Author
Michael Gargiulo
Founder, CEO & Lead Domain Broker, VPN.com
- author_cred_founder_ceo
Four years to the right name
Long before VPN.com was a business, it was a target. Michael Gargiulo spent four years pursuing the domain, convinced that the right name is the difference between a project and a brand people actually trust. In 2017 he closed it, acquiring VPN.com for $976K. He had learned the playbook the hard way: at the University of Georgia he grew three of his own sites to four million monthly visitors while earning a Cum Laude finance degree, and the largest now draws roughly 700 million visits a year.
1.7 billion people, exposed in a year
Michael built VPN.com around a problem that keeps getting worse. In 2024 alone, more than 1.7 billion people had personal data exposed in breaches, and 2025 set a record with over 3,300 reported compromises in the United States. The overwhelming majority of those victims never did anything wrong. His goal is straightforward: give ordinary people a clear, honest way to secure their privacy before they become the next statistic.
Evidence first, commissions disclosed
That mission runs on evidence. Michael and his team built VPN.com into a research resource for choosing a VPN: scores come from a published formula and published third-party test data, and the site is open about earning affiliate commissions (see our Disclosures page). Their research and comparisons span 50+ providers and 188,000 data points, so a reader can find the right protection for their needs and budget in a few clicks rather than trusting a marketing page.
$100M advised, quietly
Michael also puts his hard-won domain expertise to work for others. As VPN.com’s lead broker he has advised on over $100M in portfolio and transactions for entrepreneurs, funds and Fortune 1000 companies, negotiating anonymously so a seller never learns who is really buying. One of his favorite deals was contracting CoolMathGames.com for $1.8 million.
From Forbes Council columns to family hockey
A member of the Forbes Technology Council, Michael writes for the Council on domain strategy and online security. He is based in Atlanta, mentors FBLA students, and plays hockey with his family.
Articles by Michael Gargiulo
Best VPN for Healthcare: What to Ask Before You Buy
A VPN alone does not make a practice HIPAA compliant. See which business VPNs say they sign a BAA, by plan, and what to ask before patient data crosses one.
Best VPN for Law Firms: Controls and Ethics Rules
No ABA rule names a VPN product. See what Model Rule 1.6(c) and Opinion 498 ask of a firm, and which business VPN plans include a dedicated IP, SSO and MFA.
Best Free VPN for Laptop: Windows and Mac
Free VPNs on a laptop come as a full app or a browser extension. Compare four free plans on data, kill switch and what each one still limits.
Best Free VPN for Phone: iPhone and Android
Free VPN apps on a phone either cap your data or sell it. Compare the free plans from four providers on data, devices and what each still limits.
Best VPN for PC Gaming: Split Tunneling and Ping
Which VPN apps for Windows let you tunnel only the game, keep Steam, Epic and Battle.net working, and hold ping down. Compare split tunneling and kill switch.
VPN for Region Locked Games: Access and Terms
Which VPNs give access to other regions' game servers and stores, what platform terms allow, and why your account region can still decide the outcome.