How to use Opera’s tools to protect your privacy while browsing
0Reported today on The Verge
For the full article visit: https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/20/21136772/opera-privacy-tools-private-network-browser-settings-security
Reported today in The Verge.
How to use Opera's tools to protect your privacy while browsing
Opera is not a newcomer to the browser wars; it's been around as an alternative to the more well-known browsers since 1995. Opera blocks ads and trackers natively. In fact, when you first install it, the welcome screen gives you a chance to toggle the ad-blocker on immediately. The browser also offers a free VPN, which, according to the company, encrypts any data passing through public Wi-Fi and routes it through a remote server.
If you didn't switch the tracking blocker on when you installed Opera, and you want to enable it now, you'll have to switch it on manually. Luckily, it's not difficult.
Select the "Settings" icon (a cog) in the left side menu. Click on "Basic."
Under "Privacy Protection," you can now toggle on "Block trackers" and, if you want, "Block ads and surf the web up to three times faster."
Once toggled on, both the tracking blocker and ad-blocker offer a "Manage exceptions" option, which lets you choose which ads or trackers to allow, and a "Manage lists" function, which allows you to select which ad- and tracker-blocking lists you want Opera to use. (You may find yourself using the "Manage exceptions" option a good deal when you first start using Opera; otherwise, you could find yourself with 404 error messages for several major sites.)
Opera also lets you see which trackers it's blocking:
When you're on a site, the blue shield icon in the address bar will show a checkmark if it's active. Click on the icon, and you can see the number of trackers and ads blocked. Switch off ad- and / or tracker-blocking for that specific site by clicking the "Turn off for this site" button under either the ad or tracker section.
Click "List of blocked trackers" to see which