BTC clients: Electrum, does it matter what server I choose? Purpose of server?

I have downloaded Electrum after some debate about which wallet client I would like. I understand that people host servers that contain the block chain info which Electrum can poll so it does not have to download the entire block chain.

This means that the server I choose could potentially just sent me crap info (supposing it is the only node I have ever gotten to see in the entire BTC network) and I would do crap transactions for however long I went without checking another node.

So how can I trust the server(s) I connect/am connected too?

- Verify the block chain info every so often, in the meantime just agree with them.

How can I verify their block chain information is up to date as it can be with the closest nodes to me?

- Download the blockchain info from somewhere/one I trust and verify my current version from Electrum server.

... But surely Electrum has these features?

Other than that for Electrum settings once I find a server I think I like

How do I know what connection protocol and port to use (with the server name I've selected)?

- Unless the server specifies go with the default?

Why would I want to use a proxy?

- To connect to someones server anonymously? (If so would a Tor proxy be choice for anonymity; would it be slow?)

Topic: BTC clients: Electrum, does it matter what server I choose? Purpose of server? (Read 1092 times)