A few decades ago, gathering data on a person was difficult unless you hired a private investigator. Even at that, several days would be needed before the behavior of the person could be determined. Today, a hacker can know more about your life than your close friends. Keep reading to find about five Cybersecurity Tools to protect your device.
Individuals are not the only ones affected. Businesses have also experienced their fair share of cyberattacks. Ranging from ransomware to phishing, hackers have tried every way possible to get their hands on companies’ data.
The coronavirus pandemic has driven employees to work remotely because of social distancing. Several workers do not have the faintest idea about cybersecurity and are susceptible to cyber threats. Their personal computers aren’t as protected as their work devices. Hence, cybercriminals are hijacking online workspaces on a higher scale during these times.
Hacking looks cool in the movies. In real life, however, they have devastating effects and can ruin lives and organizations. To have your information under lock and key, follow the tips for Cybersecurity Tools below.
Five Cybersecurity Tools you should Possess
- Firewall
Some computer users deactivate their firewalls because they think the tool is outdated. This assumption is wrong because a firewall is one of the biggest obstacles to malware. Any file with a suspicious signature that attempts to breach your device gets stopped instantly by the firewall.
The function of firewall borders on monitoring internet traffic into your device. Think of this tool as a security guard that prevents robbers from getting into a home. It is practically the first tool to defend against all forms of malicious software.
You can activate your device’s firewall for increased protection. To protect all your devices in your home, you can get a firewall for your router.
- Password Management Software
Internet users have a lot of accounts to keep up with. There are email logins, social media logins, and even internet banking login details. Using one password across all these accounts is akin to cyber-suicide. On the other hand, creating strong passwords and keeping track of them is a hard task.
Password management software eases these processes. You’ll need to create a master password which you must always remember to access your other passwords. Password managers create, store, and autofill passwords for you. (exceptionalpets.com) Your password manager will create a strengthened password mixed with letters, symbols, and numbers.
Remembering the passwords are not needed. Once you can access your password management account, you’d have instant access.
- Virtual Private Networks
This network security tool makes certain that your internet traffic is seen only by two parties – you and the entity you’re communicating with. In essence, a VPN acts as an intermediary between your device and the websites or apps you’re using.
VPNs also protect you when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi. Most people don’t realize that any cybercriminal can spy on your activity when your device is connected to free Wi-Fi. Login credentials inserted into websites can get into the hands of the hacker. Usually, this information ends up for sale on the dark web or is used by the hacker.
When you download a VPN for security, the hacker spying on your activity would get nothing owing to the VPN’s encryption. This tool also prevents your information such as your IP address from being seen.
- Dark Web Scanners
Your information could have gotten stolen at any time. Even after following numerous cybersecurity tips, you wouldn’t be able to prevent an account breach if your information was stolen before you became enlightened.
Dark web scanners help you to stop this kind of occurrence. You can use this tool to search for your email address online. The search covers the surface internet and parts of the deep web to ransack leaked logins. If your email comes up in the search, you can change the account’s password and store it with a password manager.
Several websites offer these scanning services. Some password management services also come with their dark web scanners.
- Anti-Malware Programs
At least hundreds of thousands of malware are created by hackers each day. You’re bound to come across some of these malicious programs daily. It’s why you need double protection against malware.
The way an anti-malware program works is by detecting malware that slips through a firewall. Firewalls deal with known malware signatures. However, a signature that it doesn’t recognize cannot be defended against. Anti-malware software can also remove existing malware programs on your device. In raw form, it can be described as the second line of defense for your device.
This cybersecurity tool can also prevent you from landing on harmful websites. Depending on your package, your emails can also be protected with anti-malware to a certain extent.
Final Thoughts
Anyone who uses the internet frequently has to accept it for its flaws. The web is a space brimming with potential cyber threats that can expose sensitive information about a person. There are, however, certain Cybersecurity Tools you can utilize to prevent this.
First, get a VPN and firewall for network security. Second, use password managers to prevent hackers from guessing your passwords correctly. Third, use dark web scanners to verify your email login strength.
