Methods and systems are provided to allow personal computer users to virtualize a local USB device so that they can remotely connect to a server and interact with the server as if the local USB device was physically connected to the server. They connect a remote USB target hardware device to the target system through a physical USB connection, and the device interacts with the local user's computer over a network. The target system is unaware that the USB device is not connected directly to the system through a physical connection, and the target system does not need special software to implement the remote USB device. The USB target hardware device connected to the target computer may be physically connected and disconnected.