Editorial standards
How We Test & Score
The Unhacked exists to give you clearer decisions, not vendor noise. This page explains exactly how we research, score, and recommend — so you can judge our judgement. Nothing here is sold, and no conclusion is for rent.
The three things we publish
Every article on The Unhacked is one of three types, and the type tells you what job it does:
- Insight — the why. Foundational intelligence: the systems logic behind a topic, the trade-offs, and what most coverage gets wrong.
- Guide — the how. Step-by-step execution blueprints: exact actions in exact order, with the failure modes called out.
- Toolkit — the gear. Independently reviewed tools, scored on a fixed rubric, with the options we rejected and why.
How we score a tool
Tools are not ranked by commission. Every tool in a Toolkit or in Vetted is scored on three dimensions, each weighted equally:
- Privacy — what data the tool collects, where it goes, whether collection is minimised, and whether the privacy posture has been independently audited or merely claimed.
- Accuracy — does the tool actually do what it says, reliably, under real conditions — including its documented failure modes.
- Independence — ownership, funding, lock-in risk, data-export options, and how easily you can leave without losing your data.
A tool only moves into a public recommendation slot after it passes editorial review on all three dimensions and its affiliate link (if any) has been validated. Claims are treated as claims until verified — an unaudited “no-logs” promise is not evidence.
Where our facts come from
We prioritise primary sources: official documentation, published security audits, transparency reports, and regulatory filings. When we cite a statistic, we link the source. When something is our opinion or an inference, we say so. When the evidence is thin, we tell you it is thin rather than rounding up to certainty.
Editorial independence
The Unhacked carries zero paid editorial sponsors. We may earn a commission when readers use an approved affiliate link — this is how the site is funded — but a commission never buys a conclusion, a score, or a placement. Programs that are pending, rejected, or unverified stay hidden until they pass review. Full detail is in our affiliate disclosure, editorial policy, and endorsement policy.
When we are wrong
Tools change, audits expire, and we make mistakes. Articles carry a last-updated date, and material corrections are noted in the article. If you can show us we got something wrong, tell us — verifiable corrections are made promptly.
Frequently asked questions
Does The Unhacked get paid to recommend tools?
We earn affiliate commissions on some approved links, which fund the site, but payment never determines a score, a ranking, or whether a tool is recommended. We have no paid editorial sponsors.
How are tools scored?
Each tool is scored on three equally weighted dimensions — Privacy, Accuracy, and Independence — and must pass editorial review on all three before it can be publicly recommended.
How often is content updated?
Articles carry a last-updated date and are revised when tools, audits, or evidence change. Material corrections are noted in the article.
What sources does The Unhacked use?
We prioritise primary sources: official documentation, independent security audits, transparency reports, and regulatory filings, with statistics linked to their origin.
Last reviewed: 13 June 2026.