Expert Reviews

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Darien Graham-Smith

A lifelong technology enthusiast, Darien is a regular contributor to both Expert Reviews and PC Pro magazine, specialising in wireless networking, internet security and other technical topics. He also contributes to and produces the weekly PC Pro podcast, and has made occasional appearances on BBC News and Open University programming. In his spare time he dabbles in audio production, and plays guitar, bass and drums with the enthusiasm of a committed amateur.

Recent articles by Darien Graham-Smith

best vpn montage of screenshots from vpn services
The best VPNs in 2024, according to our tests
VPNs

We've been busy testing, benchmarking and comparing the latest VPNs from every major player to help you choose one that caters to your needs

Published :
Asus RT-AX57 Go review
Asus RT-AX57 Go review: Small, but surprisingly powerful
Wireless routers

Don’t judge this router by its size: the pocket-friendly Asus RT-AX57 Go is packed with features and outperforms its rivals

Published :
£90 inc VAT
A selection of cordless phones against a blue background
Best cordless phones: Handsets for your home or business
Home & garden

Fed up with nuisance calls and dodgy DECT connection? We test and recommend the best cordless phones

Published :
Mercusys Halo H80X two node mesh Wi-Fi system on a yellow and grey rug
The best mesh Wi-Fi routers to buy right now
Wireless routers

Get fast downloads and kill dead spots with our pick of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers

Published :
Netgear Orbi 970 - front teaser on a colourful carpet
Netgear Orbi 970 mesh router review: Groundmaking mesh
Wireless routers

The Orbie 970 is a very fast, very expensive mesh – but it’s still too early to invest in the new wireless standard

Published :
£1500 inc VAT (two units); £2200 inc VAT (three units)
what is open vpn teaser mobile phone on a red background with earbuds to one side
What is OpenVPN: Everything you need to know
VPNs

OpenVPN is one of the world’s most popular VPN standards. Here’s what it can do for you – and what it can’t

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PrivadoVPN review: Fast and great for torrenting
VPNs

It didn’t unblock all the streaming services we tried, but PrivadoVPN is easy to use and generally performs well

Published :
£1.99 /mth, 27-month subscription
StrongVPN review: A simple but effective VPN
VPNs

StrongVPN does the job, and it’s great for streaming – but it's not our first choice for performance or price

Published :
£3.13 /mth, inc VAT (1st annual subscription, then £5.91/mth)
PureVPN review: A decent VPN that’s great value long-term
VPNs

There are faster and more user-friendly VPNs out there, but PureVPN has a good set of features for an excellent price

Published :
£1.54 /mth (28-month contract), (inc VAT)
mozilla vpn review windows main
Mozilla VPN review: Lags behind rivals
VPNs

Mozilla’s VPN does the job, but it can’t match the market leaders for speed, features or price

Published :
£3.96 /mth (1yr sub), inc VAT