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Opera's free VPN is now available in its main desktop browser

Opera's free VPN is now available in its main desktop browser

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But Netflix has already blocked it

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VPNs or virtual private networks are services that reroute your traffic through different countries. They're good if you want a little more anonymity or are trying to find your way around geoblocks, but they usually cost money. Not in Opera's latest browser, though. After testing out a built-in VPN in the beta version earlier this year, the company is now rolling out the same service on its main software stream. That means if you download the latest version of the browser, Opera 40, you get a free VPN with unlimited data.

We've tested the software and it's quick and easy to use. To activate it, just head to Preferences or Settings in the browser, go to Security & Privacy, and check the box marked "Enable VPN." You can click the VPN logo in the browser's address bar to monitor your data usage and change which country you're routing your traffic through. (Choices are limited to the US, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore.) However, if you were hoping to, say, watch a bit of US Netflix from outside the country, don't bother — the video streaming service has already blocked Opera's proxies.

That being said, you might have better luck with other services, and the VPN does still provide an extra layer of privacy if you feel the need. Opera 40 also comes with other user-friendly features including a battery-saving mode and a built-in ad blocker. Opera is still only a minnow in the browser world, but it's doing everything in its power to attract new users. You can check it out for yourself here.