OLThe Operator's Lab
Category · Protect

Security

VPNs and password managers I actually run. Real speed tests, real billing in USD from Japan, and which ones survive past the free trial.

Security

Bitwarden vs. 1Password: I Migrated My Whole Vault Twice

I moved 300+ logins from 1Password to Bitwarden, then lived in Bitwarden for three months. Open source and cheap vs. polished and paid. Here's what actually mattered day to day.

Security

NordVPN vs. Proton VPN: A Year of Real Use From Japan

I ran NordVPN and Proton VPN from Japan for a year — streaming, remote work, and the occasional censored network abroad. Speed tests, the privacy trade-offs, and which one I kept paying for.

Security

Proton Unlimited vs. Google One: Can You Actually Leave Google?

I tried replacing Gmail, Drive, and Calendar with Proton for 60 days while keeping Google One as the fallback. Mail, storage, and the friction of switching — measured honestly, including where Proton lost.