Mary James
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg)
/authors/mary-james_allaboutcookies-author.jpg)
Mary is a cybersecurity writer based in Los Angeles, holding a B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University in Pittsburgh. With over seven years of experience, she focuses on educating the public on a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from VPNs to antivirus software.
Mary’s previous experience in sales and content creation at a private cybersecurity firm has enabled her to translate complex topics into easily digestible concepts. Her work has been featured in national publications such as MSN, CNBC, and PC Matic's private blog, reflecting her dedication to sharing vital cybersecurity insights and empowering the public to safeguard their private data.
When she's not writing, Mary works at her local theatre while also enjoying the trifecta of the beach, mountains, and desert.
- MSN
- CNBC
- PC Matic
- Antivirus
- VPNs
- Identity Theft
- B.S. in Liberal Arts from Clarion University
- M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Point Park University
- Mac or PC: Both
- Android or iOS: iPhone
Mary's Latest Articles
-
/images/2024/01/13/what_is_search_marquis.jpg)
/images/2024/01/13/what_is_search_marquis.jpg)
What Is Search Marquis and How Do I Remove It?
Search Marquis is a virus that mostly infects Mac users, but you can easily remove it and protect yourself from future infections with a few quick steps.
-
/images/2024/01/12/bark_vs._qustodio.jpg)
/images/2024/01/12/bark_vs._qustodio.jpg)
Bark vs. Qustodio 2025: Which One Is Right for Your Family?
We tested Bark and Qustodio to see which is the best choice for your family. Here's what we found.
-
/images/2024/01/12/avg_vs._mcafee_featured_image.jpg)
/images/2024/01/12/avg_vs._mcafee_featured_image.jpg)
AVG vs. McAfee 2025: Can a Free Antivirus Solution Beat an AV Titan?
In the battle between AVG vs. McAfee antivirus software, the decision lies in what features and performance aspects fit your individual needs.
-
/images/2024/01/05/apple-security-alert-scam.jpg)
/images/2024/01/05/apple-security-alert-scam.jpg)
How To Protect Yourself From the Apple Security Alert Scam
Avoid falling victim to the Apple security alert scam — learn how to remove it and protect yourself with an antivirus program.
-
/images/2023/12/30/how-does-criminal-identity-theft-occur.jpg)
/images/2023/12/30/how-does-criminal-identity-theft-occur.jpg)
How to Protect Yourself From Criminal Identity Theft Before You Wind Up in Jail
Criminal identity theft is a rare but serious form of fraud that could land you, the victim, in jail unless you know what to do before and after it happens.
-
/images/2023/12/21/aac___best_vpns_for_india.jpg)
/images/2023/12/21/aac___best_vpns_for_india.jpg)
The Best VPNs for India 2025
The Indian government wants VPNs to track all user data and surrender it if requested, but the best VPNs for India are still protecting your personal information.
-
/images/2023/12/15/betternet_vpn_review.jpg)
/images/2023/12/15/betternet_vpn_review.jpg)
Betternet VPN Review 2025: Make Sure You Know About This Issue Before Downloading
Betternet has some impressive features compared to other VPNs we’ve tested, but there’s one huge flaw that could be a deal breaker.
-
/images/2023/12/15/best_virus_removal_software.jpg)
/images/2023/12/15/best_virus_removal_software.jpg)
The Best Virus Removal Software 2025
Whether you want to protect the whole household's devices or just a single computer, you’ll need a tested and reliable virus removal product that will also protect your devices from becoming infected again.
-
/images/2023/12/15/wireguard_vs._openvpn.jpg)
/images/2023/12/15/wireguard_vs._openvpn.jpg)
WireGuard vs OpenVPN: Speed vs. Security
Have you seen the WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols on your VPN and wondered about the difference between the two? We’ve decoded each protocol so you can choose the best performance and security.
-
/images/2023/12/11/identity-theft.jpg)
/images/2023/12/11/identity-theft.jpg)
How To Identify Employment Identity Theft and What Steps To Take
Employment identity theft uses your personal data for jobs, unemployment, and tax fraud, so what can you do to protect yourself?
