How we research
Privacy advice is only useful if it’s accurate. This page explains how every guide on CloakMyIPAddress is put together, so you can judge how much to trust it.
1. We start from primary sources
For technical topics we rely first on:
- Standards and specifications – IETF RFCs (for example RFC 8828 on WebRTC IP address handling and RFC 8981 on IPv6 temporary addresses).
- Official documentation – Mozilla, Google Chrome, Apple, Microsoft and Android help pages.
- Regulators and courts – the EU General Data Protection Regulation, the Court of Justice of the EU, and national data-protection authorities.
- Providers’ own published material – pricing pages, privacy policies and independent audit summaries.
Secondary sources (news sites, other reviewers) are used only to point us to primary material, or are clearly labelled when we quote them.
2. AI-assisted drafting, human fact-checking
We use AI writing tools to help structure and draft articles. Every draft is then checked line by line against the cited sources. Claims we can’t verify are removed. We don’t publish pages that simply rewrite other websites.
3. What we never claim
- We never say we “tested” a VPN in a lab unless we did and publish the data.
- We never invent prices, discounts or speeds. Prices are copied from the provider’s official pricing page with the date we checked.
- We never use fake countdown timers or “only 2 left” style pressure.
4. How we describe VPNs
When a guide mentions a VPN, we compare on facts that can be checked:
| Factor | Where we check it |
|---|---|
| Independent no-logs audit | Provider’s audit announcement or the auditor’s public report |
| Company and jurisdiction | Provider’s privacy policy / terms |
| Leak protection, kill switch | Provider’s documentation |
| Devices allowed | Provider’s pricing page |
| Price and renewal price | Provider’s pricing page, with date checked |
5. Updates and corrections
Each guide shows a “last reviewed” date. We review VPN-related pages at least every three months and price mentions whenever we notice a change. If you find a mistake, write to us and we will correct it and log the change at the bottom of the page.
6. Money
Links to providers use our /go/ links. If we join affiliate programmes, we may earn a commission when you buy. That doesn’t change the facts above. See our disclosure.