sec-tunnel.com

[Viewpoint2724]

Comments

Opera's Browser Proxy Marketed as "VPN"

Opera advertises a free "VPN" service. However, this feature is not a true VPN.
Instead, it functions as a browser-only proxy that encrypts and routes traffic only from the Opera browser — not the entire system.

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What a Real VPN Does

• Encrypts all traffic from your device (not just browser).
• Hides your IP address system-wide.
• Protects against ISP monitoring.
• Secures connections on public Wi-Fi.
• Privacy depends on the VPN provider’s policies, but many have no-logs commitments.

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What Opera's Proxy Does

• Encrypts and routes traffic only inside the Opera browser.
• Other apps on your device bypass it and remain exposed.
• The proxy owner (Opera/parent company) can see and log browsing requests.
• Usually does not add encryption beyond what HTTPS already provides.
• ISP can still see which websites you visit (unless HTTPS is used).
• Offers no protection on public Wi-Fi against sniffing for non-HTTPS traffic.
• Useful mainly for bypassing geo-restrictions or hiding IP in the browser only.

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Why It Matters

Many users believe Opera’s "VPN" provides the same level of security and privacy as a real VPN.
In reality, it only hides your location for browser sessions. It does not provide comprehensive system-wide protection.

Conclusion: Opera’s service is best described as a browser proxy with limited benefits, not a full VPN.

Wildcard domain records

api2.sec-tunnel.com

Sub-Domain records

api2.sec-tunnel.com

Hosts (RFC:952) specific records, not used by DNS RPZ firewalls

Safe Search records

Screenshots

Screenshot, click to expand

Links to related contents

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Name servers

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logs from uBlock Origin

N/A

[spirillen]

Thanks for the report, how would you best describe or choose a category for the domain to be added as?

[Viewpoint2724]

Thanks for the report, how would you best describe or choose a category for the domain to be added as?

A bypass/tracker blocking category.

[spirillen]

@ShadowWhisperer didn't you have a VPN category, could this one for you to host?

[ShadowWhisperer]

@spirillen Yep. It's in there.

[spirillen]

Super — closing as known and registered as a trusted companion.

[spirillen]

And then it struck me: could Opera's "VPN" actually be an infected MITM network similar to Cloudflare, as I recall's it, they decrypts connections, collects transferred data and sells it to advertising and tracking brokers like Adobe?

[Viewpoint2724]

And then it struck me: could Opera's "VPN" actually be an infected MITM network similar to Cloudflare, as I recall's it, they decrypts connections, collects transferred data and sells it to advertising and tracking brokers like Adobe?

Of course they do. That's why a low market share browser is still thriving and actively developed. The entire browser is a spyware tool.