Reviews on Opera VPN: Simple, fast and free

Whatever the reason, you may be disappointed to learn that Opera VPN is not a VPN at all. It's actually a proxy that looks like a VPN.

The servers Opera uses are owned by a VPN company in Canada, but everything else about the connection is more like a basic web proxy than a VPN.

With all that in mind, the question arises: Is Opera VPN still worth using? The answer is not simply yes or no. Let's learn to sign more through the following article to make your own decision.

Technical specifications

1. Product name: Opera VPN
2. Price: $ 0
3. Speed: 302 Mbps (Tested on 1Gbps connection)
4. Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
5. Equipment: Infinite
6. Server locations: 5 countries
7. Number of servers: Not determined
8. Streaming: No.
9. Torrenting: No.
10. Encryption: AES-256 HTTPS / SSL
11. Logging: No logging
12. Jurisdiction: Not clear (Norway via Opera or Canada via SurfEasy)

The setup process is extremely simple

Opera VPN is embedded in the Opera web browser. Browse settings and you'll get a VPN. You need to enable it through advanced browser settings, but there's really nothing more to do. VPNs are available in Opera browsers on many platforms, including mobile devices.

Reviews on Opera VPN: Simple, fast and free Picture 1

Minimalistic design

While there aren't many VPN-specific interfaces, as it's just a small part of the larger browser, clearly, everything is well integrated and as nearly intuitive as possible.

One problem is that a VPN is activated through advanced browser settings instead of an easy-to-see button or switch. Enabling a VPN is easy, but it will be difficult for many users to find.

To enable Opera VPN through Opera browser's settings, you'll have to find the controls under Advanced Settings under the Privacy and Security tab . Once you've enabled this feature in the advanced settings, you'll see a VPN icon on the far left side of Opera's address bar. Clicking this icon will bring up the full VPN menu.

In the VPN menu window, you can easily enable and disable the VPN connection with the one-button toggle. Below you will see your bandwidth usage for the week and menu for selecting a connection location. At the bottom, Opera will show you the current IP address through the VPN.

Fast performance

Opera VPN is one of the fastest VPNs out there. In our tests, the total speed loss with Opera VPN was relatively small. The maximum speed measured was 302Mbps on a 1Gbps Internet connection, which is equivalent to some of the fastest VPN services tested.

The reason for this is that Opera VPN uses weak encryption. Opera VPN's connection is secured with SSL encryption, the same type used to access websites over HTTPS. While HTTPS is great, it's not a strong enough encryption standard to protect a VPN connection.

Reviews on Opera VPN: Simple, fast and free Picture 2 Opera VPN is one of the fastest VPNs out there

Streaming: Don't expect to unblock any streaming services!

Privacy and security are two of the most important reasons people look for a VPN, but unblocking regionally restricted streaming content is also of interest. Unfortunately, Opera VPN can't do that. But in return, you won't have any problems streaming video on sites like YouTube and CNN, but Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer.

Privacy Policy

Most VPN providers have clear privacy policies posted on their websites for their users to review. Opera VPN only has a single line listed in the Opera browser's privacy statement. According to that statement, Opera VPN doesn't log your browsing data or IP address. However, that statement is difficult to take seriously for a number of reasons.

Earlier, also in its privacy statement, Opera admitted to having logged browsing data to deliver targeted ads and news suggestions. Although the company claims that the data is only tied to a randomly generated ID, it's not difficult to put it all together. If your browser is spying on you, so is the VPN, and the service isn't really private.

Another reason for not completely believing in Opera's claims, is that the VPN company Opera is based on is based in Canada, a country in Five Eyes. The likelihood of your data not being recorded or tracked in any way is quite low.

Security Features: Nearly none!

Not much is known about Opera's security features, really. Unlike dedicated VPN services, Opera VPN doesn't use industry standard VPN protocols like OpenVPN, flawless forward security, or any other reliable method of keeping people's data safe. use. Instead, Opera VPN offers encryption over HTTPS / SSL. Since it's a browser-only VPN, only data transferred through the Opera browser is encrypted.

Without a really working behind the scenes VPN protocol or features like perfect forwarding security, it's hard to trust the overall security of Opera VPN.

Torrenting

Opera VPN is built into the Opera browser and it only protects the data going through the browser. That means nothing else is secure, including P2P apps like BitTorrent. If you want to run BitTorrent over a VPN, you'll have to look for another option.

Block ads

Opera browser includes a built-in ad blocker, but it's not integrated with the VPN and doesn't offer the same level of protection as other true VPN services, including DNS level ad blocking. . 

Customer Service: There is no native support for VPN

It was impossible to find any specific customer support options for Opera's VPN service, and finding support information for the browser itself is tricky. Opera's support page directs you to an array of troubleshooting information, but there's no option to contact support or even fill out a support form.

If you navigate to Opera's contact page, you'll find a general customer support contact form.

Price: Totally free!

Opera VPN is completely free to use. There is no time limit to try, sign up or ask for billing information. Opera VPN is completely free. So if you need to hide your IP quickly and inexpensively, Opera can be a good choice. However, there are other free options that offer better protection.

Reviews on Opera VPN: Simple, fast and free Picture 3 Opera VPN is completely free to use

Opera VPN pros and cons

Conclude 

To be exact, Opera VPN is not really a VPN. It's a simple web proxy. The service is completely free and very easy to use, so if you're using Opera as your web browser, then there's no reason not to try Opera VPN.

Opera VPN won't make you safe online or protect your privacy, but it can help you bypass firewalls or content filtering. That is probably the tool's best practical use.

David Pac

Update 11 September 2020