Today, VPN technology is becoming increasingly popular. Many people somewhat misunderstand the term itself, since it can refer not only to networks, but also to secure connection tools based on tunneling. Below you will find material that allows you to learn how to enable VPN in Opera, since this browser is the very first and so far the only web browser in which the VPN client is available in a predefined form. But first, a brief look at some theoretical information.
What is a VPN?
So, the reduction in VPN comes from the English Virtual Private Network, which, as mentioned above, translates as “virtual private network”. The technology itself is currently used in a slightly different role, allowing not only to protect the data transmitted and received on the network during Internet surfing, but also to make the user unrecognized.
If anyone does not know, the identification of any user computer terminal or mobile device when accessing some Internet resource is done by determining the external IP address associated with the region in which the computer or mobile device is located. There is not a single duplicate address in the world, so identifying a user can be quite simple. On this basis, some resources that are not intended for users to view regions other than the server location may be blocked (for example, the US Internet radio stations for Eastern Europe are blocked, in Ukraine access to some Russian news sites, social networks, search networks and services is completely prohibited) . But in order for the server to accept the request in such a way that it comes from the region where access is allowed, VPN technologies are used.
How does a VPN work?
Without delving into the very essence of the functioning of a VPN, it is worth identifying only the main aspects. The basis of the technology is the use of a special tunnel with access keys on both sides, through which encrypted traffic is transmitted. Thanks to this approach, it is impossible to get into the tunnel from the outside and gain access to information. In addition, the VPN allows you to change the identifier of the user device (external IP) according to how online proxies do it. Thus, the server to which the request is addressed is perceived by the computer as a terminal located in a region with permitted access. It almost always works.
The exceptions are China and North Korea, where such a powerful firewall system is installed at the state level that it’s impossible to get to YouTube’s video hosting prohibited in these countries, even if the most modern VPN clients are used.
How to enable VPN in Opera after the first launch of the browser?
But it was all a theory. Now the practice begins. Opera is not only one of the most popular browsers, but also the first browser in which its developers provided for the installation of a VPN client. Please note that such a client is not available in all versions of the browser, but only in the most recent ones. Previously, browsers had to install additional add-ons (extensions) to activate the VPN, but now this need has disappeared.
But how to enable VPN in Opera? Windows is used or any other operating system, in fact, does not matter. If you just installed a browser, the default VPN client is disabled.
To activate it, you need to go to the basic browser settings and use the security section. In the window to the right, somewhere in the middle, the block responsible for enabling the VPN will be shown. How to enable VPN in Opera? Yes, just check the box next to the client’s usage field. In principle, it’s not necessary to search for such parameters by sections, but on the main page of settings in the search field, enter the desired reduction (VPN), after which redirection to the necessary section will occur.
After activating the client, a blue icon will appear to the left of the address bar of the browser, indicating that the VPN client is active.
VPN-enabled Opera browser: basic settings
By clicking on the client icon, it can be turned on and off. However, it is worth considering that the server through which the connection is made is automatically selected in the browser by default (optimal location). To change it, Opera browser with VPN mode on offers the only solution.
In the location selection field, you can use the settings for Europe, America and Asia. In the first versions of the browser with the client, you could additionally select the desired country, but in the latest release there is no such possibility. In general, this is correct, since the user does not need to worry about manual settings.
Enable VPN on mobile devices
How to enable VPN in Opera on stationary terminals, figured out. Now a few words about mobile devices. With them, everything is easier. After the first launch of the browser on the device, you need to tap on the start button, and then press the continue button until a request for VPN connection appears.
Now you just have to agree and wait for the connection to be established. On mobile devices, Opera with VPN enabled has a few more options. Just in this case, despite the automatic server selection, you can change the region to your preferred, different from the one set by the browser.
Alternative methods
Finally, let's see how to enable VPN in Opera using other methods. Actually, no one has yet canceled the extensions, therefore, through the add-ons section, if the built-in client does not work or does not provide access to some blocked resource (which is unlikely), you need to install an additional client like ZenMate, friGate or something similar, and then activate add-in by clicking on its icon in the top bar of the browser.