What browsers lack–an integrated VPN and I bet they’re the next big thing

Published on April 4, 2015 By DrJBHL In Personal Computing

I’m also betting it’s a development that isn’t far off at all…because Opera very recently acquired SurfEasy which provides an easy to use VPN for mobile devices and desktops. Why would Opera acquire such a company if it didn’t intend to integrate it with its browser somehow?

There were hopes that Mozilla would integrate Tor anonymity software into Firefox…but Mozilla declined. Well, it really wouldn’t have been a hard thing to do since Tor already uses a version (ESR) of Firefox as the browser.

Anyway, nowadays all this security mindedness makes sense. People are rightly concerned about cyber-crime, identity theft, spying and hacking. ‘In private’ browsing fools no one, and its name yields a false sense of security. People are also rightly concerned about tracking…when even OEMs like Lenovo put crapware like “Superfish” on their computers.

Also, VPNs would put an end to ‘geofencing’ content and might actually benefit users by forcing media streamers and media producers to actually bargain and bring down prices for licensing.

Even nicer? It would make NSA prying more difficult and, it could put a serious dent in repressive regimes’ ability to censor the internet.

So how about if Chrome, Opera, MS or Pale Moon integrated a VPN with its browser?

Would you be interested in such a browser? If in addition to a browser like that, they offered an “anonymizing” portal, would that be a good thing?

I’d bet any browser which did that would receive a huge boost in usage stats.

What are your thoughts? Isn’t it about time for such a feature?

Source:

http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/19/opera-buys-surfeasy-to-add-secure-vpn-services-to-its-browser-software/

Comments

WOM

on Apr 04, 2015

hum, would be nice till the gov. forced the companies to give them the coding.

DrJBHL

on Apr 04, 2015

Not sure they can actually force that...no one likes the NSA...except those in power, and those with an economic interest large enough.

joasoze

on Apr 04, 2015

WOM

reply 1

hum, would be nice till the gov. forced the companies to give them the coding.

Yeah, it would be 5 great minutes

fooshniken

on Apr 04, 2015

Opera has had this feature in their browser for quite awhile. When the initial browser comes up press CTR +SHFT + N the secondary privacy browser pops up. there is no need to delete history because there is none. Also if you do the same in Google you will see the message "YOU.VE GONE INCOGNITO."

IMPORTANT NOTES FROM GOOGLE:

Learn more about Incognito and Guest mode

Note: At this time, Guest mode is only available on some versions of Chrome.

Both Incognito mode and Guest mode are temporary browsing modes, but there are some basic differences between them.

Incognito mode: You don't leave browsing history and cookies on your computer, but you can still see your existing history, bookmarks, passwords, Autofill data, and other Chrome settings.

Guest mode: A user in Guest mode does not leave any browsing history or cookies on the computer. In addition, they can't see or modify the computer owner's Chrome profile.

Important: Neither Incognito mode nor Guest mode makes you invisible on the web. Websites you visit, your employer, or your service provider can still see your browsing activity.

For more information about what's stored in both modes, visit the Chrome Privacy Policy.

moshi

on Apr 04, 2015

fooshniken

reply 4

...

you are talking about something else.

now what people do use VPNs for is not privacy, but watching Hulu etc. from outside the US. so don't expect anything from Google, Mozilla, Apple or Microsoft.

Opera is from Norway, so they might actually do something like that, but i rather think it has to with Opera Turbo.

DrJBHL

on Apr 04, 2015

Also, VPNs would put an end to ‘geofencing’ content and might actually benefit users by forcing media streamers and media producers to actually bargain and bring down prices for licensing.

Reading the OP sometimes saves typing.

psychoak

on Apr 04, 2015

Actually, people do use VPN's for privacy, in vast numbers that dwarf the number of people using Hulu with or without a proxy.

Their entire functionality is based around security, encrypted transmissions that can't easily be intercepted. They're used worldwide by major corporations and small businesses to link remote users and installations together in a secure fashion. I myself am posting from behind a commercial router that encrypts my work related communications through my company vpn, and the contract work I do requires connecting to a second vpn to access the clients network. The clients network is a massive worldwide VPN securing the entire digital operation of a Fortune 500 company with major operations on every continent. Most of the people on a VPN don't even know they're on one, they're just logging into their terminal at work.

Daiwa

on Apr 04, 2015

I'd use an auto-VPN browser. If they can make it seamless, why wouldn't you? I'm not knowledgeable enough to know, but most current VPN's have to have proper code on the receiving end to establish the connection. Don't know what the issues would be in devising some sort of generic VPN reception capability or what the security implications would be.

Pupetier

on Apr 04, 2015

I use TOR when needed but it is so damn slow due to all routing.

Would love to see same option on chrome as it is my main browser.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!