SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the you-don't-get-what-you-don't-pay-for dept.
Opera is offering a free and "unlimited" VPN for Android users:
Security-conscious Android users can now tap into Opera's free and unlimited VPN service, which blocks ad-tracking cookies and tests wireless network security, among other things.
Users can change their virtual location by connecting to one of five regions—the US, Canada, Germany, Singapore, or the Netherlands—and borrowing an IP address from that area.
This week's launch comes just a few months after Opera rolled out the same service to iOS, where it has been downloaded by more than 1 million users. It was added to Opera's browser earlier this year, and all three versions were built by SurfEasy, the VPN company Opera acquired last year.
I do want to make clear that Opera VPN is not a substitute for a paid VPN. SurfEasy claims to not save logs of VPN activity from its users, but they obviously have to pay for their servers somehow (besides the advertisements in-app). SurfEasy is also under the legal jurisdiction of Canada, where privacy and VPNs don't always go hand-in-hand.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 24 2016, @02:19PM
From TFA:
Users should, however, be aware that the app does collect anonymous data about how folks use their mobile device, which Opera makes available to third parties.
Meanwhile, does anyone know what they mean by "viking"?
"We've incorporated a Viking in the app, because Vikings didn't care about borders, and they certainly wouldn't be afraid of public Wi-Fi," Houston said. "The Opera VPN app can unlock online borders and is the closest thing to a Viking shield that today's mobile users have for virtual self-protection."
Is this some code word I don't know about because I've been out of the game too long?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 24 2016, @02:37PM
> Meanwhile, does anyone know what they mean by "viking"?
It's their version of Clippy.
"It looks like you are trying to browse the internet on a public hotspot. Would you like help with that?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 24 2016, @02:54PM
Huh. Looks like you're spot on, [opera.com] it's a virtual historically-inaccurate pseudo-Danish warrior sent to guide you through their app.
That's some pretty lazy writing on the part of PC Mag: plagiarized straight from the press release from Opera, but without the context needed to make sense of it. Disappointing.
(Score: 3, Funny) by FatPhil on Wednesday August 24 2016, @03:00PM
It goes berserk occasionally?
I'll let someone else mention rape and pillage.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 3, Informative) by Gaaark on Wednesday August 24 2016, @03:57PM
Rape and pillage.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. I have always been here. ---Gaaark 2.0 --