Is a US-based VPN good?
Is a US-based VPN good?
I'm considering trying out a VPN service and wondering if using one with U.S. servers makes sense for privacy and anonymity. I’m not planning any illegal activities or peer-to-peer use, but I’d like a server in Ohio or Virginia to maintain good game performance. Nord and PIA are my top choices. Looking for something under $10 a month that works well.
From a privacy perspective, having your endpoint in the US is generally acceptable as long as data handling complies with relevant regulations.
I don't think your message was clear. Could you explain what you mean by the benefits of choosing a US endpoint over a Singapore endpoint?
You're asking about what "endpoint" refers to here. If you mean the servers you'll link to through the VPN, choosing one shouldn't greatly affect performance if both locations have similar data centers. If you're concerned about data privacy, especially across regions like the US and Singapore, it comes down to the VPN provider's overall practices and policies. I'm aware of Nord's strict stance on privacy matters.
When you're in the US and connect through a VPN server there, you retain the usual privacy advantages—encrypted traffic and your real IP concealed—plus faster access to nearby servers. The situation changes if the VPN provider is based in the US or another country within the 14 eyes alliance, as those companies may be more likely to support government surveillance. This is evident in cases like Snowden, Facebook storing passwords in plain text, Cambridge Analytica, and major tech firms such as Google and Amazon. However, these concerns might stem from fear rather than fact; both PIA and Nord have not released logs publicly and have undergone audits, suggesting they are trustworthy. I personally prefer Nord and am happy with their service.
If we are talking strictly privacy? No, there is no benefit to having a US based server. However, there's also little downside (I say little, instead of zero, because the US Government can force your VPN provider to give up server logs and other information, under certain very niche and very specific circumstances). In general, however, having a US based server (I assume you are a US resident) has other, non privacy related benefits - primarily speed and latency benefits. On the flip side, don't get a VPN server based in Russia or China or any other country that will straight up just take your data from the company if they feel like it. In your specific circumstances, having a US based server most likely outweighs any negligible downsides.