About
His work focuses on the technical aspects of VPN testing, from analyzing the behavior of VPN applications to developing online tools to help consumers test their VPN connection.
In addition to delivering a performant and useful experience for users of the website, he has built a consistent framework to ensure VPN services are tested comprehensively and objectively.
In his research, he also examines broader issues of security, networking, and cybersecurity.
VPN Research & Authorship
Since 2017, I have helped to build the VPN testing methodology and technical infrastructure at Top10VPN.com, where I focus on in-depth digital privacy research and objective reviews of VPN services across all major platforms.
My work at Top10VPN.com includes:
- Developing both an in-house, and external networking environment to ensure comprehensive testing
- Building a sophisticated automated VPN speed testing and reliability tool
- Creating Top10VPN.com’s IP and DNS leak-testing methodology
- Creating frameworks for analyzing the network traffic and behavior of VPN applications across multiple device types
- Developing online tools for consumers to test the effectiveness of their VPN Connection
I have also published detailed research and resources around the topics of online security, networking, and VPN security, for example:
- The 4 Different Types of VPN Explained (and When to Use Them)
- How to Set Up Your Own VPN Server at Home
- How Do VPNs Work? VPN Encryption & Tunneling Explained
- VPN Kill Switch: What Is It & How to Check It’s Working Properly
- How to Change Your NAT Type to Open (3 Easy Methods)
Experience
Career highlights include being founding CTO at CoinDesk, one of the leading cryptocurrency news sites. I built CoinDesk’s Bitcoin Price Index, which is referenced by publications all over the globe.
I was also technical co-founder of Student.com, one of the world’s leading online marketplaces for student accommodation, in which I rolled out and scaled up infrastructure in offices across Asia, Europe, and USA, inter-connected via VPNs which crossed the Great Firewall of China, and oversaw distributed software engineering teams.
This is all built on a diverse skill set developed over 25 years of software engineering and networking experience, summarised as:
- Extensive knowledge of VPN protocols including configuring and supporting IPSEC and OpenVPN tunnels
- Securely connecting worldwide locations to offices in Shanghai through the Great Firewall of China
- Ensuring the security of corporate networks through setup and monitoring of Firewalls & Intrusion Detection Systems, anti-virus/anti-malware scanning of systems, and performing vulnerability testing on applications and APIs
- Server-side programming using languages such as Javascript, Perl, PHP, and Python
- Sysops / devops using a mixture of local physical servers, dedicated data center servers, and cloud services
- Traditional desktop IT support, including designing and rolling out multi-site, multi-country corporate networks
- Hands on development and support of multiple call centres based across the globe, using Asterisk and global VOIP gateways
In the Media
My research and contributions have been featured in a number of leading news and technology publications including:
- Hackers Able to Seize Control of Children’s Christmas Toys
- Why Users Ignore the Risk of Brute Force RDP Attacks
- HAProxy
Education
- Shelley High School, Huddersfield (1990 - 1996)
- BSc Computer Science from The University Of York (1996-1999)
Find me elsewhere on the Web
Contact
I’m best contacted by email