About Shielded Browsing

Shielded Browsing is an independent VPN and privacy review site. We exist because most “best VPN” lists are ranked by commission, not by testing — and choosing the wrong VPN can mean slow speeds, leaked data, or a no-logs promise that doesn’t hold up. We buy every VPN with our own money and test it like we’re the ones relying on it.

How we test

Each VPN goes through the same battery of real-world checks: download and upload speeds measured across multiple regions and times of day, DNS/IPv6/WebRTC leak tests, kill-switch reliability, and streaming checks against the major platforms. We read the privacy policy and jurisdiction, and we track independent third-party audits rather than taking “no-logs” claims at face value. Pricing is re-verified regularly, including the renewal rates that intro offers tend to hide.

Who we are

Our testing is led by Elena Park, our Lead Security Analyst, with writer Marcus Reid and contributors who work in security and networking. We care about the details most readers don’t have time to chase — audit history, ownership, and the difference between a marketing claim and a verified one.

How we stay independent

We don’t accept payment for rankings. Some links on the site are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you subscribe through them — at no extra cost to you and at the same price as going direct. That revenue keeps the site free; it doesn’t change our results. When a cheaper or audited provider is the better pick, it wins regardless of payout, and we’ll tell you when a popular VPN isn’t worth it. See our affiliate disclosure for the full picture.

Get in touch

Questions, corrections, or a VPN you’d like us to test? Reach us through our contact page. Our aim is to help you pick a VPN that’s genuinely fast, private, and trustworthy — and to steer you away from the ones that aren’t.