Vivaldi Adds A Built-In Proton VPN To Its Browser To Enhance Users' Privacy

​In an era where online privacy is increasingly under threat, Vivaldi has taken a significant step forward towards enhancing the privacy of its users.

Here, Vivaldi announced that it's collaborating with Proton to have the latter's VPN product baked directly into its desktop platform. What this means, users of the browser can use Proton VPN without having to download anything. All it takes is just a flip of a switch to turn it on.

This should empower users with enhanced security and privacy features, all within the browser's ecosystem.​

When enabled, all of users' browsing activity will be transmitted through Proton VPN's encrypted tunnels.

This will obfuscate users' IP address, safeguarding their privacy and protecting them from persistent tracking.

Vivaldi said that it partners with Proton VPN because the Swiss company is a non-profit organization, free of political dependencies, and has proven its integrity.

Vivaldi's CEO Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner described the collaboration as part of a broader shift toward "privacy over profiling, sovereignty over surveillance, independence over inertia."

"We don't believe your personal data should be a bargaining chip."

With Vivaldi being based in Norway, this European collaboration aims to challenge the dominance of U.S. tech giants and offer users protection against pervasive online surveillance of 'Big Tech' for free.

This shouldn't be too surprising because Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner has long been a critic of the surveillance capitalism model, as far back as his previous browser company, Opera.

Vivaldi also said its partnership with Proton was founded in shared "values," citing that both European companies are "proudly outside the orbit of Silicon Valley’s extractive playbook or China’s state-driven oversight."

"As governments and users alike reassess their relationship with tech, especially in light of escalating geopolitical tensions, there has been a huge increase in demand for independent, non-aligned, and values-driven solutions," said the Vivaldi CEO.

"Europe needs European alternatives. In fact, everybody deserves European alternatives. And with Vivaldi and Proton, you’re getting exactly that."

"Together, Proton VPN and Vivaldi are setting a new standard that challenges the dominance of tech giants, providing a viable European alternative that helps people retake control of their digital lives," added David Peterson, general manager of Proton VPN.

It's worth noting that the version of Proton VPN that comes with Vivaldi is the base, free version.

However, users are can upgrade to a paid tier to access more options if they want to.