Mary James

Mary James is a digital privacy and security writer at All About Cookies with over seven years of experience helping everyday users navigate the products and threats that define modern digital life.

Across more than 340 articles at All About Cookies, Mary has developed particular depth in VPNs, antivirus software, ad blockers, identity theft protection, and parental controls — consistently translating technical security concepts into guidance that's useful for readers without a security background. She has personally tested more than 75 security and privacy products, evaluating each on Mac, PC, and iPhone to reflect how real users across different platforms experience them.

Before joining All About Cookies, Mary worked in content creation and sales at PC Matic, a U.S.-based antivirus software company, where she developed firsthand familiarity with how consumer security products are built, positioned, and tested against real-world threats. That industry-side experience informs how she evaluates products today — including how marketing claims hold up against actual performance.

Mary holds a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Playwriting and Screenwriting from Point Park University. Her communication background shapes her ability to make complex threat scenarios and product trade-offs clear and actionable for non-technical audiences. Her work has appeared in MSN and CNBC.

When she's not writing, Mary can be found at her local theatre or exploring the outdoors.