You may have heard of virtual private networks, but why would you want to connect to a VPN server in The USA? I'll tell you a bit about virtual private networks to start with, and then get into why you might want to make sure you're VPN service has a VPN server in The USA.

Virtual Private Networks

VPNs have a number of uses. First and foremost, they're used by businesses to keep they're employees connected to the office, regardless of their actual location. By securing a network of servers for employee use, and allowing employees that are not physically connected to the servers (ie, at the office) to access them over a secure connection, it means they can maintain contact and communication at all times. This would be useful for someone who has to travel to another country to conduct business, but still needs to access and/or transfer information to/from their companies servers located in their home country. A VPN can make sure that this data, regardless of how sensitive it is, be hidden from outside parties. With a VPN connection, data encryption and tunneling will make sure that your data can't by spied on, hacked, or stolen.

Using this same concept of a private network of servers, individuals can make use of VPN services as well. By subscribing to a VPN service, you can essentially "borrow" a VPN server to filter your online traffic. This means that you get a new IP address assigned to your phone or computer, your IP data, browsing history, traffic, and other information about your online activity will be hidden and untraceable, and you'll also be protected from any malicious outsiders who might want to spy on or steal your information.

Why a VPN server in The USA?

There are a couple of reasons. It's important to note that the IP address assigned to you by a VPN server will be representative of the location of the VPN server. That means that if the VPN server is in The USA, you're IP address will be American. This is the main reason that most VPN companies will highlight the fact that they've got VPN servers in The USA (an many will also have servers in The UK). Having an American IP address has a couple of advantages.

You'll be able to access restricted American sites. Sites like Netflix, Hulu, and other TV/movie streaming sites have strict distribution contracts that mean anyone without an American IP address is blocked. Though a VPN server in The USA, you'll be able to access these sites.

Your IP address will also influence the language that sites you surf get displayed in. For example, when you surf with a German IP, you may notice that application forms, advertisements, and even some websites will automatically use German text. English is the international language, and for many different nationalities, it's much more convenient to surf the web in English, than it is in French, Dutch, or Japanese. Even if someone from China doesn't completely understand English, he's probably going to understand a lot more than he would understand Spanish. This is why having a US IP address is important for those that make use of a VPN connection.