In March 2024, as cybersecurity news outlets raced to deploy AI writers and chase algorithmic engagement, Alex Lekander quietly launched a platform with an almost quaint promise: every word would be written by actual humans.
The timing seemed counterintuitive. Major tech publications were laying off staff in favor of automation. Venture capital poured into AI-powered content farms. Yet Lekander, drawing on seven years of experience running the privacy-focused RestorePrivacy.com, saw an opportunity in what others viewed as obsolescence.
"We don't use AI content," reads CyberInsider's editorial pledge—a statement that would have been redundant five years ago but now serves as a differentiator in 2025's media sphere.
The RestorePrivacy "DNA"
CyberInsider's roots trace back to 2017, when Lekander founded RestorePrivacy.com as a blog focused on digital privacy tools and techniques. For seven years, the site built a reputation for independent reviews and practical privacy guides, eschewing the sponsored content that increasingly dominated tech media.
By late 2024, all RestorePrivacy content had migrated to the new CyberInsider platform, uniting privacy and cybersecurity coverage under one roof. The transition reflected a broader recognition: privacy and security had become inseparable concerns for both individuals and enterprises.
The merged platform inherited more than just content. It brought forward a methodology of purchasing tools with company funds for testing, refusing vendor influence, and prioritizing reader trust over advertising revenue. In an industry where "review" often includes disguised "paid promotion," this approach stood out.
Building Trust Through Transparency
CyberInsider's editorial philosophy reads like a manifesto against modern media practices. No sponsored content. No paid reviews. No guest posts with hidden agendas. No AI-generated articles. Each restriction closes a potential revenue stream, yet the team views these limitations as features, not bugs.
"Real humans write every article," the site proclaims, backed by detailed author bios that highlight decades of collective experience. When senior editor Amar Ćemanović reviews a VPN service, readers know he personally tested it. When veteran journalist Bill Mann breaks down a complex vulnerability, his 30 years covering technology inform every analogy.
This transparency extends to funding. Rather than accepting vendor-provided review units or relying on affiliate commissions to guide coverage, CyberInsider purchases its own test accounts and tools. A recent VPN comparison involved buying subscriptions to 15 different services—an investment most ad-supported outlets wouldn't make.
The Multi-Platform Shift
What began as a website-first operation quickly evolved into a multi-channel media presence. Within months of launch, CyberInsider had established footholds across social platforms, recognizing that different audiences consume security news through different channels.
The numbers tell the story: over 10,000 Twitter followers now receive breaking news and analysis in their feed. LinkedIn posts reaching security professionals and IT decision-makers. A YouTube channel, CyberInsiderHQ, translates complex topics into visual explanations. Even Facebook, often dismissed by tech outlets, serves as a distribution channel for reaching less technical audiences concerned about digital safety.
The expansion wasn't merely about casting a wider net. Each platform demanded its own approach. Twitter threads break down emerging threats in real-time. LinkedIn posts focus on enterprise implications and strategic insights. YouTube videos demonstrate security tools and explain breaches through screen recordings and animations.
A weekly newsletter, the CyberInsider Weekly Roundup, launched mid-2024 and quickly attracted 500 subscribers; the numbers are modest by media standards, but valuable for its engaged readership. Unlike algorithm-chasing social posts, the newsletter provides curated analysis of the week's most significant developments.
Closing on the Technical Divide
Perhaps CyberInsider's most significant achievement lies in making complex security topics accessible without dumbing them down. In a field notorious for impenetrable jargon and acronym soup, the platform consistently delivers technical accuracy wrapped in clear prose.
Consider their coverage of the "Stealtooth" Bluetooth vulnerability. While security researchers published dense whitepapers filled with protocol specifications, CyberInsider explained the practical implications: which devices were affected, how attacks worked in plain language, and what steps users should take. Technical readers found the coverage accurate; non-technical readers found it actionable.
This balance reflects the diverse expertise of the writing team. Engineers like Ćemanović ensure technical precision. Journalists like Mann and Sead Fadilpašić—with nearly two decades covering cybersecurity—know how to tell a story. The combination produces content that serves both the CISO evaluating enterprise solutions and the small business owner trying to protect customer data.
