Untitled

In any browser, especially one from the Chrome stables I start with locking down privacy, then I get rid of the visual junk, sidebars and anything that promotes something else.

 

I make sure the settings for deleting cookies etc is set to ALL TIME not just the last hour (a Google Default).

 

I also set it to delete when shut down but we also need a delete when start-up because Opera crashes often and sometimes you need to nuke it from task manager because it refuses to release 2gb of ram it is hanging on to,

 

Then i test it by running the free version of Ccleaner to see what it has left.

 

I delete any extensions that have been pre-installed on any browser and I make sure to change settings that fake security but enable google or others to fingerprint you all of the below except protect from malicious sites are disabled by me,

 

* Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar

* Automatically send crash reports to Opera

* Help improve Opera by sending feature usage information

* Protect me from malicious sites

* Fetch images for suggested sources in News, based on history

* Opera offers promotional content in some browser locations. You may optionally disable these services.*

* Display promotional notifications

* Receive promotional Speed Dials, bookmarks and campaigns

 

When disabling sidebar I start by unticking every option in

 

* Customise the elements in sidebar:

 

below it as they might construe that as some sort of implied permission. Then I disable at the top and of course I disable

 

* Show sidebar

* Enable notification badges for messengers

 

Then under

 

* Manage search engines

 

I disable most or remove them and try to use a 3rd party one that I trust. Opera do not make this easy unlike other browsers not based on Chrome.

 

You can only do so much so you have to keep one mainstream one such as DuckDuckGo (bing)

 

I DON'T have opera as the default brower anymore I have posted the issues I have had on this forum and all that got me was having my account set to new user with limited posting privileges because of petty minded people who know who they are and have to live with their own mediocrity (as do we all).

 

* Default browser

 

Next I set

 

* Open a specific page or set of pages

* DuckDuckGo - Protection. Privacy. Peace of mind.

 

making sure to use the START option of DuckDuckGo

 

* https://start.duckduckgo.com/

 

annoyingly they changed that page so I have to have %age reduced to 80% just to see the search box.

 

Next I do NOT use or Trust Opera autofill options and I make sure they are deleted.

 

* Autofill

 

Next under WebRTC

 

I choose Disable non-proxied UDP out of the list below

 

* Use any suitable network interface (recommended)

* Use default public and private network interfaces only

* Use default public network interfaces only

* Disable non-proxied UDP

 

I do not use the OperaVPN, the browser hardly works anymore and most of my favorite extensions no longer work with Opera (e.g. Lastpass) so it is more or less a DEV option for now

 

ALL of the following are disabled

 

Player

The Player feature can handle your music and podcast playback for you. It integrates popular platforms and plays music in the background.Learn more

Enable Player

My Flow

My Flow is your personal space for links, videos, images and notes that you want to have on your computer and phone at the same time.

 

* Enable My Flow

* Disabling My Flow doesn’t remove any content or connections.

* Crypto Wallet

* Connect Opera with your phone to easily make cryptocurrency transactions.

 

* Enable Crypto Wallet

* Pinboards

* Enable Pinboards

* Search pop-up

* Enable the search pop-up when selecting textLearn more

* Videoconferencing pop out

* Enable videoconferencing pop out

* Video pop out

* Enable video pop out

* Personal news

* Check my sources for new content

* Show available news feeds on address bar

 

Of the following Start page page options it is a case of enabling to disable or disabling

 

 

* Hide search box ENABLE TO DISABLE

* Hide Speed Dial ENABLE TO DISABLE

* Show Speed Dial suggestions NO

* Use bigger tiles NO

* Adjust Speed Dial animations for slower hardware YES

* Automatically adjust the maximum number of columns YES

* Show news on start page NO

* Show Continue Shopping section NO

* Show Continue on Booking.com NO WAY EVER

* Show weather widget NO

 

On User interface I only have Cycle tabs, Show full URL Snooze inactive tabs, Warn on closing window and Warn on quitting Opera

 

* Show tab previews

* Enable Workspaces

* Cycle tabs in most recently used order

* Show full URL in combined search and address bar

* Show pop-up with clipboard and recent downloads when uploading files

* Disable tab bar's top spacing when browser window is maximised

* Enable search box in the address bar

* Delay loading of background tabs

* Snooze inactive tabs to save memory

* Enable reporting problems with sites

* Scroll to the top of the page by clicking the active tab

* Warn on closing window with multiple tabs

* Warn on quitting Opera with multiple tabs open

 

After that everything is disabled except

 

* Spell Check

* Ask where to save each file before downloading

* Use hardware acceleration when available

 

I also makes sure that there are NO EXCEPTIONS in the places that offer them.