Olivia joined Tom's Guide in October 2023 as part of the core Future Tech Software team, and is the Commissioning Editor at Tom's Guide. With a background in cybersecurity, Olivia is interested in how VPNs protect users' privacy, and how they improve online safety. She also regularly uses VPNs to make sure they deliver what they promise, and specializes in testing VPNs with streaming sites.
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 cybersecurity 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

TunnelBear review
By Michael Simon last updated
TunnelBear is a simple VPN that covers the essentials with an audited no-logs policy, a kill switch, and an intuitive interface (as well as a sense of humor).

What is a VPN protocol?
By Shaun Rockwood last updated
Everything you need to know about VPN protocols from what they are to how they work

Best free iPhone VPN app in 2025
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN There are tons of free iPhone VPNs on the App Store – but only a handful are safe to use. Here are the very best free VPNs for iPhone that I've tested.

Best iPhone VPN for iOS in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs on iPhone to bring you a definitive ranking of the top 5 best iOS VPNs, including ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark

The best streaming VPN in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs with streaming sites like Netflix and BBC iPlayer to bring you a definitive ranking of the top 5 best streaming VPNs, including NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN

The best router VPN in 2025
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN We've tested all the very best router VPNs, and here we've rounded up our top 5 – with one provider even offering bespoke hardware.

Proton adds "Emergency Access" feature for access in "exceptional circumstances"
By Joe Chivers published
The new feature aims to prevent a loss of data under exceptional circumstances

What is a VPN audit?
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN A VPN audit proves the reliability of a VPN service, and is, therefore, essential. Here's everything you need to know about VPN audits.

The best Netflix VPN in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs for Netflix, and here we round up the likes of NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN to find the very best Netflix VPN.

What makes a good VPN?
By Alex Hughes last updated
From security to speed to servers to streaming, we explore all the factors that take a VPN from decent to great

Surfshark VPN Review
By Shaun Rockwood last updated
VPN In my hands-on Surfshark review, I test every aspect of the service to find out whether it's a bargain alternative to the biggest names.

Freshman fear – how to protect your personal data at college
By Andy Sansom last updated
Looking after your data is part of growing up in the modern era and college is a great place to start. Here are our top tips for staying safe online.

How to avoid cyber scams as a student
By Andy Sansom last updated
It's nearly time to head back to school, but before you hit the campus, make sure you're protecting yourself from popular cyber attacks.

Best VPN deals for students
By Krishi Chowdhary published
Looking for the best VPN deals for students? Stay safe online, unblock content, and save money with exclusive discounts on top VPN services.

Best VPN free trial in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN free trials can help you get an idea for what a VPN service is like without committing. Here we've ranked the top five we've tested.

The best cheap VPN in 2025
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs and evaluated how much they cost to bring you a definitive ranking of the top 5 best cheap VPNs, including Surfshark, NordVPN, and Private Internet Access

Working hard or hardly working? Here’s how a VPN can help you this semester in and out of college
By Michael Simon published
Getting a VPN is a good idea for privacy and security at college, but it can also help you to bypass restrictions and access content from around the world.

How does a VPN work?
By River Hart last updated
VPN VPNs can do some pretty cool things, but how do they work in practice? From protocols to streaming, here I'll cover it all

Ignore your tutor and play banned games at college with a quality VPN
By Joe Chivers published
How to get around content blocks and access videos by using one of the best gaming VPNs

The best UK VPN
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN Discover the best UK VPNs for privacy, streaming and speed – I've tested the best services out there and these are my 5 favorites right now.

Best travel VPN in 2025
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
A travel VPN is an essential part of your digital luggage for accessing sites and streaming apps from home. We've ranked and reviewed the top five.

The best US VPN in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs to determine which are the best VPNs for the United States in terms of speed, security and streaming support

The best China VPN: working services right now
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN A China VPN is essential for anyone traveling to the country – but not every provider works. Here are the very best VPNs for China on the market.
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