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
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The Best LastPass Alternatives 2026
Whether you’re new to password managers or just moving away from LastPass, we recommend RoboForm, 1Password, NordPass, or Keeper to get you started. Here's why.
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NordPass vs. LastPass 2026: NordPass is Feature-Rich and Breach-Free
NordPass is best for users looking for an overall excellent password management experience, while LastPass is best for its free service (if you aren’t wary of its data breach history).
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The Best Antivirus Software With VPNs 2026
Based on our rigorous testing, we think the best real-time antivirus protection with a VPN are Surfshark Antivirus, Bitdefender, and Norton 360. Here's why.
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NordPass vs. Dashlane 2026: Can NordPass Dash Ahead?
NordPass is the software you want when you require an entire password suite for an incredible price, but Dashlane does allow slightly more users for their family plan.
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Google One VPN Review 2026: Cheap and Secure but Bare Bones
Google VPN encrypted your traffic but lacked additional capabilities like split tunneling, torrenting, or streaming geo-restricted content.
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NordVPN vs. VyprVPN 2026: Who Emerges as the Victor?
NordVPN and VyprVPN are both known for their enhanced security, from their proprietary protocols to their audited no-logs policies. But one of these failed our kill switch test and consistently dropped our speeds.
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HitmanPro.Alert Antivirus Review 2026: Is It Too Light for an Antivirus?
If you’re a Windows user, you may want to use HitmanPro.Alert, but we don't recommend it. It’s a malware removal and antivirus tool that can integrate into your current antivirus or as a standalone against online threats.
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The Best VPNs for Taiwan 2026
Ready to stream Let's Talk About CHU? Planning an international trip or searching for a VPN that works from your home in Taiwan? Check out these VPNs for the best connection, features, and more.
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How to Download a VPN on Most Devices
Learning how to download a VPN doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to download a VPN to your computer, smartphone, router, and more.
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Proton VPN NetShield Review 2026: The Shield Your Privacy Deserves?
Experience unparalleled browsing safety with Proton VPN NetShield, your protection against ads and online threats.
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3 Ways To Find Your iPhone’s IP Address
Finding your iPhone’s IP address is simple once you know the steps, so we will give you three ways to find it.
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Spoiler Etiquette: How Long Do You Need To Wait To Talk About Shows and Movies? [Survey]
All About Cookies surveyed 1,000 people to find out how they avoid spoilers, where most spoilers come from, and how spoilers impact their enjoyment of shows and movies.
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AirVPN Review 2026: Elevating Your Online Anonymity
AirVPN is a good choice to secure your internet connection and enhance your digital privacy, but our testing revealed it's not suited for casual users.
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The Best Ad Blockers for iPhone 2026
Our testing determined that Total Adblock, Surfshark CleanWeb, 1Blocker, and more are the best ad blockers for iPhone. Learn more about our hands-on experience and what makes these good iOS ad blockers.
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Surfshark vs. IPVanish 2026: Who Takes the Crown?
In this battle of the titans, we pit Surfshark's unbeatable pricing, strong security features, and expansive server list against IPVanish's robust platform compatibility and smooth mobile experience.
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Best LifeLock Alternatives 2026
LifeLock locks features behind its priciest plan — so we tested the top LifeLock alternatives to find better coverage, pricing, and monitoring options.
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ExpressVPN vs. VyprVPN 2026: Stream Seamlessly or Get a Bite of Privacy?
ExpressVPN is best for streaming, while VyprVPN is best for bypassing censorship.
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How to Get a Brazilian IP Address From Anywhere
Learn how to get an IP address in Brazil from anywhere in the world with a VPN.
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Bitdefender vs. Avira 2026: With Bitdefender, Protection Meets Value
We compared the benefits and drawbacks of Bitdefender and Avira, two powerful antivirus programs, so you can decide which one is best for you.
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7 Ways VPNs Create a Better Online Experience
Virtual private networks (VPNs) give you added security and anonymity when online by encrypting your data, among other benefits.
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Public Wi-Fi Safety: 1 in 4 People Have Experienced a Security Issue From Browsing on Unsecured Networks
All About Cookies surveyed people to find out how often they use public Wi-Fi networks, how safe they feel using it in different places, and how many have been hacked.