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Mark Birchall

Staff Editor

Mark is a staff editor at Gen whose writing focuses on cybersecurity and the consequences of identity theft. For nearly ten years, he produced reports, articles, and original research for global SaaS and tech brands, which educated readers on the threats of an increasingly connected digital world, and what they can do to protect themselves.

Mark holds a BA from John Moores University in Liverpool. If he’s not writing about digital safety or technology, you’ll most likely find him reading or running.

Areas of interest and expertise

Identity Theft Scams & Fraud Internet Security

Latest articles by Mark Birchall

Customer support agent wearing a headset working at a computer in an office.

LifeLock named in USA Today’s Best Customer Service 2026 list

A customer sits with a bank representative while viewing a $1,250 transaction alert on their phone.

Identity theft: The #1 crime in America

A couple on their smartphones, potentially using Venmo to send each other money.

Is Venmo safe? What every user should know

A person holds their Social Security card.

What to do if your Social Security number is on the dark web

A picture depicts a house that may be at risk of home title theft.

Home title theft: What it is and tips to help prevent it

A man looks at the cashier’s check he received as payment for an item he sold on Craigslist, realizing it’s a fake.

14 common Craigslist scams and how to avoid them

Someone using an interface for a payment app, possibly copied to commit a Cash App scam.

12 Cash App scams: How they work and tips to avoid them

Woman stopping another of the unknown scam call numbers on her cell phone.

Scam call numbers to block in 2026

A person viewing the Identity Guard website on their computer.

Is Identity Guard worth it?

A person deciding whether to answer a 1-888 number.

1-888 scammer numbers: How to spot and block fake calls

A signpost representing Aura alternatives to choose for identity theft protection.

The 7 best Aura alternatives

A safe that’s been broken into, representing a data breach incident.

Aura data breach: What happened and how to stay protected

A red alarm, signifying that a data breach has happened.

What to do if your information is compromised in a data breach

Someone reviewing their tax documents after experiencing identity theft.

What is tax identity theft and how does it occur?

Image of someone working on a handmade item, possibly concerned with Etsy scams.

8 Etsy scams to watch for and tips for safer shopping

A person fills out their tax return early to avoid potential tax fraud.

Tips to avoid tax fraud: A tax security checklist

Articles reviewed by Mark Birchall

A top-down view of a brushed metal shield resting on a matte black credit card against a bright yellow background.

Card Exposure Control by LifeLock

Someone reading a potentially spoofed text message on their phone.

What is spoofing? How it works and how to avoid it

Someone digging through their bag, looking for their lost wallet.

10 steps to take if your wallet is lost or stolen

A woman sitting at a kitchen table looks at a smartphone displaying a financial app with account balance and security status.

AI Financial Defense by LifeLock

Person working on a laptop at a kitchen counter with coffee and a smartphone nearby.

Automatic Data Broker Removal by LifeLock

A person in an abstract field of light representing cyberspace, wondering if Aura is worth it.

Is Aura worth it? Reviews, features, and cost

A man receives a bill for a doctor’s visit he didn’t go to following a Medicare scam.

8 Medicare scams to avoid falling for

Two people reviewing tax documents while submitting their tax return.

What to do if someone steals your tax refund

A person reviews their finances to avoid falling prey to tax scams.

16 tax and IRS scams and how to spot them

A man on his smartphone searching how to find out if his information is on the dark web.

How to find out if your information is on the dark web

A woman at a desk working through the necessary steps following identity theft.

What to do if your identity is stolen: 11 steps to take immediately

A couple reviews their statements to assess the damages of a recent bank scam.

7 bank scams targeting your hard-earned money

Person entering gift card details on a laptop with a small gift box nearby, illustrating Amazon gift card scams.

12 Amazon gift card scams and tips to avoid them

A man picks up a package outside his front door.

What is a brushing scam? Why free packages raise red flags

A cloned card going through a payment terminal.

Clone cards: Definition, examples, and how to stay safe

Woman looking for bank accounts in her name online.

How to find bank accounts in your name

Ellie Farrier

Staff Editor

Jeremy Coppock

Staff Editor

Crissy Joshua

Staff Editor

Oliver Buxton

Staff Editor

Ian Bednowitz

General Manager, LifeLock

Benjamin Gorman

Contributing cybersecurity writer

Anthony Freda

Contributing Writer

Danielle Bodnar

Contributing Writer

Anna Wratislav

Contributing Writer

Deepan Ghimiray

Contributing Writer

Brenna Cleary

Staff Social Media Marketing Manager

Michelle Robins

Contributing editor

Clare Stouffer

Staff Social Media Marketing Manager

Domenic Molinaro

Contributing Writer

Emily Nemchick

Contributing Writer

Emily Lockwood

Staff Content Marketing Manager

Olga Drnek

Contributing Writer

Shashwat Pradhan

Director of Product Management, LifeLock

Maie Crumpton

Contributing Editor

John Csiszar

Contributing Writer

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Mark Birchall

Areas of interest and expertise

Latest articles by Mark Birchall

Articles reviewed by Mark Birchall

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