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Opera's free built-in VPN can now turn on automatically on public Wi-Fi

Opera's free desktop VPN can now activate automatically on public or unsecured Wi-Fi in the US and France. The feature is opt-in.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-24 18:23

The automatic setting is meant to remove the need to remember to turn on the VPN manually when joining a public network. Opera said public Wi-Fi networks are "notoriously vulnerable to snooping and data interception" and that its browser VPN now detects public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks and activates automatically. Users can study, work, manage finances, or browse without manually enabling protection, the company said. The feature remains strictly opt-in and can be toggled within Opera's settings, according to Opera.

Opera has offered a free, built-in VPN in its browser since 2016. The company said the tool builds on its core belief in "making basic online privacy accessible to everyone." Opera also said its "free VPN operates under strict GDPR laws" and "has been independently audited by Deloitte." The VPN sits alongside other built-in privacy features in the browser, including Opera's native Ad Blocker and Tracker Blocker.

The rollout comes as VPNs have become more mainstream, but usage is still limited. According to We Are Social's Digital 2026 Mid-Year Global Update Report, only 23% of internet users aged 16 and older use a VPN for at least some of their online activities. That figure is relevant to people who rely on public Wi-Fi for work or while traveling, which is the situation the automatic protection is designed to address.