Stop using Opera Browser and Opera GX
Stop using Opera Browser and Opera GX
Opera used to be a fantastic web browser, with a custom high-performance Presto rendering engine and features like tabbed windows that didn't show up in competing browsers until years later. However, the modern Opera browser is a shadow of its former self, reliant on chasing trends and meme advertis...
TL;DR company shady
The main 3 points seem to be: China-owned, predatory loan applications, and spreading themselves across too many concept/trend browser spinoffs. Honestly this is kinda old news and won't stop anyone I know from using the thing. You can't just say they're "probably" harvesting your data for "nefarious" reasons and expect people to all jump to Firefox (as nice as that may be).
I'd add a fourth main point: they have a documented history of creating browsers and then abandoning them, leaving any unaware users without security updates indefinitely
Also, Stop Using Brave Browser
Also Chrome...
Please, yes!! If anything will make a chance, that will. Google keeps trying to subvert the internet with their FLoC and Topics crap. And the other thing recently with the "trusted" web environment thing.
A lot of their plans get watered down but still...
This is a great read. Never knew Opera transitioned to an enshittified abomination of crypto spyware and bloatware.
It used to be great... A truly innovative browser that had so many features that even browsers today don't have.
I switched away from it when they switched to the Blink engine, probably around 2012 or so? It's been all downhill since then.
Same, used Opera religiously back in the day, so much more functional than the rest. Switched to Chrome (yes yes, I know) when it started going downhill.
Chrome still doesn't have the ability to set a shortcut for "switch to previous tab", have to use a plugin for that 🙄
@dan They did try to bring back some stuff in the later years, like an integrated RSS feed reader. But Firefox is just way better than anything else overall. Including the fact that it comes from an organization that puts privacy further up in the list of priorities.
I did, but yes, great to read all the details again now.
:thumbs-up
Opera today is essentially totally different to the innovative browser from the 2000s. I miss the old Opera.
Vivaldi is trying to become its replacement, but I don't really want to contribute to the KHTML/Blink/Webkit monoculture.
Stop using proprietary bullshit altogether
Man I wish there was a good similar alternative. And not Vivaldi that sluggish crapfest.
I have different experience with Vivaldi, been using it for years, and it's amazing.
Vivaldi has been my browser of choice for years as well. Fantastic product in my experience. I've sadly forced myself to start using firefox and librewolf in an attempt support alternatives to chromium based browsers. Firefox and co. are fine, but I'm still reaching for features and options from vivaldi that just don't exist in firefox without a maze of incompatible and poorly maintained plugins.
@BarrierWithAshes Just use Firefox. There's plenty of stuff that can be achieved just through add-ons and switching various settings in
about:config. Only thing that's missing is an integrated free VPN, but I guess there are better alternatives anyway if you want more privacy online.I use LibreWolf and various Chromium clones. It's good enough for me for now. I refuse to support Mozilla in any way past that.
I quit using Opera when it became just another Chromium fork, and never looked back. It seems like that was an excellent decision, lol.
Stop telling people what to do.
I don't like that Opera now has an AI integrated.
I don't know that this article is compelling. Their main source of information was discredited in the article.
You should stop using Opera because it has deviated significantly from its innovative roots, now chasing trends and relying on meme advertising for relevance. The company behind Opera has been involved in controversial financial services, including creating predatory loan apps that exploit users in developing countries. Opera's browser technology is no longer unique, as it shares its core with many other browsers after abandoning its original Presto engine. Furthermore, Opera's focus on generating revenue has led to risky ventures and a disregard for user security and privacy... Among other things.
Saved you a click.
Honestly, I'm sticking with Vivaldi until Mozilla can pull itself together and build Firefox into a viable replacement from Vivaldi's chromium architecture.