Categories: BrowsersWorkspace

Opera Releases Desktop Browser With Built-In VPN

Norway’s Opera has released a web browser with a built-in virtual private network (VPN), offering free 256-bit encryption that can hide IP addresses and bypass firewalls.

The function, an optional tool on Opera 50, follows the acquisition of VPN service SurfEasy last March.

The built-in VPN effectively allows users to unblock firewalls, stop your browser session from leaking onto public WiFi networks, and make it more difficult for websites to track your location and identify your computer.

“Everyone deserves to be private online if they want to be. By adding a free, unlimited VPN directly into the browser, no additional download or extensions from an unknown third-party provider are necessary,” said Krystian Kolondra, SVP at Opera.

“So, today, our Opera desktop users get a handy way to boost their online privacy, as well as easier access to all their favourite online content, no matter where they are.”

The release, which is still in developer phase, currently allows users to choose from one of three virtual locations – USA, Canada and Germany – but more locations will be available in the stable version of the browser, said Opera.

Opera said its VPN is unlike most other services, which are limited and based on a paid subscription.

“With a free, unlimited, native VPN that just works out-of-the-box and doesn’t require any subscription, Opera wants to make VPNs available to everyone,” said the company, which is currently in the midst of a $1.2bn takeover by Chinese investors.

To activate the VPN, Mac users need to click on the Opera menu, select Preferences, then toggle the VPN feature. Windows and Linux users need to head for Privacy and Security, then Setting, then enable the VPN there.

Ad blocking

In March, Opera became the first major PC web browser developer to include native ad blocking, claiming web pages can load up to 90 percent faster than without any tools activated.

The company says that because ad blocking is done at a web engine level, its tool is 40 percent faster than third party browser extensions on the likes of Chrome and Firefox.

Many use ad blockers because they find ads intrusive while others believe some creatives slow down system performance, use excessive amounts of data and reduce battery life, while others hold security fears. A number of advertising networks have been used to launch malvertising attacks in recent times.

Take our data breaches of 2015 quiz here!

Ben Sullivan

Ben covers web and technology giants such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft and their impact on the cloud computing industry, whilst also writing about data centre players and their increasing importance in Europe. He also covers future technologies such as drones, aerospace, science, and the effect of technology on the environment.

Recent Posts

Google Jarvis AI Extension Leaked On Chrome Store

Seemingly accidental leak reveals Google is developing Jarvis AI extension that can browse the web…

2 days ago

Amazon Mulls New Multi-Billion Dollar Investment In Anthropic – Report

Amazon is reportedly in talks to pump billions of dollars more into AI start-up Anthropic,…

2 days ago

FTX’s Caroline Ellison Begins Her Two Year Prison Sentence

Star witness for the US prosecution of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, has begun her two…

2 days ago

More Layoffs For iRobot Staff After Abandoned Amazon Deal

After axing 31 percent of its workforce when it failed to be acquired by Amazon,…

3 days ago

Mozilla Foundation Confirms Layoffs, Eliminates Advocacy Division

Mozilla Foundation axes 30 percent of its staff, and is eliminating its Advocacy Division that…

3 days ago

Google To Make MFA Mandatory Next Year

Improving security. Mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) is coming to the Google Cloud by the end…

3 days ago