How secure is the Opera VPN?

VPN
1

How secure is your browsing activity when using the Opera VPN? Apparently it isn’t a VPN but some kind of proxy server is used to encrypt your traffic and it is done through HTTPS/SSL. This review says that your data is routed through a Canadian server.

Even though it’s not a full VPN, is your online activity done through Opera VPN hidden from your ISP, or in countries like China where online activity is monitored, the government?

By the way, I’d like to know about Opera 58.0 as well as the latest version.

2

How secure is your browsing activity when using the Opera VPN?

It depends on whether you’re using secure HTTP (i.e. HTTPS) or not (i.e. HTTP). With HTTPS, the VPN server won’t know what data is transferred. With HTTP, they’ll know.

In terms of connection, the VPN server will know from which ISP you’re connecting from, and which sites you’re connecting to. Your ISP will only know that you’re connecting to a VPN server. Without using VPN, your ISP will be the one to know from where you are connecting to.

Apparently it isn’t a VPN but some kind of proxy server is used to encrypt your traffic and it is done through HTTPS/SSL.

A VPN is basically a proxy, but it works in a lower network level. So, the proxy is applicable for any protocols such as Ping, DNS, HTTP, etc. Common proxies are either HTTP/S-only, or Torrent at most. Low layer protocols such as Ping can not be used with common proxies.

Opera’s VPN, is just a common proxy labelled as “VPN”. It’s no different than other so called “VPN” browser addons which use common but dedicated proxy servers.

This review says that your data is routed through a Canadian server.

IMO, it doesn’t really matter from which country those servers are located. What’s important is their owner company.

Even though it’s not a full VPN, is your online activity done through Opera VPN hidden from your ISP, or in countries like China where online activity is monitored, the government?

For common proxies, there are two types: HTTP proxy, and HTTPS proxy. HTTPS proxy encrypts data before it’s sent to the destination server. HTTP proxy does not. Opera’s “VPN” server is a HTTPS proxy. So, no one will be able to know what data you’re sending and receiving. They’ll only know that it’s an encrypted data.

By the way, I’d like to know about Opera 58.0 as well as the latest version.

There’s no difference on its “VPN” feature.

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Opera is owned by a Chinese company.

4

It’s not a full VPN, so it’s not gonna provide full support or security. If you absolutely must use a free VPN then you could always use a free trial from one of the top providers rather than Opera - https://streamingmoviesright.com/free-vpn/

5

So if I use the vpn will they know where I’m connecting from?

6

its crappy I GOT DOXXED BY AN WEBSITE

7

Forgive me for the layman language but can it be used or is it very malicious like some virus getting into our mobile?

8

no longer available!

9

So the Http/https issue is about the VPN server knowing what you’re doing? The data you send will be hidden from anyone else watching, right?

Also, what happens if the Opera VPN is used in conjunction with another VPN program like NordVPN? Two layers of protection?

10

Even though Opera is a Chinese owned company the VPN is managed by SurfEasy which is Canadian owned. Overall though most of opera’s operation are located in Norway.

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It’s not. It’s Norwegian.

12

I don’t recommend Nord VPN given the fact that, if court ordered, they will deliver your data

Also they aren’t open source.

“However, if a court order were issued according to laws and regulations, if it were legally binding under the jurisdiction that we operate in, and if the court were to reject our appeal, then there would be no other option but to comply. The same applies to all existing VPN companies if they operate legally. In fact, the same applies to all companies in the world.”

That’s why you want to use some obscure chinese proxy unreachable through judicial means instead of “reliable” and “well known” VPN’s.

“Oh, but no one has ever court ordered VPN’s to release data”, well, Brazil just court ordered X (Twitter) to deliver confidential data about users to the government, upon refusal, the Supreme Court ordered a nationwide ban on twitter and also implemented a 10.000 USD fine for anyone using VPN to access twitter.

13

How did it happen/which website?

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So the Http/https issue is about the VPN server knowing what you’re doing? The data you send will be hidden from anyone else watching, right?

Yes.

Also, what happens if the Opera VPN is used in conjunction with another VPN program like NordVPN? Two layers of protection?

If you open a website using HTTPS from Opera with VPN enabled, and use NordVPN, you’ll get 3 layers of encryptions from: [1] the browser’s HTTPS, [2] Opera’s “VPN” HTTPS proxy, and [3] NorVPN’s VPN. NorVPN would be the outer most layer of encryption. Kind of overkill, if I must say.

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The owner of the Opera browser is the company Opera Software AS, which was originally founded in Norway. However, in 2016, it was acquired by the Chinese company Golden Brick Capital Private Equity Fund, which obtained a majority stake. Opera Software remains an independent brand, but the majority of its ownership is now Chinese.

16

its from the ip logger website that had rickroll in it but he found out i was using opera vpn which those are not safe and he told me it was just an proxy

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NordVPN itself is mostly Norwegian but the company that owns it, Nord Security, is from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. NordVPN is literally blocked in China.

18

ok, I guess you are talking about “Otello” the company and not Opera the web browser. Quite confusing as “Opera” typically refers to the web browser and not the company. In fact “Opera” as a company no longer exists and is now called “Otello” for that very reason. The Opera browser is owned by a Chinese company.

19

Mb I forgot what VPN we were talking about, no idea where I got Nord from. I’m just gonna end this cause that was pretty stupid of me.