Mary James
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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
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ExpressVPN Price in 2026: Worth It for Privacy
ExpressVPN comes with a variety of servers, advanced features, and even a proprietary router to blanket you in security. But is ExpressVPN worth the price? Let's take a look.
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Is Acorns a Safe Way To Begin Your Investment Journey?
There are a million ways to invest your money, but few have as fun a gimmick as Acorns. Learn more about how the Round-Up innovator protects your traffic through 256-bit encryption while also giving you low-cost options for investing.
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myFICO Review 2026: User-Friendly and Free
After testing myFICO, the service seems to focus more on financial planning rather than on identity theft prevention.
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Cracked Security: Why a Cracked VPN Could Cost You
It might be tempting to use a cracked VPN if you’re in need, but there are legitimate alternatives that won’t leave you worse off than when you started.
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12 Legit Ways to Bypass Paywalls [Tested February 2026]
From popular suggestions to hidden gems, we tested dozens of methods to get past paywalls. Here are the 12 that worked.
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Zander Identity Theft Protection Review 2026: Does This Budget Service Deliver? [Tested]
Identity theft protection services usually come with hefty fees, but Zander takes a different approach to coverage that makes it worth checking out.
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Is Discord Safe for Kids? A Comprehensive Parent’s Guide
Discord is a popular chat app that allows users to meet and bond over shared interests. But before their child logs on, parents should know the risks and safety procedures to keep them safe.
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Clean Master Review 2026: A Lightweight Digital Maid Service
Clean Master can help remove unwanted programs that are slowing down your computer. While there is some virus protection, you’ll want a more robust antivirus if you’re serious about security.
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The Streaming Experience: Are People Watching New Content on Streaming Platforms?
Streaming habits can be as personal as fingerprints and may even reflect your mood and viewing preferences. So tell us, are you a tried and true superfan or curious for new content?
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Incogni Review 2026: Hands-On Testing of a Top-Notch Data Removal Tool
We tested Incogni with our own data and found a simple, automated process that lets you set and forget that it’s working.
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The Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors 2026
Your personal information doesn’t just live on the dark web — data brokers collect and sell your data to sites all over the internet. But these identity protection services can monitor and protect your name.
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Your State’s Top Twitch Streamer (And What They Do)
Whether you watch Twitch for the gameplay or the witty conversations, there’s a top streamer in each state, and yours might surprise you.
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IDShield by LegalShield Review 2026: Tested ID Protection That Gets It
After extensive testing, we were impressed with what we found once we really got into this identity protection service.
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Identity Guard Review 2026: Tested Privacy Protection
Keeping an eye on your personal information can save you a lot of stress and headaches if someone steals your identity; our testing shows that services like Identity Guard can make that easier.
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Is DuckDuckGo Safe? Why You Should Use This Private Search Engine
DuckDuckGo is one of the most private and transparent search engines available and has multiple features available to give you back your online privacy.
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IdentityForce Review 2026: Identity Protection That Also Logs Your Data? [Tested]
Our testing proved that IdentityForce is a useful service, but does it share too much of your data?
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HelloPrivacy Review 2026: A Simple Way to Lock Down Your Identity
HelloPrivacy is a no-nonsense product that helps you locate and delete your sensitive information from data sale sites across the internet.
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IDnotify Review 2026: Is This Identity Protection Worth the Price?
IDnotify is a trustworthy service that won’t sell your data, but there aren't a lot of extras.
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PrivacyGuard Review 2026: Who Is It Best For?
Ransomware and hackers have opened up the door to widespread data and identity theft, but services like PrivacyGuard vow to help you keep it safe.
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NordPass Review 2026: Safe, Secure, and Full of Features
NordPass has been around since 2019, but its clean design and plentiful features are appreciated now more than ever.
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What’s a False Positive and How Can You Fix It?
False positives are annoying, but you’ll need to be able to identify them from actual malware if you want to keep your computer running without issue. Here’s how to fix antivirus false positives.
