Is Opera GX Safe? Yes for Security, Weaker on Privacy

Opera GX was launched on June 11, 2019 during the E3 gaming expo in LA. Since then, it has gripped a good chunk of the gamer community with its slick gaming aesthetic. It offers built-in RAM and CPU limiters with native Discord and Twitch integrations for gamers to stream and whatnot. But if you are a security-conscious user, you would know that a browser handles your most sensitive information, from passwords to search histories etc. And this raises all the same privacy and security questions for Opera GX, is Opera GX safe? Is Opera GX spyware? Does Opera GX sell data? Let’s answer these questions for you in this article.

Quick answer: Yes, Opera GX is safe to use. It is a legitimate browser from Opera, built on Chromium, and it is not malware or a virus. The privacy trade-off is real, though: by default it collects usage statistics tied to a random installation ID, which Opera keeps for up to three years, and it is ad-supported. Its free VPN only covers traffic inside the browser. Turn off usage statistics and personalized content in settings, download it only from opera.com, and use a system-wide VPN if you need all your traffic protected.

What is Opera GX and why do gamers use it?

Opera GX is a special gaming version of the standard Opera browser. It empowers gamers with granular control over their system performance with its GX Control dashboard. In this dashboard, you can set a cap on CPU, RAM, and network bandwidth usage. This way you can make sure that the browser doesn’t lag your PC during intense gaming sessions.

It also integrates native sidebars for Twitch and Discord and gives you a highly customizable interface with custom themes, sound effects, and live wallpapers.

Opera GX is developed by Opera, and the data controller for its desktop browsers is Opera Norway AS in Oslo, Norway, according to Opera’s privacy statement. In 2016, a Chinese consortium that included Beijing Kunlun Tech and Qihoo 360 bought Opera’s browser business for $600 million. Today the parent company, Opera Limited, is listed on Nasdaq, and Kunlun Tech’s Hong Kong holding company owns about 68% of its shares, per a 2026 SEC filing.

Because the data controller is a Norwegian company, Opera GX falls under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, Opera works with an affiliated group of companies and partners around the world, so some data processing happens outside of Europe.

Is Opera GX safe?

The short answer is yes, even if we are talking only about cybersecurity, yes, Opera GX is totally safe.

It’s built on the same open-source Chromium engine that powers Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. That means it inherits Chromium’s security patches and sandboxing, although Opera ships them on its own release schedule.

Your passwords are encrypted locally on your hard drive, and it’s excellent at flagging sketchy, phishing-heavy websites before you accidentally click into them.

In Opera GX, you get a native ad and tracker blocker to keep scripts from following you around the web, plus a clever feature called “NoCoin” that stops shady sites from hijacking your CPU to mine crypto in the background.

It even has a clipboard feature, now called Paste Protect, that watches sensitive data you copy (like a crypto wallet address or a bank account number) and warns you if another app tries to swap it. Since August 2026 it also blocks malicious commands that websites try to push onto your clipboard, a trick used in “ClickFix” scams.

Add in its free, browser-level VPN, and the security foundation looks pretty solid.

But that does not mean it’s a match browser for you especially if you value strict privacy. At the end of the day, Opera GX is closed-source and is heavily branded. It is packed with optional sidebars, search engine partnerships, personalization tools, and monetization tracking. It functions more like a commercial gaming portal.

Why do people question Opera GXs privacy?

The skepticism surrounding Opera GX is mostly not about its security features. It’s the monetization and data collection done by Opera GX that is questionable.

Unlike browsers built for web surfing, Opera GX is filled with shortcuts to shopping apps, targeted ads, and telemetry in the background. That’s everything needed to log user habits. And therefore, it is considered a commercial ecosystem for Opera’s business optimization.

There is also a big reason it has a bad reputation online: a lot of people end up installing it completely by accident. If you’ve ever tried to download a game mod or an emulator, you have probably been tricked by a fake “Download” button that secretly forces an Opera GX installer onto your PC.

Opera runs a paid affiliate program, meaning shady websites get a commission every time they trick someone into installing the browser. So while Opera GX itself is not malware, since it constantly pops up as a download trap, users find it adware. If it suddenly appears on your desktop out of nowhere, I advise you not to download it. If you need it, go to the official website and get it from there.

Opera GX privacy concerns you should know

Although almost every browser collects data, and so does Opera GX. And just like every other browser Opera GX claims to prioritize user privacy. So, does Opera GX steal your data?

Let’s see what data Opera GX browser collects from you and how it is used.

Data collection and telemetry

When you install the browser, it generates a random installation ID and begins collecting usage statistics. According to Opera’s privacy statement, this includes the installation ID, a Machine ID, hardware specifications, operating system, environment configuration and feature usage data, and Opera keeps it for up to three years. Opera says it has “no practical way” of using this data to identify you personally, but it is still a detailed profile of your device. There is also very little public detail on

• IP anonymization
• Consent for analytics
• How VPN logs are managed through a third party
• Audit trails

Limitations of Opera GX built-in VPN

Opera GX heavily markets its “Free Built-in VPN.”

Opera’s own privacy statement calls it a “built-in browser VPN” that encrypts browser traffic, and says it is a no-log service. In practice it works like an encrypted browser proxy, not a system-wide VPN. It only encrypts traffic moving directly through the Opera GX browser windows. Any background apps or game launchers running on your PC can bypass this VPN entirely and can expose your real IP address to the web.

