Today’s digital society has sparked not just technological innovations, but also issues and concerns such as utility, convenience, safety, and most especially privacy. News online about hacking, data theft, and even identify fraud, are perfectly good reasons for you to be wary about your safety online. As such, virtual private networks (VPN) can prove extremely useful in this regard, given they’re highly capable of providing you with a safe way of accessing the internet without fear of getting your data compromised. One of the biggest reasons for using a VPN is getting around different geographical blockages regarding content online, which is exactly why people opt to use a VPN and also look about at a website such as https://avoidcensorship.org/ and others to minimize the amount of censorship they experience while online. However, you can’t “just” use VPN. One of your concerns should be knowing how to choose the best VPN server countries for your needs.

In fact, VPN is being widely used today not just as a means to protect data, but to help use the internet to its full potential. Some VPN users, for example, use these in locations and countries where social networking and certain websites are banned. Others use it to access the internet in a public place, which is very prone to unauthorized data access. Point is, VPNs are extremely helpful ways of getting yourself an extra layer of guarantee that your safety online will not be compromised as easily. VPNs are getting so popular that there are hundreds of different VPN providers who all claim to have the best and most affordable service. This is why you should look at the AlwaysVPN comparisons before you pay for the first VPN you see because there are so many different options out there. Be sure to do your research first otherwise you may be stuck paying for a slow or faulty VPN.

What’s A VPN Server Location?

When you use a VPN, you don’t just “create” a server from out of nowhere. A VPN is simply a way to give you an extra “layer” of protection over the internet you’re using. This means data will be sent to you via an encrypted traffic of sorts liked to another server elsewhere. This means when you use a VPN, you’ll be asked to choose a server location from a list for all providers. Some providers have more servers than others, again all depending on your needs.

Some of these locations have their own virtual IP addresses that will be altered by your local address once you use it. For instance, using a server location on UK-East London means your IP will be masked to match one fitting the location even if you’re on the other side of the world.

Choosing this location wisely can greatly boost the connectivity and speed of your VPN. However, it’s not so easy to choose a server location as there are a lot out there to choose from. Here are some factors:

• Be aware of your location: Some users make use of VPN to access platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Pandora, Netflix, or Hulu. These services are normally based in their respective regions, and will most likely only cater to that region. Users who cannot access the blocked shows and movies might use a VPN to change their location. Of course, there are plenty of VPN providers, so it is better to check a Hulu or Netflix VPN list to select the right one.
• Be able to bypass blocks and censorships: VPNs have started to gain popularity as a means to avoid censorship on the internet. Some countries have strict laws on what can be accessed and uploaded online, and as such a lot of internet content are censored in some areas of the world, and not much anywhere else. For instance, people in China may have a hard time accessing messaging software such as Skype or Facebook because of their policies. Others resort to VPN in order to bypass these laws and access these services much easier. Do try to choose servers that are a bit closer to you, if possible, as this speeds up your connection and performance overall. However, if a question like how to watch Sky Go abroad arises, you should connect to the country that legally streams the channels. So, for the example mentioned here, Sky Go can be streamed when you change the VPN location to the UK.
• Be wary of your speed: Speed is a factor that is a deal breaker for a lot of VPN users. VPNs actually provide an extremely convenient way to stay anonymous and private online, but this can be at the expense of speed. Anyone wants their surfing experience to be fast, but VPNs don’t necessarily always provide this option. You should select servers that are extremely close to your country of residence in order to be able to access VPNs and at the same time not compromise your connection speed.
• Be more secure and private: A lot of people value privacy nowadays because social media and the internet almost encourages us to have our lives be placed on feeds for everyone to see. VPNs allow us to have a secure way of doing this, and a secure way to accessing the internet without fear of being prejudiced or be under the scrutiny of others. If you’re looking for the best locations for secure and private VPN servers, you’ll likely want to go to the United Kingdom and the United States. Other reliable countries for security purposes are Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada, and Germany.

Conclusion: A Matter Of Meeting Needs, Resources

The advent of virtual private networks have indeed made it a lot easier for internet users to feel more secure about their online activities. Of course, as to whether or not their server country is for them isn’t just a matter of choosing the fastest or the cheapest. As with the above, it’s a matter of making sure you make a good assessment of your needs and just how much resources are you willing to shell out in order to tap into the best server country fit for your particular location and circumstance. Given VPNs are still very relatively new today, finding the best “match” take a lot of trial and error, but it’s through this experimentation that you can at least get to tailor your experience to what’s the most efficient way of using VPNs based on your needs.

Tim Tremblay

Tim Tremblay created and runs Fastest VPN Guide, a website which offers accessible and unbiased information on all things VPN, online privacy, and online security related. Tim is a self-proclaimed geek at heart and comes from a world of computer networking and IT security. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience managing corporate VPNs. He also spends a significant time evaluating consumer VPN providers, both from a technical and a usability point of view. When it comes down to it, Tim knows a thing or two about what makes VPNs tick. And if anyone can tell you what separates the great from the not so great, it’s him.