Opera has added a free one-click VPN to help keep your data and online habits safe from prying eyes, but it's not foolproof.

Opera doesn't get as much attention as the big four browsers but it often leads the way when it comes to new features, partly because like Mozilla's Firefox it's not beholden to the interests of a tech giant. Both Firefox and Opera recently added built-in ad-blockers, which will obviously step on a few toes, but now Opera has gone the extra step of building a free and unlimited Virtual Private Network service directly into its latest developer preview.

Once you enable it in Opera's settings, you'll find a VPN button built directly into the browser's search bar – right next to the address of the website you're visiting. Simply press this button to divert your web traffic via Opera's secure VPN servers. You can choose between VPN servers in the US, Canada and Germany – with the closest server typically giving you the fastest web browsing speeds.

Think of the VPN like a cone of silence, encrypting your web traffic all the way from your browser to Opera's VPN servers. It's a sensible precaution when you're using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, as it prevents other people who are using the network from snooping on your activities, as well as the network operator and the internet service provider. It also makes it harder for the websites you visit to know who you are and where you're located – but don't take your anonymity for granted.