Which VPN server locations do you usually choose and why? - eviltoast

Curious to see what the VPN server locations people generally choose and why?

  • Free Palestine 🇵🇸@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    11 months ago

    I try to always use servers in the European Union or in Switzerland. I avoid the US, UK, Canada and Australia as well as obviously Russia, China, Belarus, Ukraine, etc.

  • pound_heap@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    11 months ago

    Closest one for lower latency. However, the closest location happens to be in a major metro area and is banned by many financial organizations that I use, so usually I connect to the next closest.

  • MagneticFusion@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    11 months ago

    I have multihop VPN set up, exiting from Switzerland, and entering from the US, only because certain websites display different results depending on your IP location, and if you have like let’s say a Swedish IP the websites will load up in Swedish and it’s a pain in the ass

  • Leraje@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    11 months ago

    I use the servers that are in the offices/city of the VPN company I use. If you’re using servers that aren’t under the direct control of the VPN company, you’re trusting not only the VPN company but some unknown team who are hired by another company to manage the servers they’re renting to your VPN company.

  • Dr_Evil@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    11 months ago

    My philosophy is to just use home country as much as possible to get the fastest speeds… Only time I go to other countries is to get streaming content that is only available in respective country

  • nimnim@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    11 months ago

    It depends on whom you’re asking this question. I think different people have varying preferences based on their needs and circumstances:

    If someone wants to access streaming content that’s geographically locked, they would typically choose servers located in that specific territory. In democratic countries, the server choice often revolves around two key factors: speed and anonymity. Users may either select their home country for the fastest connection or opt for a country in the EU, which is not part of the ‘Five Eyes’ alliance, to prioritize anonymity.

    However, the perspective changes when you ask this question from someone living in countries like Iran, China, or other dictatorships. In such places, users usually prioritize connecting to any server that offers a reliable and fast link to the free world.

    Personally, I used to live in a country with an authoritarian regime, and back then, my primary concern was accessing the internet. Hence, I didn’t pay much attention to factors like the ‘Five Eyes’ alliance. However, now that I live in Canada, I consider a broader range of metrics when choosing a VPN server.