I am a Firefox user. My version of Firefox was infected with 'speedial.com' malware. I switched to Opera whilst cleaning my computer of speedial.com rubbish.

I am unimpressed by Opera. I would expect the option to choose default search engine to be provided in every professional-quality browser as it is in Firefox. I prefer to use StartPage and DuckDuckGo. After reading posts here, I installed the Disconnect extension. It first demanded money before allowing a free trial. On trial I find Disconnect only offers limited search engines itself, the same search engines as Opera but with the addition of DuckDuckGo. Disconnect does not allow users to add or remove search engines. I find that ridiculous since Disconnect is simply replicating the same limited functionality as Opera itself. I tried contacting Disconnect's developers to give feedback but the email option does not work.

I want to not just add my own search engines and set them as defaults but to remove all traces of software I consider to be forms of malware - that means removing all traces of Google, Yahoo, Bing and similar corporate spyware from my browser and online experience. I want to add StartPage AND delete Google. Why is that not possible with Opera?

Opera appears to be more or less a clone of Google's Chrome and as infected with Google as Chrome is. Opera is definitely not for me and never will be until they are more independent.

The lack of functions and the inability to personalise Opera means it might be suitable for technophobes who want simplicity and don't care if it means loss of choice or privacy. Opera reminds me of Apple's Safari - a dated search engine that simply does not cut it any more. And certainly no longer makes sense after the NSA revelations.