Steph Trejos
Steph Trejos is a Senior Product Testing Editor at All About Cookies, where she has personally tested nearly 200 digital security products on PC, Mac, iPhone, and Android. She has also contributed to writing product reviews and informational guides on data security and identity theft protection.
Her role is built around hands-on product evaluation: when a security product is reviewed at All About Cookies, Steph tests it. Steph applies her firsthand testing knowledge to create rating systems and methodologies that are balanced, comprehensive, and helpful for readers.
What distinguishes Steph's testing is the credential framework behind it. She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) — a formal, exam-based credential awarded by ACAMS, the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and the world's largest anti-financial crime professional body. That certification reflects demonstrated expertise in financial crime, fraud patterns, and cyber threats that make identity theft protection, VPNs, and antivirus software genuinely necessary — not just desirable. She understands the threat landscape these products are designed to address, which makes her evaluation of whether a product actually delivers on its claims more substantive than surface-level feature testing.
Before joining All About Cookies, Steph served as an editorial assistant at ACAMS, where she produced and edited publications on money laundering, terrorist financing, and cyber threats. She subsequently edited financial crime and cybersecurity content at FinanceBuzz. Across more than 350 articles edited at All About Cookies, her deepest vertical coverage spans VPNs, antivirus software, and identity theft protection — the same threat categories that defined her earlier career.
Steph holds a B.A. in Mass Communication/Media Studies & English: Editing, Writing, and Media from Florida State University.
When she's not testing products, Steph enjoys watching movies and trying new restaurants.
- ACAMS Today
- FinanceBuzz
- Identity Theft
- Data Security
- VPNs
- Antivirus
- Password Managers
- Ad Blockers
- Parental Controls
- Credit Monitoring
- Online Privacy
- B.A. in English Literature and Media/Communications from Florida State University
- Mac or PC: Both
- Android or iPhone: iPhone
Steph's Latest Articles
-
The Best VPNs for India 2026
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.
-
Betternet VPN Review 2026: 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.
-
The Best Virus Removal Software 2026
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.
-
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.
-
2025 VPN Statistics and Consumer Report: 61% of Americans Remain Unprotected Online
All About Cookies surveyed people to find out how many know what VPNs do, how many use them, how safe they feel using VPNs, and more.
-
Norton vs. ESET 2026: Norton Edges Out ESET
ESET is a good product with proven third-party test scores, but Norton offers a cybersecurity suite for less. Which one is the antivirus for you?
-
NordVPN vs. TorGuard 2026: 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?
-
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 a browser hijacker, but there are easy steps to isolate and eliminate this issue.
-
Norton Password Manager Review 2026: 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.
-
How To Block Twitter (X) Ads in 2026
Explore the world of ad blockers, privacy browsers, and X settings to transform your X feed into a sanctuary free from intrusive ads.
-
OmniWatch Review 2026: A New Service With Potential [Tested]
OmniWatch is still in its infancy, but our testing proves it could become a great identity monitoring solution if it adds some important features.
-
Bitdefender vs. Norton 2026: Is It Too Close To Call?
Bitdefender is a reliable antivirus with some simple interface tools that work seamlessly with Windows, while Norton gives users a powerful antivirus suite with plenty of features.
-
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.
-
Ad Blockers on YouTube: 336% Spike in Ad-Blocker Demand Following YouTube Crackdown [Data]
Since YouTube declared war on ad blockers, users have been scrambling for new ways to avoid advertisements. We polled 1,000 YouTube users to find out what they’re doing now.
-
Aura vs. Identity Guard 2026: 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.
-
The Best VPNs for Chromebook 2026
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.
-
How To Watch Christmas Movies (2026)
We'll share where to stream our favorite holiday movies and show you how to access Christmas classics from home or while traveling this season.
-
Qustodio Review 2026: Is This App Right for Your Family?
Qustodio offers several benefits for parents aiming to ensure their child's safety online, as well as multiple tiers based on your budget and monitoring needs.
-
mSpy Review 2026: Parental Control or Surveillance Scout?
We tested mSpy on our own device to uncover the thin line between surveillance and safety, so you can decide if this tool aligns with your parental control needs.
-
The Best Free VPNs for Netflix That Work in 2026
Netflix is at war with the VPN industry, trying to stop subscribers from accessing regional and geo-restricted content, but a good VPN can help you get around the barriers.
-
NordPass vs. 1Password 2026: Putting Two Top Options Head-To-Head
During our testing, we found that, while 1Password has unique features, NordPass is a better choice in almost every other category.