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

Surfshark's Black Friday is practically giving its antivirus away – just $6 for two years of cover
By Kristin Hassel published
Surfshark's Black Frday deal has lowered the price of Surfshark One to just over $2 per month – netting you antivirus coverage for just $6 more per year

How to cancel Private Internet Access and get a refund
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
In this guide, I'll explain the simplest way to cancel your PIA subscription and receive a refund.

IPVanish collaborates with Amazon to prepare its launch-day-ready VPN app
By Olivia Powell published
IPVanish joins the ranks of VPNs that officially support Vega OS – when Amazon finally unlocks VPN support on Fire Stick Select devices.

Don't let scammers steal your email address this Black Friday – do this instead
By Kristin Hassel published
Surfshark’s Alternative ID helps protect your data as you browse for Black Friday deals, so you don’t have to share your personal information while you shop

NordVPN rips you off when you auto-renew – save 76% with its Black Friday deal instead
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN's early Black Friday deal drops two-year plans to $2.99 a month – a huge 74% off. Add time on to your existing plan to avoid price hikes.

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.

IPVanish's Black Friday deal undercuts big rivals NordVPN and Proton VPN – and throws in 5GB of eSIM data for free
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.
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