Interest in using a VPN is on the increase as the United States Congress voted and approved to repeal restrictions which stop ISPs from selling personal browsing data and information.
Since then, the number of new U.S. users of Opera, the only browser with a free, built-in VPN, has doubled in just a few days.
The concerns are also visible on Google Trends, indicating that the number of VPN searches went up by 138%, following the vote.
For the Opera browser, the growth in downloads has seen an identical boost. The average number of daily, new Opera users in the U.S. has more than doubled since Congress decided to repeal certain internet privacy protections.
What is Opera’s built-in VPN?
Opera is the first major browser to offer a free, no-log, and easy-to-use VPN service. When turned on, it creates a secure connection to one of Opera’s many server locations around the world, allowing you to safely send and receive data across public or shared networks
Since it’s embedded inside the Opera browser, it is very easy for users to activate it by following these steps:
- Go to Settings (or “Preferences” on Mac).
- Choose “Privacy & Security” and then toggle the free VPN on.
- An icon labeled “VPN” will appear in the browser to the left of the address field, from which you can activate the VPN and choose your preferred location.
People can also choose to have the Opera browser automatically select the optimal server location based on certain factors, such as network speed, latency, location, and server capacity. When in automatic location mode, browsing through the VPN is always done at the maximum available speed.
Why use VPN to protect online privacy?
The VPN service encrypts users’ data to avoid the interception of data traffic over a public network infrastructure. It also lets people choose where to appear on the web, protecting their online privacy and security.
“We integrated a free, no-log VPN directly into the browser to bring everyone, not just savvy users, a simple tool for protecting their privacy,” says Krystian Kolondra, EVP of Desktop, Opera. “Since then, millions of new users have accessed the web with more control over their data. The usage statistics for the past few days show that users are becoming even more conscious about their potential privacy issues when online.”
Privacy guaranteed by no-log service
The built-in VPN feature in Opera is a no-log service, which means information on our users is not stored outside of the basic information needed to set up your account and make sure the VPN is working correctly. The VPN service is provided by our supplier, SurfEasy Inc., which is a Canadian company operating under Canadian privacy laws. For more information, read the SurfEasy Terms of Service. Being a Norwegian company operating under Norwegian and EU/EEA privacy laws, Opera does not have access to your VPN data. Opera’s privacy policy is located here.
