Vivaldi has released a new version of its privacy-focused web browser that expands the functionality of its built-in tracker and ad-blocker, but the company won't be adding a VPN any time soon. In fact, working with a third party to add a VPN to your browser could compromise your privacy. TechRadar Pro spoke to the company's co-founder and CEO, Jon von Tetzchner, who provided further details on whether Vivaldi is considering adding a VPN to its browser, saying: “At the moment, we don't have any plans. Any third party service has privacy concerns. It is always about being able to trust the service provider. "As the number of web trackers has skyrocketed in recent years, Vivaldi decided to release its browser on Android with a built-in tracker and ad blocker. With its latest release, the company goes a step further by allowing users to still enable more block lists and even give them the option to include their own custom lists. Vivaldi comes with a number of sources/block lists pre-installed that can be easily turned on or off with a simple check mark. Additionally, users can even opt out of a country-specific list based on your region or preferences. Importing and adding a custom list in this feature is easy and can be done in the same way that users add their own lists to the Vivaldi desktop. Through browser settings, users can activate, deactivate or delete a custom list already provided and make exceptions, including any additions or modifications to block lists. Users can also turn blocking on or off for specific websites and manage blocking levels per site from the address field or Vivaldi settings.
Improved navigation
In its latest version, Vivaldi has also made some changes to the way users navigate in their browser by adding more features at the bottom of the app. Previously, the company made it possible to switch between panel features, bookmarks, history, notes, and downloads at the bottom of the app. Now, however, Vivaldi has also moved similar buttons to improve the functionality of the tabs at the bottom. These buttons allow users to easily switch between open, private, recently closed, or synced tabs. Lead designer for Vivaldi on Android, Alte Mo, explained in a blog post why the company decided to move all navigation bars to the bottom of the browser, saying, "A consistent design across the app means predictability." and usability that we are looking for. Our goal in placing all the navigation bars at the bottom is to make navigation with key Vivaldi features right at your fingertips. Based on user feedback, we will continue to make the interface more intuitive and visually stunning. "- Also check out our full list of the best VPN services.