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Opera Adds Free and Unlimited VPN Service To Its Android Browser (venturebeat.com)
Opera has added a free VPN service to its Android browser. The Norwegian browser maker, which went public last year, also addressed concerns about potential hidden costs of using its free VPN offering. From a report: As users become more cautious about their privacy, many have explored using VPN services. According to a GlobalWebIndex estimate, more than 650 million people worldwide use such tools to mask their identity online and fend off web trackers. Opera has long recognized this need; in 2016, it launched Opera VPN, a standalone VPN app for iOS and Android. A few months later, it baked that feature into its desktop browser. Last year, however, the company discontinued Opera VPN. Now, Opera is integrating the VPN service into its Android browser. Opera 51 for Android enables users to establish a private connection between their mobile device and a remote VPN server using 256-bit encryption. Users can pick a server of their choice from a range of locations. Unlike several other VPN apps, Opera's offering does not require an account to use the service.
If you want to stay anonymous, "use a VPN" is only good advice if the VPN doesn't keep logs of which IP accesses which sites.
That's like saying "have a condom handy when you're having sex." It doesn't do any fucking good if you just look at it while you're raw-dogging the woman.
A VPN that keeps logs is just making your internet slower because you're bottlenecking through it. If you are worried that someone is going to trace you, they can do so with the same legal paperwork and subpoena's that they can use to trace all the rest of your IP traffic. The one Opera is offering is worthless, unless all you care about is watching Netflix shows from a different country.
"Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson
> The Norwegian browser maker,
Really? That seems a bit, errr, disingenuous. Maybe even misleading.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/...
After a $1.2 billion deal fell through, Opera has sold most of itself to a Chinese consortium for $600 million. The buyers, led by search and security firm Qihoo 360, are purchasing Opera's browser business, its privacy and performance apps, its tech licensing and, most importantly, its name. The Norwegian company will keep its consumer division, including Opera Apps & Games and Opera TV.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Opera Ltd. is publicly listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange [8], with majority ownership and control belonging to Chinese Businessman Yahui Zhou, creator of Beijing Kunlun Tech[9] which specialises in mobile games and cybersecurity specialist Qihoo 360.
If you want to send all your traffic through a Chinese VPN, go ahead, but at least be aware who ultimately controls Opera. The fact it's explicitly pitched as "Norwegian" seems suspicious. Could be a trap. :)
Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
The VPN is ad free, the browser isn't. I was happy with Opera Mobile for a while, until an upgrade put a "News" Screen that I couldn't disable.
This "News" Screen was populated with click-bait articles, which I would expect are full of Ad's that I am willing to bet Opera got some cut on the action.
I am actually surprised that Opera is still in the business. From its early days of being a fast and light browser which may had gained some traction if it were free to most users, and later versions which were Ad Supported, filled up a lot of your screen, imagine on a 640x480 screen having 1/4 of the screen filled with ads.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Opera was bought out by the Chinese. They no longer make their own browser; it's Chrome with a skin. Most of the old Opera staff moved on to Vivaldi. If you want the old Opera back, Vivaldi is the closest thing you'll get.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!