Olivia Powell
Olivia joined Tom's Guide in October 2023 as part of the core Future Tech Software team, and is the Commissioning Editor for Tech Software. With a background in cybersecurity, Olivia stays up-to-date with all things cyber and creates content across TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide.
After graduating with a degree in English Literature from the University of Exeter, Olivia got her official start in journalism writing magazines for the events industry, writing for Exhibition News, Conference News, All Access, Exhibition World and Conference and Meeting World both in print and online. After this, she delved into the world of customer experience at CX Network, then the cybersecurity sector when she became Editor in Chief for Cyber Security Hub. This saw her create content from webinars to blogs to research reports on all things cyber before finally ending up at Tom's Guide.
Olivia was also shortlisted for Security Serious' Unsung Heroes award in the Cyber Writer category in 2023.
When not writing about the latest in tech software, Olivia can be found reading mystery novels, watching the X-Files or doing valuable research in her quest to find the best Italian restaurant in London.
Latest articles by Olivia Powell
Best VPN free trial in 2024
By Sam Dawson last updated
VPN Try before you buy with a VPN free trial – here's my round-up of the top VPNs with free trials, refund guarantees, and freemium versions.
Privacy apathy is real – and you probably have it
By Olivia Powell published
We all know what steps to take to be safe online – so why aren't we?
Hackers target SonicWall VPNs to spread ransomware
By Olivia Powell published
Over 30 different organizations have been breached via a SonicWall vulnerability.
4 Reasons why ExpressVPN is still the best iPhone VPN
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
New VPNs come and go. Here's why ExpressVPN remains the go-to choice for iOS.
5 reasons why Surfshark just overtook ExpressVPN in our rankings
By Olivia Powell published
Surfshark has moved up our rankings thanks to our latest round of testing – here's why.
How to use Incogni
By Krishi Chowdhary published
We dive deep into how Incogni, one of the best data removal services, works, its pros and cons, and whether you should use it.
Do you need to use a data removal service?
By Krishi Chowdhary published
We explain what a data removal service is, how they work, and whether or not you really need to use one.
How to access ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode in the EU
By Olivia Powell last updated
ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode is blocked in some countries – here's how to get around them
Can my employer see I'm using a VPN?
By Catherine Hiley published
A VPN can be useful in and out of the workplace, but can they be detected?
You can now check if your data has been leaked thanks to Surfshark's new tool
By Olivia Powell published
This free online data leak checker will let you know if your data has been compromised
What are keyloggers?
By Sam Dawson published
A guide to what this info-stealing spyware is and how to avoid it
What is the difference between VPN apps and browser extensions?
By Catherine Hiley published
Everything you need to know about the differences between VPN apps and browser extenstions
What is end-to-end encryption?
By Catherine Hiley published
A guide to what end-to-end encryption is, and why you should use it
What is multi-hop?
By Sam Dawson published
We explore how multi-hop VPNs keep your data extra safe
It's Cybersecurity Awareness Month – here are 3 tools to keep you safe online
By Olivia Powell published
Keep yourself safe through October and beyond with these 3 cybersecurity tools
NordVPN introduces post-quantum encryption for future-proofed privacy
By Olivia Powell published
NordVPN will introduce quantum-resilient encryption to all its apps by 2025, future-proofing its protection for all users.
Is NordVPN still worth buying?
By Olivia Powell published
This VPN has retained its top spot in our rankings – here's why
It's official: Opera VPN does not log your data
By Olivia Powell published
Opera has proven that its free VPN does not log or store user data
Proton VPN review
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN Proton VPN is a very capable VPN, and will appeal to those looking for a more techy experience. However, it can't quite match the best of the best.
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube have privacy practices that could put your data at risk
By Olivia Powell published
Facebook, Instagram and YouTube could store your data for up to 180 days after your account's been deleted
The best Smart TV VPN 2024
By Aleksandar Stevanović last updated
VPN A Smart TV VPN is the perfect tool for accessing blocked content, but the wide variety of devices can cause issues. Here's our full guide.
What are zero-day attacks?
By Sam Dawson published
A guide to what zero-day attacks are, why they're so impactful and what you can do to guard against them
How much should a VPN cost?
By Olivia Powell published
You might not have to pay top dollar for top-level protection – but certain features can really run up your bill.
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