Proton VPN 8.0 and IPVanish Add Security Upgrades on iPhone

Two VPN providers we track updated their iPhone apps on 9 November 2026. Proton VPN’s release notes list version 8.0.0 with a new kill switch mode, and the App Store notes for IPVanish 4.33.2 say it added post-quantum encryption to WireGuard.

We read both App Store records and Proton’s notes on 13 November. Our iPhone VPN guide compares how each provider protects an iPhone.

What happened

Proton VPN 8.0.0 “Introduced Proton protocols, a new VPN architecture designed for improved stability and censorship resistance”. The notes also say Proton “introduced advanced kill switch, now possible thanks to Proton protocols”. With the kill switch on, you “can now connect to LAN devices and Apple CarPlay”. The App Store lists iOS 17.0 as the minimum for this version.

IPVanish’s iPhone app 4.33.2 carries a one-line note: “+ Post-quantum encryption has been added to the WireGuard® protocol”. IPVanish has not described the feature on its own website yet. A spokesperson told TechRadar’s Monica J. White that the update reaches all users over seven days: “During that seven-day rollout, we plan to add PQE to other IPVanish apps.”

Why it matters

A kill switch stops your traffic when the VPN drops, so your real address does not leak. Proton’s help page says the advanced mode “only allows internet access when connected to Proton VPN, no exceptions”, and that it stays on after a restart. The same page still labels the iPhone version a beta.

Post-quantum encryption protects traffic recorded today against future quantum computers. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, Mullvad, IVPN and Windscribe already offer it, so IPVanish is catching up. Its note does not say which method it uses or whether it is on by default.

What to do

Update the app from the App Store. Check that your iPhone runs iOS 17 or later before you expect Proton VPN 8.0.
Turn on the kill switch in Proton VPN, and choose the advanced mode if you want no traffic outside the VPN.
Pick WireGuard in IPVanish on iPhone, since the note puts post-quantum encryption in that protocol.
Wait for IPVanish’s details before you count on it on a computer or an Android phone.

What we changed

We marked IPVanish as offering post-quantum encryption in our data, with a note that only its iPhone app documents it so far. That raises its security score, and its overall score moves from 6.4 to 6.5. We updated our IPVanish review, which said it did not offer post-quantum encryption, and the Proton VPN entries in our iPhone VPN guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is new in Proton VPN 8.0 for iPhone?

Proton's release notes list Proton protocols, a new design built for stable connections and for getting past blocks. They also list an improved kill switch with a new advanced mode, a globe map, and access to local devices and Apple CarPlay with the kill switch on.

Does Proton VPN 8.0 work on older iPhones?

The App Store lists iOS 17.0 as the minimum for version 8.0.0, so an iPhone that cannot run iOS 17 will not get this update.

Does IPVanish have post-quantum encryption?

On iPhone and iPad, yes, from version 4.33.2, which added it to WireGuard. IPVanish told TechRadar that its other apps would follow during a seven-day rollout, but its own pages did not cover them on 13 November.