You may have read recently that the latest version of the Opera web browser now includes a free VPN. This means that, with a click of a button, you can change the IP address which web sites use to identify you.

Changing your IP address has 2 main benefits. Firstly, it means that a remote site can't determine who you are. This helps improve your online privacy. Secondly, you can request that the new IP address which gets assigned to you is registered in a country other than your own. This allows you to fool web sites into thinking that you are based elsewhere. This means that, for example, if you're in the UK but you want to access a site that only allows connections from the USA, changing your IP address to a USA-registered one will bypass the restriction.

Because Opera's free VPN is built into the browser, it's very easy to use. Just enable it with a single click in the Settings section, then turn it on and off as required via a button on the main screen. However, remember that it only works for sites that you access via the Opera browser. Information that your PC accesses from outside the browser will still divulge your real IP address.

Despite what some news sites would have you believe, the new release of Opera which includes the free VPN is not yet released. You can get it, but it means downloading the Developer Preview edition. Here's how to get it:  Read More