Opera is rolling out a new security feature called Paste Protect that automatically blocks suspicious commands copied from websites to your clipboard. The update targets Click Fix attacks, which cybersecurity firm Huntress says now make up over 53% of this type of malicious activity. These attacks trick users into copying commands that appear to fix simple issues like broken videos or CAPTCHAs.

When users encounter these deceptive pop-ups, the commands they copy can install malware, steal saved passwords, or give attackers remote access to their machines. Opera's solution monitors clipboard activity and intervenes before harmful commands execute. If suspicious content is detected, the browser blocks the copy action and displays a warning with a red icon in the address bar.

Users can view the first 120 characters of blocked content, and developers can override protections or mark trusted sites as safe. Paste Protect activates by default and integrates with Opera's existing Hijack Protection suite, which also prevents external applications from secretly swapping clipboard contents with harmful replacements like altered bank account numbers or crypto wallet addresses.

This represents Opera's latest effort to secure browsing against social engineering attacks that exploit user trust rather than technical vulnerabilities. By intercepting malicious commands at the clipboard level, the browser adds a defensive layer that could prevent costly security breaches for less tech-savvy users.