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Kim Key

Senior Security Analyst

My Experience

I review privacy tools like hardware security keys, password managers, private messaging apps and ad-blocking software. I also report on online scams and offer advice to families and individuals about staying safe on the internet. Before joining PCMag, I wrote about tech and video games for CNN, Fanbyte, Mashable, The New York Times, and TechRadar. I also worked at CNN International, where I did field producing and reporting on sports that are popular with worldwide audiences.

My Areas of Expertise

  • Security software

  • Online privacy

  • Password managers

  • VPNs

  • Parental control software

The Technology I Use

I like testing new software for work, but I'm less "plugged in" to the internet than I used to be. I tend to read app privacy policies to see what kind of data companies collect, and as a result of those findings, I don't use many mobile apps. In a similar vein, I was an early adopter of many social media platforms, but now I’m just an infrequent Reddit lurker.

I'm a gear junkie. I split my work time between a 2021 Apple MacBook Pro and a Lenovo ThinkPad. I shoot most of my videos for PCMag using a Canon M50, a Sony A7iii, and a Sony a6000. I edit videos using Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro.

I write all of my words for PCMag either in the MS Notepad app on my ThinkPad or the Notes app on my iPhone 12 mini. If I'm traveling and working, I use my iPad to write short articles or take notes.

My dad built me my first computer sometime in the late 90s and I used it for reading Encyclopedia Britannica and writing Sailor Moon fan fiction. My first cell phone was the ubiquitous Nokia candy bar.

Recent Articles by Kim Key

The Best Cybersecurity Advice I Received in 2024: Top Privacy Tips from 8 Experts

As PCMag's cybersecurity expert, I speak to industry professionals on a regular basis. Every interview is different, but there's one question I ask everyone: “What's the best cybersecurity advice you give to your family and friends?"

By Kim Key
Man gazes at laptop enthusiastically

'30 Years Was a Good Run': Chelsea Manning on the End of the Web as We Know It

I spoke to whistleblower-turned-security-consultant Chelsea Manning about her predictions for the future of the internet, and she shared tips for preserving as much of your online privacy as possible.

By Kim Key
Chelsea Manning against a red and blue backdrop

Signal Private Messenger Review

4.5
Editors' Choice

Signal Private Messenger is a free messaging service that puts security and privacy first, delivering polished and safe group, voice, and video chats without exploiting you.

By Kim Key
signal logo on white background

How to Pass On Your Passwords After You Die

No one lives forever, so you should think about where your passwords will go after you die. These top-rated password managers let you create a secure credential inheritance plan.

By Kim Key
A gravestone with password imagery on a purple background

The Best VPNs for Mac in 2024

Apple computer users need privacy, too. We rate and review all the top VPN services, and based on our latest testing, these are the best Mac VPNs.

By Chris Stobing  & Kim Key
Laptop and icons on yellow background