Shellfire

It is advisable to brows anonymously when using Opera for several reasons, since when you are active online, you leave traces of your activity not only with advertisers and website operators, but can also be taken advantage of by hackers. To effectively prevent this, users seek numerous tools, add-ons and other options to ensure their invisibility while browsing. Opera is the only browser of its kind that has integrated VPN (Virtual Private Network) functionality.

Why is it recommended to browse anonymously with Opera?

There are many reasons users increasingly value privacy and anonymity when browsing online. Privacy is a concern that users of any browser should take seriously. A great deal of information about their activities is transmitted during regular Internet browsing. This information is not only of interest to corporations, website operators and advertisers; it is also recommended to stay anonymous because of ongoing data leaks and security gaps.

Complications such as data misuse or even data theft also remain constant concerns. The data transmitted by users during conventional Internet use includes IP addresses and cookies. IP addresses uniquely identify the computer online, while cookies provide precise insight into usage behaviour. Security-conscious users thus attach importance to anonymizing and encrypting their IP addresses and data.

How can you browse anonymously with Opera?

A number of options exist to improve anonymity while browsing with Opera. Firstly, there are basic things to consider regarding the browser before employing VPNs, add-ons or proxies. A regular purge of the search history and cookies contributes to a higher level of anonymity. With no cookies and a browser history that is no longer traceable, others will not longer have easy access to information about your activities on the Internet, such as the pages accessed.

However, it should be noted that some websites cannot be displayed without the use of cookies or can only be displayed partially. In such cases, you can allow cookies temporarily, and then remove them again. However, options such as a VPN client or the Tor browser offer greater anonymity.

VPN

Opera is a conscious step ahead of other browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox, because the browser offers you the option of using a free VPN module that’s already integrated right out of the box. However, the disadvantage here is that the module only protects you when you browse with Opera and no other time. The speed of the Opera VPN can also sometimes leave much to be desired, and you cannot specify which country the VPN server you connect to should be located in, which makes the in-house VPN rather unsuitable as a VPN for streaming.

A better option here is a service like the Shellfire VPN, which in addition to addressing the above problems, does not collect log files and is available both as a free standard version as a well as an affordable paid Premium version.

Currently, Shellfire VPN is available for the following operating systems:

• Windows
• Mac OS X
• iOS
• Android

So, to hide your IP address while using Opera (or any other browser), all you have to do is download our app for your operating system and follow the on-screen instructions, and you’re good to go. The paid Premium version starts at around 5 € per month.

Click here now for more informaiton about Shellfire VPN.

Anonymity and Incognito Mode: Important but Insufficient

The first measure towards greater anonymity when browsing is offered by a browser’s or device’s incognito mode. This mode means that browser histories and queries to search engines can no longer be traced by other device users. Two accounts, such as email, can also be managed and used simultaneously in incognito mode.

Anonymous mode is recommended when users work with public devices. If you log in to an account on one of these or want to check your emails, you can use the anonymous mode to prevent other users from tracking your data. It should be noted that although anonymous mode under Opera is a first step, it does not contribute to data encryption in any way. Even in anonymous mode, traces remain on the Internet that website operators, hackers or even the government may be able to track. Even when surfing in a public network, for example at the office, activities are often visible to administrators.

Private mode is an important initial step to surfing anonymously with this browser.

Proxy-Server: IP Address Obfuscation

An important contribution to anonymity when using Opera or other browsers is hiding one’s IP address. This serves to uniquely identify each computer on the network. A proxy server is a kind of representative. It mediates between a client and receiver, such as a web page. There are transparent and anonymous proxy servers, the latter hiding the identity of the client. When accessing a web page, the web server knows only the address of the proxy.

Consider that the redirection of requests to the proxy can limit transmission speed. Furthermore, unlike a VPN, a proxy doesn’t typically provide encryption of all data, but only a part of the data traffic.

Tor Browser: Encrypted Server Network

A Tor browser offers the highest degree of anonymity. Tor solutions have been available for PC and Mac as an alternative to VPN solutions for many years.

Tor is available as an add-on for Opera. The Tor Control add-on starts the Tor network in the background and routes traffic through the anonymous network to protect privacy.

Tor is based on an encrypted server network. The logic behind Tor is basically similar to a VPN server. The encryption disguises the user’s IP address. The network is distributed over the entire world. Tor automatically deletes all cookies when the browser is closed. The Tor browser also automatically blocks any tracking tools that may be used.

However, a big drawback of the Tor browser is its often low speed and also the fact that you cannot choose which country your IP address is assigned to. If you place an extremely high value on anonymity and are willing to sacrifice speed, using a combination of VPN and Tor browser with Opera could be the best option for you.

The popular Tor browser is available for Android and offers an important contribution to anonymity. However, a big disadvantage of this solution is the rather slow transfer rate. VPNs are therefore the better solution for streaming in particular.

Is it legal to use VPN on Opera?

The legal situation of the use of a VPN depends on the laws of the state in which the VPN is used. Most countries don’t impose any legal restrictions on VPN use. Russia and China, however, are some exceptions. In these countries, only selected and state-regulated VPNs are legal. Turkey also has certain regulations for VPN use.

It should be noted that every Internet user remains responsible for his or her activities on the Internet when using a VPN. An existing VPN connection does not release the user from basic rights and obligations, such as in relation to illegal downloads or uploads.