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

If you're in Wisconsin, you should seriously consider using one of these 5 VPNs
By Michael Simon published
The top 5 best VPNs to use in the state of Wisconsin, ranked

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.

Secure your data for just $0.07 a day thanks to this IPVanish early Black Friday deal
By Olivia Powell published
With IPVanish's Black Friday deal, you can get VPN protection, free eSIM data and even encrypted cloud storage, and all at over 80% off

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

Amazon cracks down on Fire Stick apps – could you be affected?
By Krishi Chowdhary published
Amazon is now blocking sideloaded streaming apps on Fire Stick at the device level, rendering VPNs ineffective. Here’s what’s changing and what users can do.

The cheapest monthly VPN plans in 2025
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
A cheap monthly VPN is great for trialing a new provider, avoiding commitment, or accessing apps on vacation. Here are the very best monthly VPNs from our testing.

Why you need an iPhone VPN
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
vpn Using a VPN on your iPhone is essential for privacy, security, and unrestricted streaming, whether you’re at home, at work, or on public Wi-Fi.

70% of Americans think antivirus will protect their online privacy – here's the real truth
By Kristin Hassel published
A survey has revealed that the majority of Americans have some worrying misconceptions about online safety, putting their data at serious risk

Age checks in the UK result in a 77% decrease in visits to adult sites – but does this mean age verification works?
By Olivia Powell published
Since the Online Safety Act was passed in the UK, visits to adult sites have reportedly decreased by 77%

3.4 billion phishing emails are sent every month – and Surfshark's new feature can help keep you safe
By Joe Chivers published
Surfshark has rolled out a new feature which aims to prevent phishing attacks by scanning users' emails

These ExpressVPN updates make it easier than ever to monitor your iPhone VPN connection
By Krishi Chowdhary published
ExpressVPN has enhanced its mobile VPN experience with two new features: Network Insights and Secure Device Assistant, making it easier to stay secure and connected.

Proton VPN's Black Friday deal blows NordVPN and ExpressVPN out of the water
By Olivia Powell published
Proton VPN has introduced a new deal for its Proton VPN Plus subscription, dropping the price to less than $2.50 per month for a 24-month contract

"Protecting users is more important than ever" – NordVPN's new content filter is a real alternative to age verification
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN's DNS-based content filters block adult sites before they load

Surfshark launches privacy-first web content blocker
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
Surfshark has launched a privacy-first web content blocker for Android and iOS, letting families filter online content by category without tracking browsing activity.

NordVPN's Times Square stunt lets New Yorkers "talk to a hacker"
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN's "Talk to a Hacker" campaign in Times Square let people chat live with ethical hackers who uncovered their personal info in minutes – a stark reminder of online privacy risks.

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

Best Fire Stick VPN in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
I've tested dozens of VPN for Fire Stick. Here I'll run down the very best Fire Stick VPNs, including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and more.

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.

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

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.

NordVPN open-sources its Linux app's GUI and simplifies installation
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN has now open-sourced its Linux GUI and added it to the Snap package for one-command installs and automatic updates

ExpressVPN review
By Michael Simon last updated
VPN In our complete ExpressVPN review, we run down this well-known VPN's features, apps and performance, and give our unbiased opinion of the service.

The best BBC iPlayer VPN
By Olivia Powell last updated
VPN From catching up on sporting events, to Doctor Who and Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC has it all. A BBC iPlayer VPN is your ticket to entry
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