Editorial policy
Updated 21 September 2026 · How we research
VPN Sherlock publishes technical explainers and provider assessments. This page sets out who writes them, how commercial relationships are handled and what readers can expect.
Who produces this content
VPN Sherlock is published by a small editorial team. We do not attribute articles to invented individual authors or fabricated credentials. Where a page reflects a specific person's testing, that person will be named alongside the test record. Until such records exist, content is published under the VPN Sherlock masthead. See about us.
Editorial principles
- Separate observation from vendor claim. Anything sourced only from a provider's documentation is attributed and dated.
- State limitations openly. Every review carries a section describing what we could not verify.
- No invented evidence. We do not publish speed tests, audits, ratings, user reviews or testing we did not perform.
- Commercial relationships do not change conclusions. They are disclosed instead of hidden.
- Technical accuracy over persuasion. Where a product cannot do something — such as fully preventing WebRTC leaks — we say so, including for providers we recommend.
- Date everything. Vendor documentation changes; an undated claim is not useful.
What you will not find here
These are common in this sector. We have removed them from this site.
| Common practice | Our position |
|---|---|
| Numeric provider scores | Not published — we have no measurement programme |
| Speed comparison charts | Not published for the same reason |
| "Tested by our experts" badges | Not used unless a test record exists |
| User reviews and star ratings | Not published — we cannot verify them |
| Awards and certifications | Not claimed |
| Countdown timers and urgency prompts | Not used |
Handling corrections
Errors are corrected on the page itself and the update date is revised. If a correction changes a recommendation rather than a detail, we describe what changed and why.
Relationship with vendors
We accept affiliate commission. We do not accept payment to alter an assessment, do not give vendors copy approval, and do not remove documented limitations at a vendor's request. See the affiliate disclosure for how the commercial side works.