Simon Migliano

Head of Research

Simon Migliano is the VPN research expert at Top10VPN.com, whose investigations have uncovered significant digital privacy, security and censorship issues. His research has been featured in Wired, ZDNet, PC Mag, The Register, Bleeping Computer, CNet, Computerworld, Softpedia, The Inquirer, Download, How-To Geek, 9to5Mac, Apple Insider, Tom’s Guide, IT Pro Portal, Trusted Reviews and many other leading technology publications around the world. Simon has appeared on the BBC 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 give advice about public WiFi safety.

Research

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

VPN Ownership Investigation, which found nearly 60% of the most popular free VPN apps had hidden Chinese ownership
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 brings extensive experience in technology and research from his 15-year career, first 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 service, extensively testing all the leading VPN services and writing the first VPN reviews and privacy guides.

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

Simon’s VPN investigations and other digital privacy and cybersecurity research have been featured in leading news sites, including The Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, Der Spiegel, NBC News, The LA Times, Fox News, The Times, The Metro, Yahoo Finance, Fortune, Forbes 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, MSN Norway, Yahoo France, Le Figaro, IGN Latin America, La Vanguardia, ANSA, Detiknet, La Nacion, Novinky.cz, PC for Alla, Al Arabiya, Il Messaggero, Kauppalehti, ZDNet France, and PC Magazin.

His work has also received academic recognition in the Crime Science Journal.

Simon is frequently quoted as a VPN expert in privacy-related news stories and features, such as The Guardian, CNN, Vice News, MSN, Computer Weekly, The Mirror, The New Statesman, The Daily Mail, Information Age, IT Pro, SC Magazine, Infosecurity Magazine, Computing.co.uk, China Economic Review, RT, Verdict, Media Post, The National, The Daily Record, and Computer Business Review.

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

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 me at simon@top10vpn.com or visit the Press Room for more information.