Affiliate Disclosure

WhatAHackerBuys ("we," "us," "our") participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This disclosure explains our affiliate relationships and how they may affect the content on our website.

1. What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based arrangement where:

We recommend products/services to our audience
We include special tracking links (affiliate links)
If you click and make a purchase, we may earn a commission
The merchant pays us a percentage of the sale

This is a common practice in online publishing and helps support our work.

2. Our Affiliate Relationships

We participate in affiliate programs with:

VPN providers (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, etc.)
Antivirus companies (Norton, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, etc.)
Security hardware manufacturers
Online retailers (Amazon Associates, etc.)
Technology service providers
Other cybersecurity vendors

This list is not exhaustive and may change over time.

3. How Affiliate Links Work

When You Click an Affiliate Link:

✓ You are redirected to the merchant's website
✓ A tracking cookie may be placed on your device
✓ If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission
✓ The commission is paid by the merchant, not by you

Important: The price you pay is typically the SAME whether you use our link or not. In some cases, our links may even provide exclusive discounts.

4. Does It Cost You More?

NO. Affiliate commissions do NOT increase your cost:

You pay the same price (or less with special discounts)
The commission comes from the merchant's marketing budget
It's the merchant's way of paying for advertising/referrals
Think of it as a "finder's fee" paid by the company

5. Our Editorial Independence

Commission vs. Quality:

We do NOT compromise our integrity for commissions. Our reviews and rankings are based on:

✓ What We DO Consider:

Actual testing and hands-on experience
Technical features and performance
Security effectiveness and privacy practices
Customer support quality
User reviews and industry reputation
Value for money

✗ What We DON'T Do:

Base rankings solely on commission rates
Accept merchant pressure to change reviews
Bias toward highest-paying programs
Write fake positive reviews for money

We may not recommend the highest-paying affiliate in a category if a better option exists.

6. Transparency and Disclosure

We are committed to transparency:

This disclosure page exists to inform you
We may indicate affiliate links with labels like "Affiliate Link" or "Partner Link"
Product review pages may include affiliate disclosure notices
We disclose material relationships where appropriate

Our goal: You should always know when a link may result in compensation.

7. What We Earn From

Revenue Sources Include:

Affiliate commissions from product sales
Recurring commissions from subscription services
Click-based referral fees (less common)
Sponsored content (clearly labeled if applicable)

What We DON'T Do:

✗ Write fake positive reviews for money
✗ Rank products solely based on commission
✗ Hide negative aspects of affiliate products
✗ Recommend products we haven't researched

8. Your Support Matters

When you use our affiliate links, you support our work:

We can continue creating free, detailed reviews
We can test more products and update content
We can maintain website infrastructure
We can remain independent (no single sponsor controls us)

Thank you for supporting independent tech journalism!

9. Alternatives and Fairness

You Always Have a Choice:

You can visit merchants directly (not using our links)
You can compare prices across multiple retailers
You can use our research and buy elsewhere
We provide information; you make the decision

We respect your autonomy and want you to make the best choice for your needs.

10. Sponsored Content

Difference Between Affiliate and Sponsored:

Affiliate Content:

We independently research and review products
We may earn commission if you buy
Editorial control remains with us

11. Updates and Changes

The product landscape changes constantly:

New products launch regularly
Prices and features change
Affiliate programs may start or end
Our partnerships evolve

We update our content and relationships periodically but cannot guarantee real-time accuracy.

12. Compliance with Regulations

We comply with:

FTC Guidelines on Endorsements and Testimonials (USA)
EU Consumer Rights Directive
Spanish consumer protection laws
Other applicable advertising regulations

We believe in honest, transparent marketing.

13. Your Privacy

Affiliate Tracking and Privacy:

When you click affiliate links, tracking cookies may be set by merchants
These cookies typically expire after 30-90 days (varies by program)
Merchants may collect data about your purchase
See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy for more details

You can manage cookies through your browser settings.

14. No Guarantees

Important: We do NOT guarantee:

That affiliate products will meet your specific needs
Results, performance, or outcomes from using products
Availability, pricing, or features (merchants control these)
That commissions will not influence merchant relationships

Always evaluate products based on your own requirements.

15. Questions and Concerns

If you have questions about:

Specific affiliate relationships
Whether a link is an affiliate link
Our review methodology
Potential conflicts of interest

Contact us: contact@whatahackerbuys.com

We are happy to provide transparency and answer legitimate inquiries.

Summary

✓ We use affiliate links and may earn commissions
✓ This does NOT increase your cost
✓ Our reviews are independent and based on merit
✓ We disclose affiliations transparently
✓ You support us when you use our links (thank you!)
✓ We comply with legal disclosure requirements

Thank you for your trust and support!