Opera is officially the first web browser developer to offer a limitless virtual private network (VPN) baked in its software, and it does so for no extra charge.

Observant users will point out that Opera embedded the VPN in its browser earlier this year, but it should be mentioned that it was a developer version of the app. Since then, both the Android and iOS versions of the browser received VPN.

Today's update, Opera 40, makes the privacy and security reinforcement of a VPN available to all desktop browser users.

Opera counts 350 million users across its products, but the details about how each user taps into Opera's software are foggy. However, we can speculate that after the update, a myriad of users who would not have heard of VPN's advantages are now exposed to it and have a chance of becoming hardcore users of the service.

Krystian Kolondra, the leader of consumer products at Opera, explains in a blog post why regular users might find the VPN helpful.

"We strongly believe that if more people knew how the internet truly works, they would use a VPN," he says.

When users switch the VPN on, it creates a secure connection to one of Opera's five global server locations. The VPN allows people to choose whether they want to appear on the internet or not, offering increased online privacy and security. Last but not least, content is more accessible when browsing with the VPN turned on.

Kolondra notes that his company aims to transform VPN into "an essential tool for everyone."

The Opera-embedded VPN for desktop is also unlimited, which means that it is not only free, but also has no time restrictions. However, keep in mind that it only permits users to set up five different locations, while regular browsers offer a myriad of country-based locations.

On the bright side, the Opera browser can gauge the best server location so that users get most out of the network speed and server capacity.

One more thing to remember about the Opera 40 is that it plays nice with Google's Chromecast streaming dongle.

Kolondra points out that an increasing number of users are taking their privacy online very seriously, which causes heightened interest for VPN. The main reasons why the VPN hasn't catched up with the consumer market are how complicated it tends to be to set it up and the fact that the service usually comes with a subscription attached to it.

Opera broke ground by solving both these problems with its user friendly and free VPN, embedded into the browser.