
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

NordVPN introduces hijacked-session alerts for Threat Protection Pro to protect your data from the dark web – here's how it works
By George Phillips published
NordVPN has added a hijacked-session alert feature to its Threat Protection package. Here's all you need to know about how the feature seeks to protect your data.

VPNs nearly broke EA FC 26 – here's how
By George Phillips published
A technical glitch, which could be exploited by connecting to a VPN, led EA FC 26 PC players to buy FC points at a heavily discounted rate. Here's how they did it.

Norton VPN completes its second no-logs audit — and it confirms your data is safe
By George Phillips published
Norton VPN has undergone its second annual no-logs audit, which confirmed the provider does not log your data. It has also updated its data retention practices.

Mandatory age verification is now going live in Ohio — here's what it means for users
By George Phillips last updated
Age verification laws will soon come to Ohio. Adults accessing online content deemed "harmful" to minors will have to verify their age.

NordVPN U-turns on axing Meshnet due to public backlash
By George Phillips published
Meshnet is back. NordVPN has U-turned on its decision to axe the feature after passionate please from its user base. Here's everything we know about its future.

Age verification on X – how does it work and do you need to do it?
By George Phillips last updated
X is one of the sites implementing age verification checks. Some users have been unable to comply, while others look to bypass them – here's how it all works.

We asked 4 VPN experts which VPNs they use – and the results surprised us
By George Phillips last updated
Here at Tom's Guide, the VPN team spend all day writing about VPNs. But which providers do we actually use? The team shares their favourite VPNs and why they like them.

7.5 million Arizonans are now facing age-verification checks for adult content – and non-compliant websites could be hit with fines of $250,000 for every violation
By George Phillips last updated
Millions in Arizona will now have to complete age verification checks to access adult content. But what are the potential risks?

VPN Day of Action: Providers and activists call on politicians to "leave VPNs alone"
By George Phillips published
Fight for the Future's VPN Day of Action sees activists and VPN providers raise awareness of the dangers of VPN bans and attacks on internet freedoms.

Here are 6 sites requiring age verification – will you be affected?
By George Phillips last updated
Does your favorite website now require you to verify your age? We've highlighted some of the most high-profile cases of age verification implementation so far.

Proton VPN passes its fourth consecutive no-logs audit – here's what that means for your data
By George Phillips published
Proton VPN has passed its fourth consecutive no-logs audit. It's privacy commitments have been verified, ensuring your data is safe with the provider.

Are VPNs legal in the US?
By George Phillips last updated
vpn In our guide to US VPNs, we cover the most important laws and regulations governing VPN usage in the US.

The TikTok ban saga appears to finally be over as reports suggest a deal has been done
By George Phillips last updated
The US and China have reportedly agreed a deal to sure up the future of TikTok, putting an end to the app's uncertain future.

This is your last chance to grab Proton VPN for $3 per month – its flash sale ends tomorrow
By George Phillips published
Thanks to our exclusive deal, you can grab Proton VPN for $3 per month. But you'll have to be quick, the flash sale ends on September 24.

Grab Norton VPN for $2.50 per month with Tom's Guide's exclusive deal
By George Phillips last updated
You can save 70% on one-year Norton VPN plans thanks to Tom's Guide's exclusive deal. It isn't yet a VPN big hitter, but Norton VPN has undergone some significant improvements.

New iPhone 17? These privacy apps should be your first download
By George Phillips published
With the launch of three new iPhones, now is an ideal time to grab yourself a complete privacy suite – and Proton Unlimited is the best there is.

We tried out ExpressVPN's new free VPN, EventVPN – it's good, but there's one drawback
By George Phillips published
ExpressVPN has launched its own free VPN, EventVPN. It's a privacy-focused, no cost VPN packed with features. However, it's ad heavy and only available on Apple.

Michigan lawmakers call for total VPN ban as part of a proposed 'public morals' bill
By George Phillips published
VPNs are under attack in Michigan as Republican lawmakers seek to block access to adult content. Sales and usage would be banned and website access blocked.

4 reasons why ExpressVPN is still the best iPhone VPN
By Aleksandar Stevanović last updated
New VPNs come and go. Here's why ExpressVPN remains the go-to choice for iOS.

I'm a VPN expert, these are these are my top six deals for protecting your iPhone 17 – starting from $1.11 per month
By Olivia Powell, George Phillips last updated
Protecting your new iPhone is a no-brainer, so make sure it stays protected online with one of the best iPhone VPNs

Proton VPN is now $3 per month thanks to the provider's flash end of summer sale
By George Phillips published
Proton VPN is on sale! Until September 24 you can grab Proton VPN for $3 per month. The provider is a privacy champion and boasts some great features.

How to install a VPN on iPhone
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN Getting your iPhone VPN up and running only takes a few taps. Here's everything you need to know, and a simple step-by-step guide.

'The stakes could not be higher' — VPN providers oppose EU plans to weaken encryption
By George Phillips published
The EU's "Chat Control" bill would weaken encryption for all EU citizens. A group of VPN providers have issued stark warnings and opposes the legislation.
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