Is Opera VPN an effective tool for online privacy and security?

Opera VPN can be considered an effective tool for casual users seeking a basic level of online privacy and security, particularly as it comes bundled with the Opera browser. It offers encrypted browsing and the ability to hide one's IP address, which provides a degree of anonymity and can help protect against certain types of online tracking. However, Opera VPN is not a full-fledged VPN service; it is more accurately described as a proxy. Unlike dedicated VPN services, it does not provide complete end-to-end encryption of all traffic, nor does it have a robust server selection or the same level of security features. Additionally, as a free service, it lacks the stronger privacy policies of paid VPN services and does not guarantee that logs of user activity are not kept. Therefore, while it is suitable for simple tasks like geo-unblocking or light browsing privacy, it may not be adequate for users with higher security needs or those concerned about comprehensive data collection practices.