Norway-based company Opera Software has integrated a virtual private network (VPN) feature into the latest developer version of its free Opera web browser for OS X. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel from the user's computer to the VPN server, hiding browsing activity from other users on the local network and enhancing security and privacy online. A VPN shields a user's real IP address, allowing them to bypass firewalls, block tracking cookies, and access geo-restricted content regardless of their true location. VPNs usually come in the form of separate plug-ins or apps that require a paid subscription, making Opera one the first major browsers to include one as standard. The launch of the feature comes after Opera's acquisition of U.S. VPN company SurfEasy last March.
Browser-Based VPN. One recent innovation in free VPNs is offering browser a plug-in for free. These live in your browser, and are easily installed anywhere you're using a computer. Following the March 28 U.S. Congress vote to repeal restrictions preventing Internet Service Providers from selling personal browsing data and information, interest in VPN’s greatly increased.Browser maker Opera claims interest in their Mac browser, which includes a built-in, free VPN, more than doubled in just a few days.
Currently Opera's built-in VPN allows users to choose virtual locations in the US, Canada, and Germany. Opera says more countries will be available when the feature makes it to the stable public release of the browser. Mac users can download and give the free, unlimited VPN a try. After installation, simply click 'Opera' in the menu bar, select 'Preferences' and toggle the VPN switch on. According to Global Web Index, more than half a billion people (24 percent of the world’s online population) have tried or are currently using VPN services. According to the research, the primary reasons people use a VPN are for better access to entertainment content, browser anonymity, and the ability to access sites restricted by their workplace or country.
In January, Netflix began blocking users who try to bypass country-based content restrictions by using a VPN. Canadian subscribers to the streaming service appear to have been the latest targets of the crackdown after VPN-tunnelled users in the country began seeing error messages on their screens over the weekend when trying to access the service's much larger U.S. Catalogue of movies and TV series. In January, Netflix began blocking users who try to bypass country-based content restrictions by using a VPN.
Canadian subscribers to the streaming service appear to have been the latest targets of the crackdown after VPN-tunnelled users in the country began seeing error messages on their screens over the weekend when trying to access the service's much larger U.S. Catalogue of movies and TV series. Well, Netflix is doing a poor job because I can access all US contents from my cave in East Africa.
Following the March 28 U.S. Congress vote to repeal restrictions preventing Internet Service Providers from selling personal browsing data and information,. Browser maker Opera claims interest in their Mac browser, which includes a built-in, free VPN, more than doubled in just a few days. How to Use the Opera Browser’s Built-In Free VPN on Your Mac Since the VPN is included in the Opera browser, it is quite easy to enable it, allowing users to protect their online privacy and data. Here’s how to use it. 1.) (DUH!) 2.) Run the browser 3.) Go to “Preferences” 4.) Click “Privacy & Security” and then toggle the free VPN on 5.) An icon labeled “VPN” will appear in the browser to the left of the address field, from which you can and choose your preferred location.
You can also choose to have the Opera browser automatically select the optimal server for your location, based on factors such as network speed, latency, location, and server capacity. It should be noted that only your browsing through the Opera browser is protected by the VPN connection. Your other Internet usage, such as emails and other online tasks are still business as usual. Opera says their VPN feature in the browser is a “no-log service,” meaning information on their users is not stored outside of the basic information needed to set up their account and make sure the VPN is working correctly. The VPN service is provided by SurfEasy Inc., which is a Canadian company operating under Canadian privacy laws. For more tips and tricks on how to make better use of your Mac, iOS device, Apple Watch, or Apple TV, be sure to.