I am loving Linux in general and Zorin in particular. The only thing I don't like about being full-time Linux (no more Windows) is that the other Wilders forums aren't as interesting as they used to be. Am I the only one with that problem? Back On Topic: I recently installed Opera as my back-up browser to Firefox (FF). I was surprised to discover how easy, fast, & friendly it is. I like it so much (so far) that it has become my default & FF is now my back-up browser. Q- Is Opera as secure as FF? Q- Opera has a lot of settings to consider. I mean -- a LOT! Is a tutorial anywhere online that goes into "smart choices" for setting the settings? Q- It seems Opera has built-in VPN access -- for free. Am I mis-reading? If it actually IS free, should I get a private (paid) VPN or use Opera's? Back off topic -- In 2 days I'll be 93, still very ambulatory (PTL!) & still enjoying life. Go figure, eh?
No, I am not. I'm picky when it comes to browsers. Opera is owned by some chinese consortium since 2016 and I simply trust them even less than US BigTech
Yes,I use Opera Browser (no VPN) in my Android smartphone. In my opinion using Opera Browser with some features of NextDNS for example native tracking protection + TLD - all oriental characters, allows you to have reasonable privacy.
I'm with reasonablePrivacy. Opera is now owned by Golden Brick Capital which is a Chinese private equity firm. Trust level = zero.
I have been using it for 15 years. I didn't like when it was bought from a Chinese company, but I really love Opera and his features and I think that Chrome or most of the other browsers are not safer for privacy; I use Opera on an home computer, not for home bamking or very personal uses, so I continue to use it. As tutorial, generally you find in the Opera's Guide all you need. Many congratulations on how you live your days
Happy Birthday to you, Belgamin! I am in the same boat as you, some topics in Wilders and other security forums are a lot less relevant for me now that I switched to Linux Mint full time. I still read the forums but not as many threads as I used to, a lot of it just doesn't apply to Linux. I really like Mint and can't see myself ever going back to Windows, but I still think it is important to keep up with the goings-on in the online security world. I tried Opera last year but just didn't care for it much. It seemed to me to be more geared toward Facebook and Spotify/Deezer users and I just could not get used to the GUI. I don't know about the level of Security in Opera but have seen threads and posts from people worried about and not trusting the owners. One thing I like about Mint is how Firefox works a lot better with Mint than it does with Windows. Firefox is my default but I also have Vivaldi as a backup. Vivaldi works very well but I still like Firefox better. I don't have a source for it but I did read somewhere a couple of weeks ago that Google cannot noodle in on Firefox and follow me around like they can on Chromium based browsers. I don't know how true that might really be but I do try to avoid Google as much as possible.
As RP & Gringo suggested, I'm NOT going to use Opera -- I am Sino-phobic when it comes to security. I am now considering Chromium as my FF back-up. I will start another thread to inquire about that one, in a day or 2 because I just got my laptop back from the shop & I have some computer housecleaning that stacked up. MANY thanks for all the helpful comments!!!