Personalized content and advertising

Opera GX makes its money through promotional partnerships. Opera states that its browsers are ad-supported and that some of its applications serve targeted ads based on data like your IP address, a hashed user ID and your general location. Some default Speed Dials are ads from partners. If you opt into Opera Cashback, Opera collects the merchant URLs, purchased items and transaction amounts for those purchases.

Opera GX is a gaming browser, not a privacy browser

If you have used a privacy-focused browser like Brave, Firefox, or Mullvad Browser, you would know that they automatically block tracking scripts, cross-site cookies, and marketing pop-ups, etc by default.

In Opera GX, until you manually turn some features off in the settings, your online footprint keeps updating.

Chinese ownership concerns

Opera points to its Norwegian data controller and GDPR obligations, but critics often don’t buy it. Because the parent company’s controlling shareholder is Kunlun Tech, a Chinese company, users worry about potential future pressure regarding data sharing.

What privacy settings you should change in Opera GX?

If you want to use Opera GX without giving up your privacy concerns, you need to change the browser settings yourself. Take five minutes and follow these instructions. You can press Alt + P or type opera://settings in the address bar to open settings.

How to disable usage statistics sharing in Opera GX?

Go to Settings → Privacy & security → privacy section. Toggle off “Help improve Opera by sending feature usage information.”

How to turn off personalized ads in Opera GX?

Open your Settings → Privacy & security → Privacy consent settings.

Here, you can turn off “Personalized content” and adjust your personalized ad choices.

You can also head over to opera://settings/manageTopbar to turn off sponsored auto-fill suggestions.

Block the partner campaigns by disabling sponsored wallpapers and promotional pop-ups in the settings layout.

How to review browser permissions in Opera GX?

Go to Settings → Site Settings and carefully look at which websites have access to your location, camera, microphone, and background sync.

How to block tracking in Opera GX?

Click the blue shield icon in your address bar or go to your main settings and check the boxes for “Block ads” and “Block trackers”.

Is Opera GX more secure than Chrome?

Both Opera GX and Google Chrome are safe browsers. When people get infected by malware, it’s almost always because they visited a sketchy site or downloaded a malicious extension. Not because the browser itself failed.

The real differences come down to how they protect you out of the box:

• Spotting bad websites: Chrome uses Google’s own “Safe Browsing” database to block dangerous sites.

Opera GX checks the domains you visit against a fraud prevention framework that, per Opera’s privacy statement, includes Google Safe Browsing as well. So both browsers draw on the same core blocklist.

• Built-in Tools: Opera GX has an ad blocker and a basic VPN proxy built right into it.

Chrome does not have either of these features. You have to hunt down third-party extensions if you want to block ads or hide your IP.

Opera GX vs Chrome

Feature	Opera GX	Google Chrome
Core Security Engine	Chromium	Chromium
Update Frequency	Moderate	High
Built-in Ad & Tracker Blocker	Yes	No
Encryption / VPN	Browser-only VPN	None
Clipboard Protection	Yes	No
Ownership	Opera Ltd (Kunlun Tech majority)	Google (Alphabet)
Default Data Privacy	Weak (Aggressive telemetry & ads)	Weak (Aggressive tracking & ads)
System Resource Controls	Yes	No
Business Use	Not recommended	Supported with enterprise controls

If you are lazy about installing extensions and want built-in tools, Opera GX feels more secure. But if you want the absolute fastest security updates and a larger team hunting down cyberattacks, Google Chrome takes the win.

Should you use Opera GX? Safely use Opera GX with EonVPN

Is Opera GX good browser for me?

Opera GX is an excellent tool if your main goal is gaming with system resource management. If you are a gamer and Google Chrome eats up your RAM while gaming, the browser’s hardware limiters genuinely solve that problem.

However, if your primary goal is anonymity and strict data privacy, then we found Opera GX requiring too much manual configuration to behave safely.

Opera GX is not considered very safe for casual browsing or business purposes. For such usage we recommend pairing it with reliable EonVPN will be a better security choice. It creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for all the data moving in and out of your computer. Your data remains encrypted and safe. It hides your IP address and scrambles your information, so your financial details, personal history and browsing history stay invisible to everyone.

Conclusion

Opera GX browser is completely safe from a cybersecurity standpoint, but it lacks the privacy-first perspective. It will not infect your PC with malware, but it will aggressively log your hardware metrics and shopping habits for corporate monetization. Use it for gaming but take the time to shut down its telemetry pipelines before typing in any sensitive personal information. If you want something lightweight, open-source, and private by default, a hardened Firefox setup or Brave is going to fit your vibe a lot better.

FAQs

Does Opera GX leak info?

There are no public reports of a data breach specific to Opera GX. Opera itself did have one: in August 2016, attackers gained access to its Opera Sync system, and Opera reset the passwords of all sync users as a precaution. That happened before Opera GX existed.

Is Opera 100% safe?

Opera is generally Safe But Not the Most Private. It’s fine for everyday browsing, but its privacy settings, data collection, and slower updates make it less ideal for handling sensitive info.

Is the Opera GX virus free?

No, Opera GX does not have a built-in antivirus. It only uses standard, Chromium-based site protections to warn you about known phishing and malicious websites.