Opera browser to bring built-in VPN on Android

Opera’s bringing back its VPN (virtual private network) service, albeit in a slightly different format. 

In 2016, the company launched a free VPN app for Android (followed by an iOS launch) but the app was discontinued last year. Soon, however, Opera will offer the free VPN service again, as part of its Opera browser for Android. 

The feature is currently undergoing testing and is slowly rolling out to Opera beta users, the company said in a blog post Thursday. 

Once you turn the option on, you can choose your virtual location — the choices aren’t as good as you’d get from a commercial VPN service, but you do get to choose whether you want to be virtually located in Europe, America or Asia. Opera claims it’s not keeping any usage logs. 

VPNs are important tools for anyone concerned about their privacy. They obscure your internet activities from your internet service provider, and can sometimes be used to use services or access sites which are blocked in your country. 

Opera already offers a free, unlimited VPN as part of its desktop web browser. Just like that version, the mobile browser also offers you to bypass VPN when accessing search engines. 

Opera’s browsers for Android is freely available on Google Play.