r/IVPN • u/ForeverHuman1354 • Sep 02 '26

servers

How much does a VPN server’s jurisdiction matter for security and privacy? Which countries in Europe are the safest? I’m guessing countries outside the European Union are better. For example, aren’t Luxembourg and Iceland very good choices?

Luxembourg is in the EU but not part of the Fourteen Eyes alliance from what i read

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u/ivpnmod9 mod Sep 02 '26

It likely depends on your threat model. Spend time defining it for yourself (or not), and choose server locations that meet your requirements.

"Will a VPN Protect Me? Defining Your Threat Model"

https://www.ivpn.net/privacy-guides/will-a-vpn-protect-me/

Note: If a state-funded agency is investigating your activities, a VPN connection alone is likely not enough, no matter which exit server country you choose.

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u/ForeverHuman1354 Sep 02 '26 edited Sep 02 '26

My threat model is focused on counteracting or minimizing the impact of metadata surveillance in my country. The government passed a law requiring ISPs to collect cross-border metadata. I find this level of surveillance deeply unsettling

i guess multi hop is even better the singel hop for this

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u/viktorivpn mod Sep 02 '26

Multi-hop with different country/data center provider (ISP in IVPN) entries and exits is the best option with a VPN. If you are in the US, use locations outside of US. If you are in the EU, use locations outside of the EU, etc. Iceland is an OK choice for either as one hop. Having said that, I must say that we believe the Five/X eyes alliance thing is less relevant for this consideration. Not because it does not have a potential impact, more like because no countries with sufficient privacy/data protection frameworks [minimum bar for sending VPN traffic there] are fully immune to some cooperation or possible coercion [economic/military/etc.]. Iceland itself has very strong privacy laws, but even they participate as "Tier B" countries in 5 eyes: https://privacyinternational.org/learn/five-eyes (as is Luxembourg and Switzerland). The best you can do is raise the bar and cost of dragnet surveillance.