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Aside from impeccable security and performance, thebest VPNservices are also known for their commitment to transparency.

During our last round of testing, TechRadar’s VPN reviewer noticed an anomaly.

Surfshark

Among the almost 50 virtual locations, Surfshark apps displayed only 27 locations as virtual.

Was Surfshark hosting all these locations in local data centers?

Investigating further, it seemed very unlikely.

iPhone screenshot of Surfshark location list on iOS app

TechRadar contacted Surfshark directly to flag the issue and ask for some explanations.

So, we always recommend using our app as the primary source for server-related information."

you could think of aVPN serveras the middleman between your machine and the internet.

VPN encrypting a flow of data

Every time you access a website, the server decrypts your traffic to send it to the intended destination.

It then encrypts any information before reaching back to your rig.

As the name implies,physical serversare physical machines stored in a data center.

The IP address generally coincides with their actual location.

Yet, it isn’t possible to have one actually located in some areas of the world.

This is wherevirtual serverscome in.

This can help to enlarge a VPN internet while cutting infrastructure costs.

These skills not only boost your anonymity online but also grant you access to otherwise geo-restricted content.

VPN servers are a big part of how the software does that.

“Virtual locations function using dedicated physical servers located outside the target country.

This indicates a consistent approach when it comes to building a server data pipe across the industry.

Which Surfshark servers are virtual?

Among its more than 3,200 servers dotted across 100 countries worldwide, Surfshark offers 49 virtual locations.

Below you’ve got the option to see the full list:

Surfshark virtual servers