- Who makes Opera GX and who owns Opera
- What Opera GX is built on
- What Opera says about Opera GX privacy and data
- The Opera GX free VPN, and what it does and doesn't mean
- Is Opera GX safe from malware and fake downloads?
- Opera GX safety for gamers and young users
- What to do if you think your account was compromised
- Is Opera GX worth using?
- Frequently asked questions
Opera GX is a real browser from Opera, a NASDAQ-listed company that Wikipedia says is a subsidiary of Chinese firm Kunlun Tech. It's built on Chromium and ships with its own ad blocker and free VPN. The catch is data: Opera's privacy statement says some usage and ad settings can be changed, so check them after you install.
People type this question for a few reasons: the gaming look is unusual, the company has Chinese owners, and a browser sees everything you do online. I'm not a security researcher, so I've stuck to what Opera's own pages and Wikipedia say and flagged where the answer is down to your settings.
Who makes Opera GX and who owns Opera
Wikipedia says Opera is developed by Opera Limited, which is listed on NASDAQ and incorporated in the Cayman Islands. It's a subsidiary of Kunlun Tech, a Beijing-based company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, which indirectly owns 68.8% of Opera's shares, according to the same article.
The ownership story has a clear date. A Chinese-led consortium that included Kunlun Tech and Qihoo 360 acquired Opera in 2016, and Wikipedia says Qihoo 360 sold its stake in 2022. Whether Chinese ownership bothers you is your call. What I can say is that it's openly documented, not hidden.
What Opera GX is built on
Opera GX is the gaming-focused version of the Opera browser. Wikipedia says Opera moved from its own Presto engine to Chromium and Blink in 2013, starting with Opera 15, so the engine underneath is the same family that powers other mainstream browsers. Wikipedia also says Opera GX adds a limiter for network, CPU and memory use, plus GX Cleaner.
On its own GX page, Opera says it's available on iOS and Android, that the desktop download button targets Windows, and that the browser comes with an ad blocker, a free VPN and GX Corner, a place for free games, deals and a game-release calendar.
What Opera says about Opera GX privacy and data
Opera's privacy statement names Opera Norway AS, a Norwegian company with an address in Oslo, as the controller for the purposes of the statement. It says the data it collects varies by product and gives your IP address, device IDs and advertising IDs as examples.
It also says you can adjust personalized ad choices in the application's Settings menu. On desktop, you can turn off the option called 'Help improve Opera by sending feature usage information' under Privacy and Security. Those are the two switches I'd look at straight after installing.
The Opera GX free VPN, and what it does and doesn't mean
Opera's privacy statement says its free, built-in browser VPN is a no-log service and that traffic is encrypted with AES-256. Wikipedia adds that Deloitte inspected the VPN's infrastructure to verify the no-log policy. Those are claims from Opera and from Wikipedia, so treat them as what the company says and what the article reports.
A browser VPN usually covers traffic from the browser only, not the rest of your device. If you want to compare dedicated services, my comparison of two well-known VPNs shows what to ask a VPN company before you pay.
| What I checked | What Opera's pages say |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | Opera Limited, a subsidiary of Kunlun Tech per Wikipedia |
| Who controls your data | Opera Norway AS, per Opera's privacy statement |
| VPN logging | Opera says the built-in VPN is a no-log service |
| Ad choices | Adjustable in Settings, per Opera's privacy statement |
| Phishing and malware protection | Wikipedia says it's enabled by default |
Is Opera GX safe from malware and fake downloads?
Wikipedia says Opera's built-in phishing and malware protection is enabled by default. That helps with bad websites, but it doesn't replace common sense about what you install. The bigger real-world risk with any popular browser is a fake download page, where a lookalike site hands you something that isn't Opera at all.
- Download Opera GX only from Opera's own site or the official app stores for your phone.
- Be wary of a search ad or a video description that links to a different address for 'free premium' or 'cracked' versions.
- If a pop-up outside the browser says your device is infected and tells you to ring a number, close it and don't call.
- Don't paste commands from a web page into your computer if a site tells you that's how to 'fix' something. It's a known trick.
Browser extensions are another risk because they can read what you see on a page. I've written about browser extensions people use for productivity, and the rule is the same everywhere: add only what you need and remove the rest.
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Opera GX safety for gamers and young users
A lot of searchers here are gamers, and many are teenagers. Opera GX is aimed at gaming, which makes it a target for scam messages in game chats and Discord servers. If someone sends you a link promising free skins or currency, don't sign in on the page it opens. Phishing pages copy login screens to take your password.
If you're a parent, how to choose a parental control app covers what those tools can and can't see on a child's device.
What to do if you think your account was compromised
A browser sync account holds saved passwords, so a break-in there matters. Change your passwords from a device you trust, turn on two-step verification where it's offered and sign out of other devices. My guide on how to tell if an account was hacked lists the warning signs and what to do next.
Is Opera GX worth using?
On the facts above, it's a real, documented browser from a listed company, built on Chromium, with a published privacy statement and settings you can change. The things to weigh are who owns it, how much usage data you're comfortable sharing and where you download it. Check the settings on day one, keep it updated and use a separate password manager for anything important.
Frequently asked questions
Is Opera GX safe to download?
Download it from Opera's own site or an official app store. Opera's pages and Wikipedia describe a real company and a Chromium-based browser, but lookalike download pages are the main risk.
Is Opera GX Chinese-owned?
Wikipedia says Opera is a subsidiary of Kunlun Tech, a Beijing-based company, which indirectly owns 68.8% of Opera's shares. Opera Limited is incorporated in the Cayman Islands.
Does the Opera GX VPN keep logs?
Opera's privacy statement says its free, built-in browser VPN is a no-log service. Wikipedia says Deloitte inspected the VPN's infrastructure to verify that policy.
Does Opera GX collect my data?
Opera's privacy statement says what it collects varies by product and gives IP address, device IDs and advertising IDs as examples. You can change ad choices and usage reporting in Settings.
Is Opera GX legit or a virus?
It's a real browser made by Opera, not a virus. Fake sites copying its name can carry bad files, so only use official download sources.
