Articles by River Hart, Tech Software Editor

River is a Tech Software Editor and VPN expert, helping take care of cybersecurity content on TechRadar, ranging from reviews, buying guides, and must-have VPN deals. River's expertise in the cybersecurity field opened their eyes to the startling amount of online snooping we accept into our daily lives. Now, River is committed to fighting for your right to digital privacy by shining a light on its biggest threats – and helping readers safeguard their data with the help of a VPN. Surfshark is River's favorite VPN, and they use it every day to keep their most sensitive details out of the hands of third-party trackers.

After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree in Creative Writing, River bounced around the UK on a mission to craft stories. They’ve worked as a B2B magazine editor (working in an eclectic range of fields, including theme parks, VR gaming, and e-commerce), L&D [coordinator], and found their way into the world of cybersecurity in 2019, leading the writing team over at ProPrivacy. River has since been quoted in The Guardian, BBC News, and Forbes.

In their spare time, River enjoys poking around museums in their adopted hometown of Liverpool, hiking across their native North Wales countryside, and spending way too much time plugged into a PS5.

Articles by: River Hart

An illustration of a woman using a laptop and connecting to a remote server

How to set up port forwarding with PureVPN

By River Hart published 5 April 24

If you're looking to set up port forwarding but don't want to go through manual router configuration, PureVPN's port forwarding add-on is perfect. Here's how to use it.

A digitally created image of two backlit tunnels and a red ball

What is VPN port forwarding on PureVPN?

By River Hart published 5 April 24

Wondering how PureVPN's port forwarding add-on works, or who can benefit from it? Here's everything you need to know—without the jargon.

Google Incognito data to be erased—but what happens next?

By River Hart published 5 April 24

Opinion Google's recent legal battle is just the latest in a long string of privacy fails. It begs the question—is Google really doing enough to maintain our privacy?

How to use a VPN with CarPlay

By Krishi Chowdhary published 4 April 24

Best iPhone VPN CarPlay won't always work with a VPN, especially if it's missing reliable obfuscation and split tunneling. I've detailed a few methods to try to get things up and running.

An illustration containing a stack of books, a computer screen, and four figures surrounding the "VPN" abbreviation.

VPN vocabulary: key terms and jargon explained

By Shaun Rockwood last updated 4 April 24

VPN VPN jargon can get complicated pretty fast—but it doesn't have to be. I've broken all of the key terms down into bite-size explainers.

A man reclining on a deckchair beside a pool, loading a VPN onto a laptop

How to use PureVPN for traveling

By River Hart published 4 April 24

Whether you’re off on vacation or traveling for work, PureVPN has handy tools that’ll keep your devices secure and help you access content from back home (and everywhere else).

A group illustration of the Apex Legends cast

Apex Legends tournament disrupted by rogue RCE exploit hack

By River Hart published 20 March 24

Apex hacks RCE hacks caused chaos during last weekend's ALGS regional finals. Wondering what happened and why? Here's everything you need to know.

How to hide your IP address with a VPN

By Desire Athow last updated 15 March 24

VPN Your IP address reveals a lot about your online activity to nosy ISPs, advertisers, and even the government. With a VPN, however, you can hide it.

Illustration of a woman sitting on a yellow couch and watching a tablet

How to watch Netflix from other countries in 2026

By River Hart last updated 21 February 24

VPN Want to make the most of your Netflix subscription? Here's everything you need to know.

A close up of a face wearing glasses, with a reflection of digital information and a fingerprint reflected in the lenses

Vietnam to collect biometric information (and DNA) for new ID cards

By River Hart published 20 February 24

Breaking Iris scans, voice samples, and DNA will be used for identification purposes starting in July, as mandated by the Ministry of Public Security. Here's what you need to know.

An illustration of a smiling man with a laptop, surrounded by question marks

9 VPN myths busted - here's the truth

By River Hart last updated 14 February 24

VPN With so many misconceptions about VPNs out there, it can be hard to figure out the truth. Here's everything you need to know about today's top 9 VPN myths.

Uber Eats and NordVPN logos side by side

Celebrate NordVPN's birthday with massive savings and a free Uber Eats voucher

By River Hart published 9 February 24

Deals Treat yourself to any of NordVPN's 2-year plans and bag a free Uber Eats voucher worth up to $30/£30—for free.

NordVPN running on a desktop, mobile devices, Apple TV, a router and a game console

NordVPN unveils new free link-checking tool

By River Hart published 30 January 24

Breaking Link Checker, developed by NordLabs, determines whether URLs are safe to visit or jam-packed with malware. Here's what you need to know.

ExpressVPN Chrome extension: what is it and how to install on your browser

By River Hart last updated 24 January 24

VPN Want access to a VPN from within your browser? Here's how you can install ExpressVPN's Chrome extension.

A person using a laptop and a person using a mobile phone, near a server

What is a proxy server?

By River Hart last updated 12 January 24

Proxies can boost your digital privacy and speed up your browser—but there are downsides. I'll explain all.

ExpressVPN running on an iPhone being held up in a hand

What is VPN on iPhone?

By River Hart last updated 12 January 24

Discover how an iPhone VPN can help you stay safe online—even with Apple's iOS built-in protections.

Illustration of a 3D map on a mobile phone

How to change location and IP address with a VPN

By River Hart last updated 12 January 24

VPN Want to know how to change your location and IP address? Online geo-spoofing is easy with a VPN—I'll walk you through the process.

Illustration of a man holding a laptop stood near DNS servers

What is DNS and how does it work?

By Mike Williams, Nate Drake last updated 11 January 24

VPN The Domain Name System (DNS) is a key web technology, affecting everything from performance to privacy to whether you can access Netflix. But what is it and how does it work?

A person holding an Xbox controller in the foreground. The background, which is blurred, shows a game on a wide-screen TV

How to protect your new Xbox

By River Hart published 1 January 24

Manage to bag an Xbox for Christmas? Here's everything you need to know about keeping your console, and your personal info, nice and secure.

Christmas VPN deals next to Surfshark VPN apps

Don't miss out on Surfshark's huge holiday discounts

By River Hart published 22 December 23

Holiday deals All Surfshark's 2-year plans are covered by the festive discount, meaning you can end the year with unbeatable digital privacy—and an extra 4 months of coverage for free.

Christmas VPN deals next to a variety of devices running VPN apps.

Holiday season VPN deals: which services aren't lowering their prices?

By River Hart published 13 December 23

Holiday deals The festive season is in full swing, but some VPNs have decided not to deck the halls with holiday deals. Here are all of the services on the naughty list.

Surfshark’s Cyber Monday deals offer serious savings for 2023

By River Hart last updated 29 November 23

Deal Fancy grabbing one more Cyber Monday bargain before the end of the year? Surfshark's basic plan is now just $1.99 a month—but you'll need to act fast.

Time is running out to get this exclusive NordVPN Cyber Monday deal

By River Hart last updated 29 November 23

Cyber Monday deals NordVPN's huge Cyber Monday deal ends today—so don't miss your last chance to claim 69% off and a free Amazon gift card.

Cyber Monday VPN deals next to Surfshark VPN apps

Grab these Surfshark Cyber Monday deals before it’s too late

By River Hart published 27 November 23

Cyber Monday deals There’s only 1 week left to claim this awesome Surfshark Cyber Monday deal, and get a 2-year plan for just $1.99 a month. Here’s everything you need to know:

Don't miss out on AdGuard VPN's huge Cyber Monday discounts

By River Hart last updated 27 November 23

Deal AdGuard VPN is offering a massive 85% discount on its 2-year subscription just in time for Cyber monday.

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