How to Setup TorGuard HTTP Proxy with Opera on Windows

Prerequisites

• Opera browser installed on Windows
• Active TorGuard proxy service subscription
• Your TorGuard proxy username and password
• Access to TorGuard's proxy server list

Available HTTP Proxy Servers

TorGuard offers HTTP proxy servers in multiple locations. Here are some popular options:

For a complete list of available servers, visit the proxy server status page.

Step 1: Open Opera Settings

Launch Opera and click the Opera menu button in the top-left corner (or press Alt+P), then select Settings.

Step 2: Navigate to Network Settings

In the Settings page:

1. Click on Browser in the left sidebar
2. Scroll down to the Network section
3. Click on "Change Proxy Settings"

Step 3: Open LAN Settings

In the Internet Properties window that opens, click the "LAN Settings" button in the Connections tab.

Step 4: Configure Proxy Server

In the LAN Settings window, configure the following:

1. Check "Use a proxy server for your LAN"
2. Enter your chosen TorGuard proxy server address in the Address field
3. Enter 8080 in the Port field
4. Check "Bypass proxy server for local addresses" (optional but recommended)

Advanced Settings

For more control, click the "Advanced" button to configure different proxies for different protocols:

• HTTP: Your TorGuard proxy server and port 8080
• Secure (HTTPS): Same as HTTP
• FTP: Leave blank unless needed
• SOCKS: Leave blank (use SOCKS5 proxy guide for SOCKS configuration)

Step 5: Enter Authentication Credentials

After clicking OK to save the settings, when you first browse to any website, you'll be prompted for authentication:

1. Enter your TorGuard proxy username
2. Enter your TorGuard proxy password
3. Check "Remember my credentials" to avoid re-entering them

Step 6: Verify Your Connection

To confirm the proxy is working correctly:

1. Visit TorGuard's What's My IP page
2. Verify that your IP address has changed to the proxy server's location
3. Check that your ISP information shows TorGuard

Advanced Configuration Tips

Proxy Exceptions

To exclude certain websites from using the proxy, in the LAN Settings window:

1. Click "Advanced"
2. In the "Exceptions" field, enter addresses separated by semicolons
3. Common exceptions: *.local;localhost;127.0.0.1;192.168.*

Using Proxy Auto-Configuration (PAC)

For advanced users, you can use a PAC file to automatically switch between proxies:

function FindProxyForURL(url, host) {
    // Use proxy for all HTTP/HTTPS traffic
    if (shExpMatch(url, "http*")) {
        return "PROXY ny.proxy.torguard.org:8080";
    }
    // Direct connection for everything else
    return "DIRECT";
}

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Authentication Keeps Failing

• Verify your proxy credentials are correct (not your VPN credentials)
• Check credentials at TorGuard credential management
• Ensure no extra spaces in username/password
• Try clearing saved credentials in Windows Credential Manager

Websites Load Slowly or Time Out

• Try a different proxy server location closer to you
• Check the proxy server status page
• Temporarily disable proxy to test if it's a proxy issue
• Add slow-loading sites to proxy exceptions

Some Applications Don't Use the Proxy

• Windows system proxy only affects applications that respect system settings
• Some apps have their own proxy settings (check app preferences)
• Consider using TorGuard VPN for system-wide coverage

How to Disable the Proxy

To temporarily or permanently disable the proxy:

1. Return to LAN Settings (Steps 1-3)
2. Uncheck "Use a proxy server for your LAN"
3. Click OK to save

Security Considerations

HTTP Proxy Limitations

• HTTP proxies only work with HTTP/HTTPS traffic
• Non-web applications won't be proxied
• No encryption between your device and the proxy server
• Your ISP can see you're using a proxy (but not the content)

When to Use VPN Instead

Consider using TorGuard VPN instead if you need:

• Full system encryption (all applications)
• Protection on public WiFi
• Hidden proxy usage from your ISP
• Support for non-HTTP protocols

Alternative Proxy Options

Browser Extensions

For easier proxy management, consider using browser extensions:

• Chrome/Opera: TorGuard Proxy Extension
• Firefox: FoxyProxy with TorGuard
• All browsers: Manual SOCKS5 configuration

SOCKS5 vs HTTP Proxy