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Opera VPN launches for Android

Martin Brinkmann
Aug 23, 2016
Opera
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15

Opera Software released its free VPN application for Android today after making it available to iOS devices earlier this year.

The company's journey as a VPN provider started with its acquisition of SurfEasy VPN. Opera Software promoted services of SurfEasy shortly thereafter in the Opera desktop browser, and launched a free browser proxy back in April 2016.

The iOS application followed in May, and today saw the release of the Android application.

Opera VPN for Android is a VPN client that is free to use. It is provided by SurfEasy, an Opera company.

Tip: Check out the privacy policy and terms of use before you start using the service. Basically, what it states is that you may not use it to break the law or the rights of others, that the service may be limited, modified or discontinued at any time, and that you may be contacted for limited marketing purposes.

Opera VPN for Android

opera vpn android

Installation of the application is straightforward. Since it is a VPN, you will receive a request to set up  a VPN connection on the device. You must accept it or won't be able to use the service at all.

The app displays a short introduction to the features that it makes available. Basically, it offers three features that you may activate from within the app:

  1. Connect to the VPN network. Opera VPN connects to the closest region automatically, but displays options to switch the region once connected. Regions that were available during the test were Canada, USA, Netherlands, Germany, and Singapore.
  2. Wi-Fi Security. You may use this feature to test the security of the wireless network your Android device is connected to. Opera VPN displays the name of the WLAN and its ID, and whether it is protected or not on the screen. The test performs additional look ups and awards a security score at the end (one when connected regularly, and one when connected to Opera VPN).
  3. Guardian. Guardian can be activated to block ad trackers when you are online.

opera vpn wi-fi security

The connection speed was quite good during tests but mileage may vary based on the location you connect to the service, the region you connect to, load at that time and other factors.

A quick test playing videos on YouTube and other services showed that playback was fluent and without buffering issues or other issues.

Since it is a VPN app that runs in the background, all applications you use tunnel their traffic through it.

Closing Words

Opera VPN is a free VPN app for Android that does not look that different than other free VPN apps for Android. The inclusion of the WiFi security test -- with the foreseeable result that the connection is more secure when you use Opera VPN -- and the system-wide tracker blocker are nice to have features.

If you trust Opera Software, there is little reason not to use the company's VPN applications as well. Paid solutions on the other hand offer better privacy, whereas other free solutions usually don't.

 

Summary
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Author Rating
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2.5 based on 4 votes
Software Name
Opera VPN
Operating System
Android
Software Category
Networking
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Comments

  1. Omar said on August 24, 2016 at 7:05 pm
    Reply

    How does this compare to Betternet’s VPN app?

    It’s also unlimited and free.

  2. 1 said on August 24, 2016 at 6:02 am
    Reply
  3. Jaco said on August 24, 2016 at 2:39 am
    Reply

    What’s the alternative guys… Paid or not paid VPNs, the issue remains the same. How do we know we are not being tracked, analyzed and perhaps even pass over to someone else.

    1. Hy said on August 24, 2016 at 1:59 pm
      Reply

      According to PCMag, data is collected and passed over to unspecified third-parties.

      http://www.pcmag.com/news/347245/opera-launches-free-vpn-for-android

  4. Jojo said on August 23, 2016 at 7:12 pm
    Reply

    The concept of VPN that always bugs me, though it is what it is: “Since it is a VPN app that runs in the background, all applications you use tunnel their traffic through it”

    1. Anonymous said on August 23, 2016 at 8:07 pm
      Reply

      That’s the point tho.

      1. Anonymous said on August 23, 2016 at 10:31 pm
        Reply

        Yeah, but same is true for your ISP and/or DNS provider too. The DNS provider can see every single one of your DNS queries (even the root domain for HTTPS requests), and your ISP can see all traffic and which IPs you communicate with and how much and what (if the data is unencrypted).

      2. Anonymous said on August 23, 2016 at 8:17 pm
        Reply

        Yeah, lol…
        The service could be useful, and sometimes very much necessary, but from some reason it always sounds intimidating to think that they can get access to anything i have instored online…

  5. M said on August 23, 2016 at 5:30 pm
    Reply

    Not attempting to sound like an argumentative idiot. I just have questions.
    1. How and why is this free? 2. How do we know we can trust the VPN is not scanning and collecting data off of us?

    1. ilev said on August 23, 2016 at 7:23 pm
      Reply

      Can you trust the Chinese government that bought the Opera browser (both desktop and mobile) not to track every bit of data ?

    2. Anonymous said on August 23, 2016 at 7:11 pm
      Reply

      Can you trust the Chinese government that bought the Opera browser (both desktop and mobile) not to track every bit of data ?

      1. Hy said on August 24, 2016 at 1:57 pm
        Reply

        Is it the Chinese government that bought Opera, or a Chinese company?

        At any rate, the short answer to your question is a decided, “No!” In fact, yesterday’s article about this Opera Android VPN on PCMag says the following:

        “Users should, however, be aware that the app does collect anonymous data about how folks use their mobile device, which Opera makes available to third parties.”

    3. Anonymous said on August 23, 2016 at 6:36 pm
      Reply

      500 MB per month. Not a whole lot of data…

      1. 1 said on August 24, 2016 at 3:51 pm
        Reply

        I think you are thinking of the SurfEasy VPN. That has a 500mb limit on the free plan.
        I believe the opera VPN is unlimited.

      2. Hy said on August 24, 2016 at 1:54 pm
        Reply

        Don’t know where that info about a 500MB limit comes from, but it appears to be incorrect.

        In yesterday’s article (“Opera Launches Free VPN for Android”) on PCMag website it says there is no data limit.

        It quotes from a statement by the SurfEasy VPN president–SurfEasy being the company that makes the Opera VPN:

        “The Opera VPN app for Android sets itself apart from other VPNs by offering a completely free service—without a data limit, no log-in required, advanced Wi-Fi protection features, and no need for a subscription,” SurfEasy President Chris Houston said in a statement.

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