for user intervention or session termination.
The core of Everlink’s functionality lies in its use of anycast IP addresses and globally distributed backup servers. This design allows a VPN connection to dynamically and seamlessly reroute traffic to a functioning node within the Surfshark network when an active server becomes unavailable. Because this tunnel reconfiguration happens automatically and behind the scenes, users remain connected to the VPN without a perceptible interruption.
This innovation departs from traditional VPN recovery methods, which typically rely on kill switches that cut off internet access to prevent data exposure during a server drop. While effective at protecting privacy, kill switches disrupt the user experience and require manual reconnection.
Everlink sidesteps these issues by maintaining the encrypted tunnel in real time, enabling uninterrupted browsing, streaming, or file transfers even during infrastructure disruptions.
The Everlink feature is enabled by default when using the WireGuard protocol, which is known for its lightweight architecture and performance advantages over legacy VPN protocols, as we noted in our WireGuard vs OpenVPN comparison.
Everlink is supported across all major platforms, including iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Linux. Surfshark users can verify their protocol settings within the app to ensure they’re using WireGuard or have selected the “Automatic” option, which defaults to it.
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