Simon Migliano

Head of Research

Simon Migliano is the VPN research expert at Top10VPN.com. His investigations have uncovered significant digital privacy, security and censorship issues around the world. His VPN reviews and research into the best VPN services have helped millions of people find a safe and secure VPN service.

He is an accredited journalist and member of the National Union of Journalists. His research has been featured in Wired, ZDNet, Forbes, PC Mag, Bleeping Computer, CNet, Computerworld, and many other leading technology publications around the world.

Simon has also appeared on the BBC Watchdog and Sky News, where he has talked about his research to help raise awareness of digital privacy and related issues. He has also appeared on BBC Radio to talk about internet shutdowns around the world and to give advice about public WiFi safety.

Research

Simon is best known for his VPN investigations and other research into online censorship and privacy issues. Some of his most notable studies include:

The Global Cost of Internet Shutdowns in 2020, which found that this form of censorship cost the world economy over $8BN last year.
Global Mobile VPN Report 2019: a world-first study of mobile VPN download growth across 70+ countries with year-over-year data back to 2016.
VPN Ownership Investigation, which found nearly 60% of the most popular free VPN apps had hidden Chinese ownership and its 2020 follow-up.
Free VPN Risk Index (Android Apps): Simon tested 150 free VPN apps and found 25% suffered DNS and other leaks, while 85% were potentially unsafe.
Collateral Damage in the War Against Online Harms: co-authored with Open Rights Group, this investigation into overblocking of websites by UK ISPs revealed over 400 charity, school and social supports sites had been blocked in error.

Experience

Simon is frequently quoted as a VPN expert in privacy-related news stories and features, such as The Guardian, CNN, Vice News, MSN, The New Statesman, and The National.

As well as authoring research for Top10VPN.com, Simon has written articles on VPN, privacy and censorship issues for other well-respected sites including Hackernoon, Reuters, OpenDemocracy and TechRadar.

Simon brings extensive experience in technology and research from his 15-year career. He began as a journalist for the Australian Associated Press (AAP) in Sydney, Australia before emerging as a tech business leader in London, UK and Shanghai, China. He was the first team member to join Top10VPN.com and played a significant role in launching the VPN review website, extensively testing all the leading VPN services and writing the first VPN reviews and privacy guides.

Simon has been a long-time user of both consumer and enterprise VPN technology. His time leading a Shanghai-based team remotely from London and working in China has given Simon first-hand experience of relying on a VPN as a vital anti-censorship tool.

His VPN investigations and other digital privacy and cybersecurity research have been featured in leading news sites including Bloomberg, The Financial Times, Time, The Telegraph, The Independent, Der Spiegel, NBC News, The Times, Fortune, and Fast Company.

His research findings have also received extensive coverage in major foreign-language publications all over the world, such as Sohu, CNet Japan, Repubblica, Le Figaro, IGN Latin America, ZDNet France, and PC Magazin.

Simon’s work has also received academic recognition in the Crime Science Journal.

Education

Simon holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Liverpool.

Media Inquiries: Please contact Simon at simon@top10vpn.com or visit the Press Room for more information.