Simon Migliano: Head of Research at Top10VPN.com
Simon Migliano is an author, journalist and Head of Research at Top10VPN.com.
His research is focused on all aspects of VPNs, from technical analysis of the software to investigation of the corporate activities of VPN providers.
Simon’s work also explores the broader issues of internet censorship, privacy and cybersecurity.
Feel free to get in touch with me to see if I can help you with a story or visit the Top10VPN press page.
my RESEARCH
Websites Blocked in Russia: I am tracking and analyzing the thousands of websites officially blocked in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine that relate to the conflict. The result is the only public dataset of its kind in the world.
Cost of Internet Shutdowns: I have been monitoring the economic cost of every major internet shutdown around the world since 2019. This research is regularly cited by academics and major government organizations.
The Dangers of Free VPN: A suite of research reports that explore multiple facets of free VPN apps. Findings include that as many as 60% are secretly Chinese-owned, and that 80% of VPNs rising in popularity during internet shutdowns log or share users’ IP addresses.
Global Mobile VPN Report: A world-first study of mobile VPN download growth across 70+ countries with year-over-year data back to 2016.
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.
ChatGPT Clone Apps Privacy Risks: I analyzed the most popular unofficial ChatGPT clone apps in each of Apple and Google's app stores and identified the biggest data privacy risks.
journalism
As well as authoring original research for Top10VPN.com, I have written articles on VPN, digital privacy and internet censorship issues for other well-respected websites, incuding The Thomson Reuters Foundation, Huffington Post, Hackernoon, OpenDemocracy and TechRadar.
in the media
I am frequently quoted as a VPN expert in digital privacy-related news stories and features.
I have been interviewed by some of the world’s biggest news publications, including as The Guardian, TIME, BBC News, Wired, CBS News, Los Angeles Times and The Sunday Times.
I have also made TV appearances on BBC’s Watchdog, Sky News, Euronews, and WRAL in the U.S. talking about using VPNs to circumvent internet censorship, identity theft and other information security issues.
media coverage
My VPN investigations and other digital privacy and cybersecurity research have been featured in hundreds of leading news sites including:
My research findings have also received extensive coverage in major foreign-language publications all over the world, such as Deutsche Welle, CNET Japan, Repubblica, Le Figaro, ZDNet France, PC Magazin, and CNN Espanol.
in academia and public policy
My Cost of Internet Shutdowns research, which I co-author with my fellow researcher Samuel Woodhams, is regularly cited in public policy documents and academic papers.
Some examples of this include:
United States International Trade Commission official report: United States International Trade Commission Foreign Censorship, Part 2: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses
Center for Democracy & Technology submission to the U.S. Sentate Finance Committee
Academic paper authored by researchers at University of Kashmir: “Impact of Internet Blockade Post Abrogation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution on Doctoral Students Pursuing Research in Kashmir”
Academic paper by White, P of University of Maine, “Symbiotic Suppression: How Digital Authoritarianism Helps Facilitate Physical Repression in Indian Controlled Kashmir”
Digital Economy Report 2021 for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
my experience
I have extensive experience in technology and research over the course of my 17-year career.
I began as a journalist in 2005 for the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news wire service in Sydney, Australia under the byline Simon Kirby.
I continued my journalism career for The Evening Standard newspaper after moving to London, UK in 2008.
I then emerged as a tech business leader both in London and Shanghai, China, after becoming involved with the world of tech start-ups with VoucherCodes - Retailmenot (NASDAQ: SALE) and Student.com
I was the first team member to join Top10VPN.com in 2016
I 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.
I have been a long-time user of both consumer and enterprise VPN technology. My time leading a Shanghai-based team remotely from London and working in China has given me first-hand experience of relying on a VPN as a vital anti-censorship tool.
my education
Postgraduate Diploma, Journalism from University of Technology, Sydney (2004/05)
BA Joint Honours in English & French from The University of Liverpool (1996-2000)
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall (1989-1996)
I was incredibly lucky to be taught by some exceptionally talented and highly-experienced news journalists during my time at UTS, some of whom I went on to work with later on in my career. Many of my fellow UTS almuni from the class of 2005 also went on to become highly successful journalists themselves.
I finished my undergraduate degree in 2000 after four years of study that included a year living, studying and working in Paris, France as part of the Erasmus university exchange program.
Born in Italy in 1978, I began my education in the UK after moving to the West Midlands. I attended the acclaimed Queen Mary’s Grammar School from 1989.