Editorial Policy
CyberAware UK (cyberawareuk.co.uk)
Last updated: 7 July 2026
This editorial policy explains how CyberAware UK creates, reviews, and corrects its content. We believe readers deserve to know who writes our content, how sources are verified, and what to do if something is wrong.
1. Who we are
CyberAware UK is an independent editorial publication focused on scam awareness, cybersecurity education, and threat intelligence for UK families. It is operated by a small UK-based team with backgrounds in cybersecurity research, digital forensics, and journalism.
Content is produced by:
- Our editorial team — in-house writers and researchers who specialise in UK fraud and cyber security
- Contributing researchers — external security researchers who occasionally contribute analysis
- Automated pipelines — DarkWatch, our automated threat monitoring system, which provides raw intelligence that is curated and edited before publication
Individual author attribution is provided on major articles and briefings where possible. Automated content is clearly labelled.
2. Editorial independence
We do not accept payment for positive coverage. Our product reviews and recommendations are independent. Affiliate relationships are disclosed and do not influence our editorial decisions.
We do not accept sponsored content, paid placements, or pay-for-play reviews. Any future partnerships will be clearly labelled as such.
3. Source verification
Our content draws from the following types of sources:
| Source Type | Examples | Verification Process |
|---|---|---|
| Official UK bodies | Action Fraud, NCSC, UK Finance, Ofcom, ICO | Direct citation to published reports |
| Law enforcement | National Crime Agency, City of London Police, FBI | Cross-referenced with official press releases |
| Industry research | Cybersecurity vendor reports, academic papers | Multiple sources required for key claims |
| News media | BBC, The Guardian, specialist security press | Attribution with link to original reporting |
| DarkWatch pipeline | Dark web monitoring, RSS feeds, OSINT | Curated and reviewed before publication |
| User reports | Patterns from publicly reported incidents | Aggregated, not individual case data |
We do not publish unverified claims. Where information cannot be independently confirmed, we note this explicitly.
4. Corrections policy
We are committed to accuracy. If you believe something on this site is incorrect:
- Contact us via the Ask page: https://cyberawareuk.co.uk/ask
- Provide the URL, the error you believe exists, and your source for the correction
- We will review and respond within 5 working days
Corrections are handled as follows:
- Minor errors (typos, dates, names): corrected in-place, noted at the bottom of the page
- Substantive errors (incorrect facts, misleading claims): corrected with a visible correction notice at the top of the page
- Legal challenges: reviewed with legal counsel before any change
A log of substantive corrections is maintained below.
Correction Log
| Date | Page | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | No substantive corrections to date |
5. Product reviews and "Our test" scores
Product reviews on this site follow this process:
- Research: We review publicly available information, vendor documentation, independent third-party reviews (TechRadar, VPNMentor, Which?, Trustpilot, etc.), and user feedback
- Testing: Where possible, we conduct hands-on testing of the product. This is practical usage testing, not laboratory-grade benchmarking
- Scoring: Our score is a composite of third-party review scores and our own assessment. We display both so readers can make their own judgment
- Affiliate disclosure: We clearly mark affiliate links. Our scores are not affected by affiliate relationships
"Our test" scores should be understood as editorial assessments based on available information and practical usage, not as certified or laboratory-verified ratings. We recommend cross-referencing with independent review sites before purchasing.
6. Threat intelligence claims
Our DarkWatch pipeline provides raw threat intelligence that is curated by our editorial team before publication. Specific claims about threat detection capabilities, capture counts, and monitoring targets are explained in detail on our Methodology page: https://cyberawareuk.co.uk/methodology
Key caveats:
- Intelligence refresh cycles are hourly to daily, not real-time
- Coverage is limited to publicly accessible sources
- Numbers represent cumulative pipeline processing, not necessarily unique verified threats
7. Sources attribution
Wherever possible, our content cites primary sources:
- Original reports from UK Finance, Action Fraud, NCSC, etc.
- Official press releases and government data
- Academic and industry research with named authors
Where we cite secondary sources (news media reporting on a primary source), we link to the original article. If a figure or claim is our own analysis (e.g., combining multiple data sources), we note this.
8. Reader feedback
We welcome feedback on our content, methodology, and editorial standards. Contact us via:
- Ask page: https://cyberawareuk.co.uk/ask
- Email: [email protected] (for editorial matters)
9. Policy updates
This policy is reviewed quarterly. Changes are noted in the footer of the policy page.