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

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 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.

This new NordVPN feature lets you know when sites aren't working
By Olivia Powell published
NordVPN's new "Is it down?" checker analyzes user reports to give you up-to-date information on any outages websites or services are experiencing

From AI training to banning VPNs – here are 8 questions the internet is asking about the Online Safety Act
By George Phillips published
We've gathered nine of the internet's most asked questions about the Online Safety Act. They are important questions and not all have a straightforward answer.

It's not surprising that the Online Safety Act doesn't cover personal data safety
By Olivia Powell published
The concerns raised about personal data safety by age verification checks in the UK are not unfounded

Will the UK government ban VPNs?
By Joe Chivers published
As UK residents turn to VPNs to get around the Online Safety Act, concerns that VPNs will be banned have bene raised

Why is Spotify asking for age verification?
By Olivia Powell published
The Online Safety Act in the UK means that Spotify is now required to verify users' ages if they want to access 18+ content.

What is NordVPN's new Scam Call Protection feature?
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN's new scam call protection features aims to stop you from getting scammed by detecting phishing calls before you pick up the phone

What are the UK's new age verification laws?
By Olivia Powell last updated
What are the UK's new age verification laws, and how are users trying to avoid them?

The fastest VPN services in 2025
By Olivia Powell last updated
We've tested dozens of VPNs to determine the top 5 fastest VPNs, including Proton VPN, NordVPN and Surfshark

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.

The best Egypt VPN
By Aleksandar Stevanović last updated
VPN We've tested the top VPNs for use in Egypt. Here are the 5 best for speed, security, and streaming, plus expert advice on which one suits you best.

Hide.me Free review
By Lloyd Coombes published
Hide.Me Free is okay for light browsing, but its throttled speeds make it difficult to recommend when there are more flexible free services around

Upgrade your online protection for less than $1 with this Prime Day VPN deal
By Olivia Powell published
NordVPN is even offering Amazon gift cards worth up to $50

Is NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro worth it?
By Zoran Danilovic published
NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro offers you antivirus-like protection along with a VPN and password manager

Why a VPN is essential for summer travel
By Krishi Chowdhary published
Discover why a VPN is a must-have for summer travel – for streaming, security, and staying connected everywhere.

Is upgrading your NordVPN plan worth it?
By Aleksandar Stevanović published
NordVPN's Prime Day discount plus a free Amazon gift card worth up to $50 makes upgrading more worth it than ever

I used NordVPN to unlock global Netflix libraries, and all I got was this Amazon gift card
By Olivia Powell published
With NordVPN's Prime Day deal, you can enhance your streaming sessions and get an Amazon gift card of up to $50

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.

PrivadoVPN Free review
By Kristin Hassel last updated
PrivadoVPN Free gives you more servers to choose from than most free VPNs, but you may be a bit disappointed that not all of its advanced features are available for every OS.

Windscribe VPN Free review
By Michael Simon last updated
Windscribe’s free plan is one of the best on the market, and it’s a strong option for streaming, torrenting, and private browsing, but it still has some areas for improvement

The best Iran VPN
By Krishi Chowdhary last updated
VPN Avoid widespread censorship facing citizens and travelers in Iran by using our top 5 Iran VPN choices.
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