
Olivia Powell
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

Best Warzone VPN: how to get easy lobbies by avoiding SBMM
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN A VPN for Warzone is the perfect tool for bagging more kills and avoiding SBMM. Here the top 5 Warzone VPNs on the market today.

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

Is it really worth upgrading from Windscribe Free?
By Olivia Powell published
With a generous data limit, excellent privacy features and decent speeds, Windscribe Free is a great option for those who want a VPN without the price tag. Is there any reason to upgrade?

Best Windows VPN for PC in 2025
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN We've tested dozens of VPNs and evaluated their ease of use, speed, streaming support and privacy and security to determine the top 5 best Windows VPNs.

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 Indonesia VPN
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
vpn The best Indonesia VPN is the perfect tool for avoiding censorship and streaming more content wherever you are. Here's our top 5.

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 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.

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.

How to watch overseas content with a VPN
By Olivia Powell last updated
vpn If geo-blocking is preventing you from watching your favorite shows, learn how to use a VPN to watch content from overseas.

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

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, but which is the best one?

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

Windscribe VPN review
By Esat Dedezade last updated
Windscribe's free plan, customizable pricing, and privacy tools make it a great option – but its malware protection, apps, and chat support leave something to be desired

Free Android VPNs: the best safe, functional options
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN There are countless free Android VPNs out there, and a huge amount aren't legit. Here, we run down those that are worth using.

Free Netflix VPNs: are they worth downloading and which ones are good?
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN Free Netflix VPN services can't compete with paid VPNs, but there's at least one that's surprisingly effective.

The best Roku VPN in 2025
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN A Roku VPN can take time to set up, but once it's up and running you'll have access to tons of extra content. Here's our complete guide.

The best Turkey VPN
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
VPN Using a Turkey VPN is the easiest way of avoiding the country's strict surveillance and content blocking – plus you can stream more, too.

Private Internet Access review
By Chris Hall last updated
In my hands-on Private Internet Access review, we run down what the veteran provider is like to use, and where it needs improvement.

The best VPN for ChatGPT in 2025
By Tom Bailey last updated
VPN Want access to ChatGPT from anywhere – even if it's banned in your country, school, or office? I've got you. Here are my top five ChatGPT VPNs.

The best UAE VPN for Dubai in 2025
By Mo Harber-Lamond last updated
vpn A UAE VPN for Dubai is the only way of accessing WhatsApp and censored sites in the Emirates. Here are the very best on the market.

What makes a good VPN?
By Alex Hughes published
It's not just all about encryption. From security to speed to servers to streaming, we explore all the factors that take a VPN from decent to great

What is NordLocker?
By Catherine Hiley published
Everything you need to know about NordLocker, the encrypted cloud storage service from the creators of NordVPN
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