The VPN sheet — checked against the paperwork, not the speed test
We don't run speed tests. We read the audits, court records, ownership filings, and transparency reports, then tabulate them — firm, scope, date, and a link to the primary document — so a no-logs claim either has receipts or it doesn't.
Independent guidance across 6 privacy categories and 36 researched guides — built on published audits, pricing, and expert reviews, never first-party testing claims.
Start with the layer you’re missing
No single tool makes you private. These are the picks we point readers to first — each closing a different gap, ordered the way most people should add them.
NordPass — Password Manager
Encrypted vault for passwords and passkeys from the Nord Security family, with a data-breach scanner and cross-device autofill.
Compare & sign upNordVPN — Independently Audited No-Logs VPN
A no-logs VPN whose policy has been independently audited multiple times, operated from Panama, using the WireGuard-based NordLynx protocol.
Compare & sign upSurfshark — Unlimited-Devices VPN
One subscription covers unlimited simultaneous devices — a published policy that sets Surfshark apart from per-device VPN plans.
Compare & sign upOne grid, every layer of your privacy
Privacy isn't one product. A VPN guards the network, a password manager guards your accounts, a removal service clears data-broker listings. This matrix lines up each tool against the layer it actually covers — so you fill the right gap, not the loudest one.
| Tool | Protects | HQ / jurisdiction | Independent review | Core claim | Where it runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN — Independently Audited No-Logs VPN | Your network connection | US-based, as published | No-logs stance published | No-activity-logs claim | Win · Mac · iOS · Android |
| Surfshark — Unlimited-Devices VPN | Your network connection | US-based, as published | No-logs stance published | No-activity-logs claim | Win · Mac · iOS · Android |
| NordPass — Password Manager | Your account passwords | US-based, as published | Third-party assessments cited | Zero-knowledge vault claim | All major browsers + mobile |
| PrivacyHawk | Data-broker exposure | US-based, as published | Removal scope published | Opt-out / deletion service | Web · iOS · Android |
| Intego Mac Security | Your Mac (malware) | Published vendor docs | Independent lab results cited | Real-time malware scanning | macOS |
| IceVPN | Your network connection | US-based, as published | No-logs stance published | No-activity-logs claim | Win · Mac · iOS · Android |
- Protects
- Your network connection
- HQ / jurisdiction
- US-based, as published
- Independent review
- No-logs stance published
- Core claim
- No-activity-logs claim
- Where it runs
- Win · Mac · iOS · Android
- Protects
- Your network connection
- HQ / jurisdiction
- US-based, as published
- Independent review
- No-logs stance published
- Core claim
- No-activity-logs claim
- Where it runs
- Win · Mac · iOS · Android
- Protects
- Your account passwords
- HQ / jurisdiction
- US-based, as published
- Independent review
- Third-party assessments cited
- Core claim
- Zero-knowledge vault claim
- Where it runs
- All major browsers + mobile
- Protects
- Data-broker exposure
- HQ / jurisdiction
- US-based, as published
- Independent review
- Removal scope published
- Core claim
- Opt-out / deletion service
- Where it runs
- Web · iOS · Android
- Protects
- Your Mac (malware)
- HQ / jurisdiction
- Published vendor docs
- Independent review
- Independent lab results cited
- Core claim
- Real-time malware scanning
- Where it runs
- macOS
- Protects
- Your network connection
- HQ / jurisdiction
- US-based, as published
- Independent review
- No-logs stance published
- Core claim
- No-activity-logs claim
- Where it runs
- Win · Mac · iOS · Android
Reads are based on published audits, leak-test reports, provider documentation, and aggregated user reviews — not our own testing. “HQ/jurisdiction” and “no-logs” reflect how each provider publicly describes itself; we link the published claim rather than vouch for it independently. No privacy tool makes you anonymous or “unhackable.”
Explore by Topic
Each channel collects our research on one piece of your digital footprint — from café Wi-Fi to data-broker listings. Start where your exposure feels biggest.
Latest Articles
Threat-model-first breakdowns of what each tool really does — and what it doesn't.
Best VPN for a Family With Lots of Devices in 2026
Surfshark's unlimited connections, NordVPN's 10-device cap, WiTopia's 8 connections and the CloakBox router, compared from each vendor's own pages with prices checked October 2026, plus EFF's checklist for choosing between them.
Do I Need a VPN on My Home Wi-Fi? What It Protects and What It Doesn't
Usually not for security: WPA2/WPA3 plus HTTPS already protects a home network, per the FTC and EFF. A VPN at home hides your browsing from your ISP and nothing more. Here is when it is worth it, what to fix first, and which providers publish the facts.
Surfshark Starter vs Surfshark One: Which Plan Should You Buy in 2026?
Starter is Surfshark's VPN alone; One adds Surfshark Antivirus, Alert breach monitoring, scam protection and Search on the same unlimited-device plan. Who should pay for the higher tier, from Surfshark's own pages and AV-TEST's published scores.
NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Same Parent Company, Different Products
NordVPN and Surfshark share a Netherlands-registered parent company since a 2022 merger, but they still run separate infrastructure, audits, and device limits — here's the documented comparison and which fits which reader.
VPN Independent Audits in 2026: Which Claims Hold Up
A firm-by-firm, date-checked matrix of which VPN providers' no-logs and security audits are current, which are aging, and which publish full reports versus summaries only.
VPN No-Logs Claims Tested in Court: What the Record Shows
A no-logs claim is marketing until a subpoena, raid, or seized server tests it. Here's what actually happened when providers were put under real legal pressure — including the one that didn't go the provider's way.
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Our free Exposure Score is an illustrative, no-login self-assessment that points you to the privacy gaps worth closing first. It’s an estimate to help you prioritize — not a real scan or a guarantee.