Tag: vpn

Opera Browser for iOS Gets Free Inbuilt VPN, Allows Users to Browse Web Privately

Opera added a free inbuilt VPN (virtual private network) in its mobile browser for Android back in 2019. Years later, the company is now rolling out the free VPN feature on Opera browser for iOS as well. This would allow iPhone and iPad users to browse the Web privately without any additional extensions. With the latest addition, Opera claims that it became the first Web browser to offer a free inbuilt VPN across Android, Mac, Linux, Windows, and iOS platforms. Opera for iOS is also getting other upgrades including the Bookmarks feature with Speed Dial and a new Live Score.

Opera on Wednesday announced the addition of free VPN to the Opera browser for iOS via a blogpost. This service debuted in its mobile browser for Android back in 2019. The latest update allows iPhone and iPad users to access the Web while ensuring online security and anonymity by creating a private network from a public Internet connection.

iOS users can turn on the VPN from the hamburger menu on the homepage. This is claimed to encrypt VPN traffic and keep the IP address private. The new native VPN service is free to use and does not come with any attached log management condition. Also, there are no additional extensions required to avail the service.

Opera claims that it keeps the anonymity of the user and ensures that the browser does not collect any personal data or information related to browsing history or originating network address of users.

The free VPN is already available on different platforms including Opera for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android. With the latest addition, Opera states that it has become the first Web browser to provide VPN across all major platforms free of charge.

The new feature is currently available to some users for early access, and the company is expected to complete the full rollout in the coming weeks.

Besides the free VPN service, the Opera browser for iOS is also getting multiple new features. A Bookmarks feature for organising online activities is also rolling out. It comes with a Speed Dial facility that allows users to instantly access pages or sites. Also, there is a new Live Score feature that would display scoreboards of the day’s matches on the browser’s homepage.

Opera for iOS also offers a Fast Action Button that helps to organise all navigation tools within a thumb’s reach. My Flow enables file sharing between phones, tablets, and computers and the browser’s Crypto Wallet allows users to keep track of their digital assets at all times.

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Google One Dark Web Report Feature Announced, VPN Access Expanded to Users on All Plans

Google One launched a new dark Web report feature for users in the US. The feature will help customers monitor their personal information on the darkest corners of the Internet. The company has now expanded access to VPN by Google One to all plans. The service was previously only accessible to users subscribed to the Premium 2TB plan. Google recently rolled out support for its Magic Eraser feature and HDR effects for videos to Google One subscribers and older Pixel smartphones.

The tech giant on Wednesday introduced a new dark Web report feature to all Google One members in the US. It is claimed to help a user scan the dark Web for their personal info — like their name, address, email, phone number and Social Security Number — and will notify them if a match is found.

When the dark Web report feature is enabled, users enter and select the information they want to monitor in the monitoring profile. If any matching information is discovered on the dark Web, the feature will notify the user and provides guidance on how to secure that information. Google notes as an example, if they discover someone’s Social Security number on the dark Web, they may advise the user to report it as stolen to the government or take steps to protect their credit information.

The dark Web report feature on Google One
Photo Credit: Google

 

In addition to results matching the personal information users have on the monitoring profile, the dark Web report will show other related information that may be found in security breaches and data leaks. The information in a user’s monitoring profile is handled in accordance with Google’s privacy policies, and the users can delete or stop tracking at any time. The dark Web report will be available to members of all Google One plans in the US over the next few weeks.

Google is also expanding VPN access to all Google One members, including the Basic plan, which starts at $1.99/month (roughly Rs. 160), starting today and rolling out over the course of several upcoming weeks, across Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac systems in 22 countries. The members can also share the VPN with up to five other Google One subscribers if they’re included in the primary Google One plan.

A VPN — or virtual private network — acts as an additional security layer, encrypting a user’s internet activity and protecting it from hackers and network operators (which may include the internet service provider, carrier or public Wi-Fi provider). It also hides users’ IP addresses from websites and apps, which could also be used to track their activity over time or determine their location.

