
George Phillips
George is a Staff Writer at Tom's Guide, covering VPN, privacy, and cybersecurity news. He is especially interested in digital rights and censorship, and its interplay with politics. He has long been a trade union activist and political campaigner, so channels this experience into his work surrounding internet censorship and privacy and is well aware of the dangers posed to individual's internet freedoms.
George constantly uses VPNs on all of his devices, very rarely turning them off. He is always aware of his personal data and how he, and VPNs, can protect it.
Before joining Tom's Guide, he completed an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and has experience writing and producing content for music, education, and wellbeing publications. As well as writing, George is a keen podcast and audio producer.
Outside of work, George is passionate about music, regularly attending gigs, collecting vinyl, and playing guitar. George is also a huge Star Wars fan and holds a 3rd Dan black belt in Shotokan Karate.
Latest articles by George Phillips

Fast just got faster – introducing ExpressVPN's Lightway Turbo
By George Phillips published
ExpressVPN's Lightway protocol has become even faster thanks to the launch of Lightway Turbo. OpenVPN has also received a boost and here's everything you need to know.

ExpressVPN launches huge Linux update – what you need to know
By George Phillips published
ExpressVPN's Linux app has received a huge new update, upgrading its user experience and bringing new features – here's what you need to know.

NordVPN reinforces its security credentials with independent audit
By George Phillips published
NordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs out there and this title has been reinforced thanks to a recent independent security audit.

How to use Sora AI in the EU and UK
By George Phillips last updated
Sora AI is now available in the EU and UK. Here's how you can access it and why we still recommend using a VPN with Sora.

Elon Musk's DOGE blocked from accessing your data – and 3 in 4 Americans agree
By George Phillips published
A judge has temporarily blocked Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing your personal data and 3 in 4 Americans agree.

43% of Americans use VPNs – should you?
By George Phillips published
43% of Americans are using VPNs. But what for and should you be using one as well?

Claim a week of ExpressVPN for free – we don't know when it's going to end
By George Phillips last updated
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market and thanks to its 7-day free trial, you can see if it's right for you at no cost.

80% of Iranians are using VPNs to access the internet – but could government restrictions loosen?
By George Phillips published
A new survey has shown 80% of Iranians are using VPNs to bypass the country's strict internet laws. But could they soon be loosened?

Pakistan has granted its first VPN licenses – but does this guarantee long-term legality?
By George Phillips published
After months of attacks on VPNs and imposing of internet restrictions, Pakistan has granted its first two VPN licenses.

Leading VPNs could leave France due to blocking threats
By George Phillips published
Major VPN providers could pull out of France amidst pressures and legal action from rightsholders to impose bans on certain websites.

NordLayer unveils next-gen browser for businesses
By George Phillips published
Business VPN NordLayer has unveiled its next-gen browser, enabling organisations to safeguard sensitive data and combat cyber threats.

Does VPN server count really matter?
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
vpn Almost every VPN boasts about how many servers it runs, but does it mean anything? Here we explain what really matters.

Musk's DOGE faces massive backlash and 12 data privacy lawsuits — how safe is your data?
By George Phillips last updated
Elon Musk's DOGE is trying to access your sensitive data. Amid lawsuits and opposition, how safe is your personal information?

American Binary launches world's first NSA-compliant quantum-resistant VPN
By George Phillips published
Post-quantum encryption comes to business VPNs as American Binary launches NSA-approved quantum-resistant VPN.

Proton VPN Secure Core – what is it and why should you use it?
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
vpn Proton VPN's Secure Core feature is marketed as a way of further protecting your traffic. Here we explore how it works, and if it's worth it.

What is VPN obfuscation and do I need it?
By Chiara Castro last updated
vpn VPN obfuscation is the technology that allows you to circumvent VPN blocking. Here, we explore how VPN obfuscation works and when you need it.

NordVPN Double VPN – what is it and why should you use it?
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
vpn VPN providers have all sorts of complex features. Here we explain exactly what NordVPN's Double VPN is, and if it's worth using.

What is VPN split tunneling and how does it work?
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
vpn It might be something you've heard of when picking a VPN, but what is split tunneling, and is it something you really need? Here, we explain all.

DeepSeek AI banned by NASA, US Navy, and more over privacy concerns
By George Phillips last updated
Opposition to DeepSeek is not uncommon, as many countries and organizations have take action against the Chinese AI app.

ExpressVPN's Aircove router doubles its speeds with new update
By George Phillips published
A huge update to ExpressVPN's Aircove router sees it double its speeds and adopt new privacy features and security standards.

ExpressVPN remakes its Lightway protocol in Rust – what you need to know
By George Phillips published
ExpressVPN has re-released its Lightway VPN protocol in Rust. Here's everything you need to know and why this means faster speeds and greater security.

Introducing Obscura VPN – the privacy-focused VPN that claims to "outsmart internet censorship"
By George Phillips published
Obscura VPN is the new VPN on the block. But what do we know about the VPN that claims to "outsmart internet censorship" and can it challenge the best VPNs?

Mullvad VPN now available on Windows Arm devices
By George Phillips published
Windows Arm device users are in luck as privacy-focused Mullvad VPN launches its Arm app.

French broadcaster Canal+ launches sweeping attack on leading VPNs
By George Phillips published
French broadcaster Canal+ has challenged leading VPN companies in court in a bid to combat piracy.

"Blatantly unlawful and horrifically intrusive" data collection is everywhere – how to fight back
By George Phillips published
We're in a constant battle to protect our data privacy, but how can this be done? Expert Rowenna Fielding shares advice for those looking to take back control of their data.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!