First of all, the ad blocking feature is limited to the browser, and it actually displays some ads broadcast by Opera these ads are by no means intrusive but they are a reminder that Opera Software is a company that needs to earn revenue even as it offers a free service. There are two caveats of the Opera VPN apps. This is very useful when, for example, someone using the YouTube or Netflix apps wishes to access content that is not available outside of the United States. Once installed the VPN service will try to extend its functionality to device connection and to the rest of the apps. It is important to note that the free Opera VPN mobile apps do not limit their functionality to their branded browsers. Looking at the Opera VPN app for iOS and Android, users get some of the standard features available from other VPN solutions: secure browsing, the ability to change IP to a few geographic locations, an ad blocker, a basic network analysis tool that alerts users about risky Wi-Fi hotspots, and encrypted communications. VPN browser integration is not exactly new it has been available for a couple of years within ultra-secure packages such as Tails, a special operating system that focuses on advanced security features such as anonymity via the TOR network, plausible deniability and absolute deletion of browsing history. Furthermore, online censorship and blocking of regular Internet access is a problem that has grown beyond nations such as China. Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and major Internet firms from Google to Apple and from Microsoft to Yahoo are engaged in massive data collection for their own commercial purposes. It’s not just the NSA that Internet users have to worry about. Over the last few years, revelations of the global Internet surveillance conducted by the United States National Security Agency have increased awareness about the need for private and secure browsing. VPN is no longer something that appeals exclusively to online privacy and anonymity enthusiasts.
Competing browsers such as Google Chrome are also looking into VPN integration, and it is safe to assume that they are keeping a close eye on how Opera manages safer browsing. While the Opera VPN initiative is certainly welcome, users who are concerned about privacy and security should carefully evaluate what this Norwegian company actually offers at this time. While desktop users wait for the next-generation Opera browser to be publicly released, the company seems to be focusing on mobile users first, which can be expected since Opera commands a significant share of the mobile browsing market.
The company’s first VPN browser integration was initially launched within its desktop development channel a few months later, Opera released a free VPN app for mobile iOS devices and later for Android.
In 2016, Norwegian tech firm Opera Software became the first major browser developer to fully embrace virtual private networking.
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