From smartphones with rollable displays or liquid cooling, to compact AR glasses and handsets that can be repaired easily by their owners, we discuss the best devices we’ve seen at MWC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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After ExpressVPN, Surfshark Decides to Shut Down VPN Servers in India Over Government’s Order

Virtual private network (VPN) provider Surfshark on Tuesday announced that it is shutting down its servers in India as a response to the government’s directive that made it mandatory for VPN service providers to record and keep logs of users for 180 days and collect and keep customer data for five years. The Netherlands-based company said it operated under a strict “no log” policy, so the new requirements by the government go against its “core ethos.” Last week, ExpressVPN pulled its VPN servers in the country in response to the government’s order.

Surfshark said that its physical servers in India would be shut down before the new law comes into power. The company decided to introduce its virtual Indian servers instead of the physical servers in the country that will be located in Singapore and London. The virtual servers will have an Indian IP to provide the same functionality, but without being physically located in the country.

The move by Surfshark is similar to ExpressVPN that last week removed its VPN servers in India and started offering virtual Indian servers to its users.

“Virtual servers are functionally identical to physical ones – the main difference is that they’re not located in the stated country. They still provide the same functionality,” Surfshark said.

The company also underlined that its users in India who do not use Indian servers would not notice any differences.

“A VPN is an online privacy tool, and Surfshark was founded to make it as easy to use for the common users as possible. The infrastructure that Surfshark runs on has been configured in a way that respects the privacy of our users, and we will not compromise our values – or our technical base,” said Gytis Malinauskas, Head of Legal at Surfshark, in a prepared statement.

Surfshark also said that it would continue to closely “monitor the government’s attempts to limit Internet freedom and encourage discussions intended to persuade the government to hear the arguments of the tech industry.”

The company mentioned that VPN service providers leaving the country was not good for the IT sector.

Citing its internal data, Surfshark said that since 2004, 14.9 billion accounts have been leaked online — of which, 254.9 million are of users from India.

“Taking such radical action that highly impacts the privacy of millions of people living in India will most likely be counterproductive and strongly damage the sector’s growth in the country. Ultimately, collecting excessive amounts of data within Indian jurisdiction without robust protection mechanisms could lead to even more breaches nationwide,” the company noted.

India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) passed the order requiring VPN service providers to keep a log of their users for at least five years and sharing them with authorities when required. It will come into force from June 27.

Shortly after the government’s order became public, various VPN service providers expressed their dissent. NordVPN parent Nord Security was amongst the first ones to hint to remove its servers from the country if no other options are provided.

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Microsoft Edge Secure Network VPN Service Powered by Cloudflare Spotted in Support Post

Microsoft appears to be currently testing an additional security layer for the Edge browser called Edge Secure Network, which offers a built-in VPN powered by Cloudflare. The new layer of security and privacy to the browsing service was recently spotted on the support page of Microsoft’s website. With a detailed introduction of the Microsoft Edge Secure Network feature, the support page also mentions ways in which it provides additional security. For now, there’s no telling when the feature will arrive.

The Microsoft Edge Secure Network VPN service is not available to users yet. Its support post, spotted first by XDA Developers, details that it will come with a monthly 1GB free data limit with the user’s Microsoft Account. To keep an account of the data that has been used/left in a month, one can turn on the shield icon. It also reflects the date for the auto renewal of data. As of now, the company has not given any details on subscription fee for data usage beyond 1GB.

However, it appears to be similar to Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 service. In the support post, Microsoft has also given a glimpse of how the Microsoft Edge Secure Network will function to ensure privacy. The proxy uses limited diagnostic and support data, which is automatically deleted every 25 hours. This helps to keep the user safe by keeping important details away from prying eyes, even on public Wi-Fi networks.

While the Edge Secure Network feature is not yet available, the post details how to use it. One has to sign into their Microsoft account, and then go to Settings and More > Turn on Microsoft Edge Secure Network to enable the feature. To ensure your browsing experience is protected, you can check the shield icon in the browser frame. However, the feature will turn off once you close Microsoft Edge. The user needs to turn it on again on their next browsing session.

When you sign in to Microsoft Edge using a Microsoft account, the data will be synced automatically. This includes browsing history, favourites, settings, data saved to fill forms, passwords and extensions. However, one can also choose to turn the sync on and off individually for each data type.

This week on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, we discuss the Surface Pro 8, Go 3, Duo 2, and Laptop Studio — as Microsoft sets a vision for Windows 11 hardware. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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