Opera adds a free VPN service to its iOS browser

Opera has added a free VPN to its iOS browser for users to browse the web privately and avoid data collection.

People can be susceptible to data gathering from websites and online services when browsing the internet. Unfortunately, many companies aren't transparent about storing and using the data.

It's enough of a security issue that Apple has iCloud Private Relay, which keeps browsing private with features such as withholding a user's precise location. Private Relay requires a paid iCloud+ account, however, and as well as not being a full VPN, it solely works within Safari.

While a true VPN doesn't make someone anonymous, it can safeguard web browsing from prying eyes if the VPN provider doesn't retain data. For example, Opera says its new addition is a no-log service that doesn't collect personal data or information related to users' browsing history or originating network address.

Opera's VPN — which is free — also includes a built-in adblocker that can speed up browsing and shield users from unwanted advertisements. And with Opera's Cryptojacking Protection already in the browser, users will be safe from having their device's resources hijacked for crypto mining.

Users only need to download the Opera Browser for iOS and enable the VPN in the app to begin using it. It requires iOS or iPadOS 12.0 or later.

The entire rollout will be finished in the coming weeks, making VPN accessible to all customers.

Other updates

Alongside the new VPN for iPhone service, two more updates are coming to Opera Browser for iOS.

Users can manage their online lives more effectively thanks to the Bookmarks function, which gives quick access to the most crucial information when used with the browser's Speed Dial feature. Also, the browser's homepage now has a new Live Scores option for football lovers.

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7 Comments

GrannySmith99 57 comments · 2 Years

About 1 year ago

Very interesting. Is this VPN available on the desktop application too? If not, will it be an upcoming feature?

antiprotest 8 comments · 9 Years

GrannySmith99 said:

Very interesting. Is this VPN available on the desktop application too? If not, will it be an upcoming feature?

Yes. It has been on the desktop version for many years. However, do a search on who owns Opera and decide for yourself if it can be trusted with your data and web traffic.

DAalseth 3033 comments · 6 Years

I like the Opera browser, I keep wondering though, nothing on the internet is free. If you aren't paying, you are the product. So how do they pay for this free VPN? Just how secure is it? How anonymous is it? Running a worldwide VPN network isn’t cheap, I would want to know more before I went to them.

antiprotest said:

GrannySmith99 said:

Very interesting. Is this VPN available on the desktop application too? If not, will it be an upcoming feature?

Yes. It has been on the desktop version for many years. However, do a search on who owns Opera and decide for yourself if it can be trusted with your data and web traffic.

I took your advice. Dabbling in crypto, and in 2016 acquired by a Chinese consortium.
I guess I won’t be moving over to them.

boing 5 comments · 2 Years

DAalseth said:

antiprotest said:

GrannySmith99 said:

Very interesting. Is this VPN available on the desktop application too? If not, will it be an upcoming feature?

Yes. It has been on the desktop version for many years. However, do a search on who owns Opera and decide for yourself if it can be trusted with your data and web traffic.

I took your advice. Dabbling in crypto, and in 2016 acquired by a Chinese consortium.
I guess I won’t be moving over to them.

Yes that is true, but Opera HQ is still in Norway and bound by Norwegian laws. Additionally, Opera is traded on the stock exchange, so I doubt they would do anything nefarious to hurt their stock price which has gone up 141.28% in the past 6 months.

I always find it interesting how people attack Opera because it is owned by a Chinese consortium, and most of their electronics (including iphones) they own are built in China yet nobody has an issue with that and seems to trust it. Until someone actually monitors the Opera browser traffic and can see nefarious traffic taking place, I don't see what all the derogatory comments are about.