Today, we spend more than half our lives online. So it’s only natural that we worry a lot more about online safety and privacy. VPNs are just one of the tools many internet users already rely on to stay private online. But while it’s an increasingly popular tool, many are still unsure about exactly what it does or how it works.

At Opera, we have 30 years of experience building safe and secure browsers, so we understand that privacy is not just a feature – it’s a right. That’s why we decided to help break down what a VPN is, how it works, and when you should use one to enhance your privacy and security online.

Incidentally, Opera makes it easy to get started with using a VPN, offering two tiers of VPN service. Opera users can use Opera’s built-in browser VPN for absolutely free, in order to protect their activity within the browser. 

Users who wish to protect their entire device (and five additional ones) can upgrade to the new and improved VPN Pro, Opera’s premium VPN service based on the next-gen Lightway protocol.

Some VPN basics

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a protective layer between you and the internet, helping to secure your connection and enhance your online privacy. When you use a VPN, it becomes harder for others to track your online activity or gain access to your data. Essentially, it acts as a shield against cyber threats, malicious activities by third parties, and unsafe networks. 

How does a VPN work?

A VPN routes your connection through a remote server to connect to the internet, thereby masking your Internet Protocol (IP) address and disguising your location. It also encrypts your connection to prevent other parties, like your ISP (internet service provider), or even malicious actors from observing your online activity. 

What is encryption?

Without getting too technical, encryption is a process where data gets encoded and scrambled, making it unreadable for anyone without the encryption key. So anyone who might be able to observe your activity, whether for legitimate or illegitimate reasons, would not be able to see exactly what you are doing. Currently, one of the strongest encryption algorithms available is AES-256, and this is the encryption standard that Opera’s free built-in browser VPN uses to ensure a private and secure experience for our users.

What is a no-log policy?

If you want to be confident using a VPN, you need to be sure that whoever operates the VPN servers you connect through does not log data about your activity. For this reason, it’s best to use VPNs that have a strict no-log policy to ensure your privacy. This means the VPN will not track or store your browsing information. Ideally, look out for services that have been independently audited by reputable third parties. We are proud to report that Opera’s VPN is one of them, as it has been independently audited for its no-log policy by Deloitte. Find out more about it here.

When you should use a VPN

VPNs can be used for making various online activities more secure, whether you’re just browsing, gaming, or handling sensitive information such as work emails and payments. A trustworthy VPN helps protect your activity and identity by making you harder to track by potential malicious actors. 

One of the main reasons to use a VPN is to be safer when connecting to public WiFi spots. These public networks are often less secure, and connections can be intercepted by malicious actors who can track, access, or steal your data. A VPN can offer a higher level of security and privacy in such cases. 

In addition, VPNs may improve your online experience by making it possible to access more organic search results or country-specific content. Some even find VPNs to be useful for streaming content from their home country while travelling. 

Comparing VPNs with other privacy tools

VPN vs Incognito mode

Using incognito mode means that your browsing activity such as history, cookies, and cache are not saved locally in your browser. However, websites you connect to, and parties that can access your connection (your ISP, your network operator, any malicious actors that might be in the middle) can still observe your activity. This does not offer the same protection as a VPN, which secures your internet connection and encrypts your browsing and/or device data. 

VPN vs Ad blocker

VPNs do not act as automatic ad blockers. They are, however, often used in combination with ad blockers to minimize data collection and increase your online privacy. Ad blockers themselves can stop tracking scripts and prevent potential malicious ads from jeopardizing your privacy, but they don’t encrypt your connection nor disguise your location like a VPN does. Ad blocking usually requires separate installation of a browser extension that will block unwanted ads for you. Some browsers such as Opera offer their users native ad blocking capabilities, eliminating the need to install additional extensions. 

Tips for better privacy and security with a VPN

Watch where you browse

It is true that VPNs can give you a more secure browsing experience by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your IP address. However, we still recommend that you be vigilant when downloading content or visiting suspicious websites. This is best done through inspecting each file and domain carefully to avoid exposure to malware, phishing attacks, and viruses. Another tip is to check a website’s HTTPS/SSL certificate by clicking on the padlock symbol next to the URL – which can usually tell you the website is legitimate.

Be careful what information you share 

While it is possible to safeguard your digital identity to some extent with a VPN on, this does not mean you are always totally anonymous. Any website or social network that you log into using  a VPN can still associate your activity with your profile on said website or network. Some of your online activity can also still be tracked through website trackers and third-party cookies. If this is a concern of yours, consider using a VPN together with a browser that gives you built-in tracker blocking and third-party cooking capabilities, such as Opera. 

Disguised doesn’t mean invisible

VPNs are a great tool for reducing the amount of your data others can see. However, for functionality, analytics, and diagnostic purposes it is common for websites to detect details about your device even when you have a VPN on, blocking trackers, or have disabled cookies. For example, a website may detect your device’s screen size to be able to display a suitable layout or detect bugs. Such information is usually not enough to identify you with a large enough degree of accuracy but it demonstrates that anything you do online always leaves some traces. Remember that using a VPN is a privacy-enhancing tool, but you still need to be careful and responsible online.

As always, stay safe out there!

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