Proton VPN Secure Core: What is it, and should you use it?

Proton VPN Secure Core is a data privacy feature that routes your traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries before it reaches its destination. These extra steps make it harder for anyone monitoring the network to tie activity back to you, keeping your location and data even safer than with regular VPN use.

Secure Core is useful for high-risk users like whistleblowers, activists, political dissidents, lawyers, medical professionals, and more. However, be prepared for slower speeds due to double encryption and the extra distance your data needs to travel.

In this guide, we’ll explain in more detail what Secure Core is, when you might want to use it, and the pros and cons of the feature. We’ll also explain how to set it up, then compare it with Tor over VPN and multi-hop setups from other VPN providers.

Let’s get started!

What is Proton VPN Secure Core?

Proton VPN Secure Core is a multi-hop feature that passes your data through servers in privacy-focused countries before it reaches the internet. That extra hop makes it harder for anyone to link your activity to your real IP and location, especially if someone monitors the exit server.

Basically, the VPN sends your data through secure servers in Switzerland, Iceland, or Sweden first, then forwards it to the server in your chosen location, effectively doubling the encryption and hiding your real IP address behind two spoofed ones.

Let’s say you’re a journalist investigating corruption in your country. Well, someone could monitor local networks, watch specific VPN exit servers, and use correlation attacks to figure out it’s you. With Secure Core, your connection could be routed like this:

US > Switzerland > Italy

The extra hop through Switzerland breaks the direct link between “you” and “where your traffic ends up,” making it much harder for snoopers to connect the dots.

Pros and cons of using Secure Core

Secure Core may offer excellent protection, but it also comes with some trade-offs. Here’s a quick look at the main advantages and disadvantages:

Pros:

• Double encryption: Your data is encrypted twice, first through a Secure Core server and then at the exit server, thus boosting security.
• Protection against correlation attacks: Using multiple hops makes your online activity harder to trace back to you.
• Secure Core servers owned by Proton: The company has full control over its hardware, as servers are shipped directly from Proton offices.
• Secure against physical seizures: Proton’s Swedish servers are located in an underground facility, while its Iceland setup runs from a former military site.
• Privacy-friendly jurisdictions: Secure Core routes your traffic through servers in countries with strong privacy laws, keeping it safe from local government requests and surveillance.
• Network and IP control: Proton manages its own IP addresses through a Local Internet Registry (LIR), keeping traffic inside its network and limiting reliance on external parties.

Cons:

• Slower speeds: Multi-hop routing adds latency, especially on long-distance connections.
• Network congestion: While there are 130+ Secure Core servers, they can quickly get crowded and further reduce performance.
• Limited exit locations: Secure Core offers exit servers in 68 countries, which is still a lot compared to other double VPN providers. That said, your preferred location might not always be an option.

Should you use Proton VPN Secure Core?

Everyday users most likely won’t need Secure Core, as the added security isn’t worth the noticeable speed drop. But here are some cases where it can make a real difference:

• People in restrictive countries: If you live in an area with strict internet monitoring and censorship, Secure Core routing keeps your online activity more private.
• Handling sensitive documents: Researchers or whistleblowers can reduce the risk of leaks by passing confidential data through protected servers before it reaches the internet.
• Protecting client information: Professionals such as doctors or lawyers can add a barrier to hacking attempts or unauthorized access when sharing or storing records.
• Reducing exposure for high-risk users: Activists, NGO staff, political dissidents, or anyone targeted for their work can keep their location and activity harder to trace by routing traffic through multiple servers.

How to get Proton VPN Secure Core

Secure Core is a feature of all paid Proton VPN plans. So if you have a Proton VPN subscription, you already have access to it. If you are currently using Proton VPN’s free plan, you will need to upgrade.

Don’t have Proton VPN yet? Use the deal below to get the best possible price, currently starting at $2.39 per month.

How to use Proton VPN Secure Core

If you decide you do want that extra layer of security, here’s how to activate Secure Core on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux. Note that some Secure Countries don’t include all three server routes.

Windows

1. Open the Proton VPN app.
2. If needed, click on Countries on the top left.
3. Next, click on Secure Core below it.
4. Double-click one of the countries on the list to connect via the best Secure Core server.
5. Alternatively, click the little downward arrow button to the right of the country.
6. Depending on which options are available, you can then choose between Iceland, Switzerland, or Sweden.

macOS

1. Launch the Proton VPN app.
2. Under Countries, click the Secure Core padlock icon.
3. Select Secure Core On.
4. Choose a country and click Connect.
5. To connect through a specific Secure Core server, click the drop-down arrow beside the country and click Connect next to your preferred option.

Android

1. Open Proton VPN and tap on Countries.
2. Afterward, tap Secure Core.
3. Tap a country to connect through the optimal Secure Core server for your connection.
4. You can also tap the three horizontal dots next to a location and select one of the available Secure Core servers.

iOS and iPadOS

1. Open the Proton VPN app and toggle on Secure Core.
2. Select your preferred country from the list.
3. Press the Power button to the right of the Secure Country you want to route your traffic through.

Linux

On the Linux app, you can see Secure Core servers mixed in with regular servers (e.g., IS-AU#1). The first part of the code is the entry server (Iceland in this case), while the second is the exit server (Australia in our example).

Here’s how to connect:

1. Launch Proton VPN.
2. Type – (minus) in the search bar. This will show you all the Secure Servers.
3. Click Connect next to your preferred combo.

What’s the difference between Secure Core and Tor over VPN?

The difference between Secure Core and Tor over VPN comes down to how your traffic is routed. Secure Core passes your traffic through two Proton VPN servers before it reaches the internet, while the latter sends it through the Tor network after connecting to a VPN server.

Secure Core gives you slightly better speeds since you stay inside Proton’s network the whole time. Meanwhile, Tor over VPN relies on volunteer-run Tor nodes around the world, so speeds aren’t particularly great. That said, you do gain access to .onion sites and multi-layered routing through several independent relays, which adds extra anonymity.

Related: How to use Tor with a VPN

Can you use Secure Core for P2P downloads?

You can definitely use Secure Core servers for P2P downloads, but Proton doesn’t recommend it (and neither do we). That’s because your traffic passes through multiple servers, so your speeds will slow down considerably.

Secure Core also doesn’t add extra torrent-specific protection beyond what a regular P2P server already provides, so stick to those if you want fast torrenting.

Do other VPNs have a similar option?

Some of the best Proton VPN alternatives include similar features, such as NordVPN‘s Double VPN and Surfshark‘s MultiHop. IPVanish and Private Internet Access also provide multi-hop connections. All of them route your traffic through two servers for extra protection, though some may value the added security of Proton’s dedicated high-security data center locations.

Secure Core also gives you exit servers in 68 countries, even though entry servers are limited to just three. That’s way more than NordVPN and Surfshark, so there’s no real competition for Proton on this end.

Is Secure Core enough for online safety?

Secure Core and other double VPN options are great for your privacy, but they won’t keep you safe against every online threat. AI-driven phishing scams can still trick you into handing over your data to scammers through convincing-looking login pages.

Meanwhile, downloading and opening the wrong PDF or .exe file could install malware on your system, allowing cybercriminals to steal your info, log your keystrokes, or just spy on your communications. Then you have browser fingerprinting and other forms of cookieless tracking, which bypass VPN protections entirely.

Consider Secure Core a good way to shield your location and traffic from network-level monitoring—but pair it with safe browsing habits, keep your OS and software updated, and use a secure browser and anti-tracking extensions to cover all your bases.

Proton VPN Secure Core: FAQs