The Economics of Independence
In 2025's media landscape, CyberInsider's business model appears almost radical in its simplicity. No programmatic advertising cluttering the reading experience. No sponsored content masquerading as news. No affiliate links influencing editorial decisions.
The approach mirrors successful independent security researchers like Brian Krebs, who proved that reader trust could sustain quality journalism. But where individual bloggers might struggle with scale, CyberInsider built a team capable of covering the breadth of modern cybersecurity.
The economics remain challenging. Purchasing review products, maintaining infrastructure, and paying experienced writers requires significant investment. Yet the model creates a virtuous cycle: independence attracts readers seeking unbiased information, reader trust attracts more viewers, and a growing audience justifies continued investment in quality.
Competing with Algorithms
CyberInsider faces the same challenge confronting all modern media: competing for attention in an algorithm-driven ecosystem that rewards sensationalism over substance. While other outlets chase clicks with headlines about "devastating" breaches and "revolutionary" security products, CyberInsider focuses on evergreen value.
Their most popular content often isn't breaking news but comprehensive guides: how to secure a home network, choosing privacy-focused email providers, and understanding two-factor authentication. These resources, updated regularly and based on hands-on testing, provide lasting value that trending topics can't match.
The strategy aligns with broader media consumption trends. Reuters' 2025 Digital News Report found audiences increasingly favor "investigative depth over clickbait," with readers expressing fatigue from sensationalized coverage. CyberInsider's approach with fact-checking, providing context for breaches, avoiding hyperbole—resonates with this shift.
The platform's stance against AI-generated content might seem like Luddism in an industry embracing automation. Yet recent surveys suggest readers share this skepticism. AI chatbots ranked last (9%) as trusted sources for verifying facts in Reuters' study.
For cybersecurity content, the stakes are particularly high. Incorrect information about vulnerabilities or misguided security advice can have real consequences. At the same time, human expertise—the ability to contextualize threats, understand implications, and provide nuanced guidance—remains irreplaceable.
The team doesn't entirely reject technology. They use digital tools for distribution, analytics, and multimedia production. But the core promise remains: humans research, write, and verify every piece of content.
The Growing Pains Ahead
Here's where things get tricky. CyberInsider is hiring—they need more writers, maybe a video person or two. But Lekander isn't just posting jobs on Indeed and calling it a day. Every potential hire gets grilled on their stance about sponsored content. Can they resist the vendor swag bags at security conferences? Will they actually buy a VPN subscription to test it, even when the PR rep is offering a free premium account?
The YouTube channel is taking off, which sounds great until you realize video production burns money faster than a crypto mining rig. Those slick tutorials explaining how ransomware works? Someone has to script, shoot, edit, and upload them. The weekly video roundups they're planning will need consistency—not easy when you're competing against channels backed by vendor dollars.
I've watched enough independent sites hit this inflection point to know what comes next. The phone calls from potential sponsors get more frequent. The "partnership opportunities" land in the inbox daily. Some PR flack will eventually offer to fly the team to RSA Conference, all expenses paid, "no strings attached." (Spoiler: there are always strings.)
Why This Matters?
Look, I've been covering this beat long enough to sound cynical about everything. But here's the thing: we need outfits like CyberInsider. Not because they're perfect, but because they're trying something different in an industry drowning in sameness.
When every security "news" site is regurgitating the same vendor press releases, when AI bots are cranking out "Top 10 VPNs" lists based on affiliate commissions, when you can't tell editorial from advertorial—that's when people get hurt. The small business owner picks the wrong security product because the review was paid for. The home user falls for a scam because the warning article was buried under sponsored content.
CyberInsider's approach of buying their own products, writing their own words, turning down easy money—isn't just some noble experiment. It's a reminder that journalism, even tech journalism, still matters. That expertise can't be automated. That trust, once lost, doesn't come back.
Will they stick to these principles when the bills pile up? When competitors with venture funding poach their writers? When AI tools get good enough that readers can't tell the difference? I honestly don't know. But I'm rooting for them to figure it out, because the alternative of a security media landscape run entirely by algorithms and affiliate links is too depressing to contemplate.
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