-
/images/2023/12/08/nordvpn_vs._torguard.jpg)
/images/2023/12/08/nordvpn_vs._torguard.jpg)
NordVPN vs. TorGuard 2025: A Head-To-Head of Two Secure VPNs
Both NordVPN and TorGuard offer strong VPN security that can keep your data encrypted while torrenting, streaming, and browsing. But which one is the better overall VPN provider?
-
/images/2023/12/08/chrome_redirects_to_bing.jpg)
/images/2023/12/08/chrome_redirects_to_bing.jpg)
Why Is Chrome Sending Me to Bing? What It Means and How To Fix It
If you want to search for something on Google but keep ending up on Bing instead, you may have malware or a virus, but there are easy steps to isolate and eliminate this issue.
-
/images/2023/12/08/what-is-pirated-software.jpg)
/images/2023/12/08/what-is-pirated-software.jpg)
What Is Pirated Software, and Can You Really Get in Trouble Using It?
Using software you didn’t pay for or didn’t pay the full amount for seems innocent enough, but it can have some long-term consequences that simply aren’t worth it.
-
/images/2023/12/08/norton_password_manager_review.jpg)
/images/2023/12/08/norton_password_manager_review.jpg)
Norton Password Manager Review 2025: A Free Way to Elevate Your Cybersecurity
We tested Norton’s free password manager feature, which provides a simple way to improve your overall cybersecurity health.
-
/images/2023/12/05/aura-vs.-lifelock.png)
/images/2023/12/05/aura-vs.-lifelock.png)
Aura vs. LifeLock 2025: Robust Features vs. Maximum Insurance Premiums
Aura offers robust features that span all of its plans, while Norton offers more identity theft insurance than any other service. Learn about our firsthand experience testing both identity protection services.
-
/images/2023/11/30/kaspersky-safe-kids-review.png)
/images/2023/11/30/kaspersky-safe-kids-review.png)
Kaspersky Safe Kids Review 2025: Gives Parents Power and Peace of Mind
We tested Kaspersky Safe Kids to see how well the parental control app was able to monitor and restrict device usage without hindering functionality.
-
/images/2023/06/22/hands-typing-laptop-study-aerial-view.jpg)
/images/2023/06/22/hands-typing-laptop-study-aerial-view.jpg)
Port Forwarding for Beginners: Beginning To Understand This Connection Protocol
Port forwarding allows you to seamlessly connect to other devices or create an open channel to your own device when you aren’t home, but it can also make you a target for hackers.
-
/images/2023/11/29/recycling-tech.jpg)
/images/2023/11/29/recycling-tech.jpg)
Recycling Tech: Your Old Phone May Help Pay for Your New Phone
Recycling old tech extends beyond laptops and cell phones and can get you serious discounts or cash for the new devices you’ve been wanting.
-
/images/2023/11/27/best-password-managers-for-seniors-01.png)
/images/2023/11/27/best-password-managers-for-seniors-01.png)
The Best Password Managers for Seniors 2025
Password managers are easier to use than you think, but you may feel overwhelmed trying to find which is the right one for your older loved ones. We’ll help you choose the easiest password manager to use that doesn’t skimp on security.
-
/images/2023/11/21/aura_vs._identity_guard.jpg)
/images/2023/11/21/aura_vs._identity_guard.jpg)
Aura vs. Identity Guard 2025: A Battle of Features vs. Price
The same parent company owns Aura and Identity Guard, but Aura offers more features in all plans, while Identity Guard has a budget tier for affordable basic protection.
-
/images/2023/11/17/best_vpns_for_chromebook.jpg)
/images/2023/11/17/best_vpns_for_chromebook.jpg)
The Best VPNs for Chromebook 2025
A VPN can enhance the security and functionality of your Chromebook. We’ll go over why NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN are three of the best VPNs for Chromebook.
