While the rise of the internet has enabled us to stay connected to the world now more than ever, it is still a breeding ground for hackers and malicious actors. Only in 2020, there were over 4,000 confirmed breaches, and over half of them were a direct result of hacking. Remember that we’re talking about major companies – companies that invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in their cybersecurity.
Choosing The Best Tools for Your Online Privacy and Security
And, if they could fall victim to these exploits, what makes you think that you’re safe? Regular users are even easier to hack since they don’t usually know how to protect themselves. If you become a target, someone might steal your identity, drain your bank accounts, or even blackmail you.
Table of contents
What Are Security and Privacy Tools and Why Do You Need Them?
Tips for Choosing the Best Cybersecurity Tools
Always Go for Premium
Use Protection on Multiple Fronts
Check Online Reviews
5 Must-Have Privacy and Security Tools
Use a VPN Service
Secure Browser
Antivirus
Password Managers
Ad Blocker
What Are Security and Privacy Tools and Why Do You Need Them?
Security and privacy tools are a type of software that aims to protect you from internet dangers. The internet is currently experiencing a massive expansion, which is why it has become the honeypot for hackers. More and more users are joining the worldwide web, but not many are worried about the security aspects.
Malicious actors have realized that the earning potential could be huge, which is why you should read up on cybersecurity and protect your privacy. However, hackers are not the only reason why you might need security and privacy tools.
Advertisers and ISPs are known to collect user data – usually for marketing purposes. Then, they use the gathered information to customize your ads, send you promotional emails, or even sell the said information to third-parties. Luckily, all of these issues could be prevented by using high-quality cybersecurity tools.
Tips for Choosing the Best Cybersecurity Tools
As the cybersecurity industry is expanding, more and more security tools are being offered. Because the market is so saturated, users can get confused about what to buy. Here’s what to look for when choosing the best security and privacy tools.
Always Go for Premium
Most VPN and antivirus providers offer both free and premium software options. While free is okay, it is much weaker compared to premium tools. Not only that, but it is a known fact that free VPN and antivirus options boast weaker security, fewer features, non-existent customer service, and awful speeds. Premium accounts won’t receive any ads, and they won’t slow down your internet connection.
Use Protection on Multiple Fronts
Different security tools offer different types of protection. While you may come across software suits that contain different security products in one place, the more common and cheaper approach is to protect yourself on multiple fronts. When browsing the web, use a secure browser and a VPN. When downloading files, make sure to enable your antivirus. If you want to protect your accounts, use a password manager.
Check Online Reviews
If you aren’t sure about which provider to go with, make sure to check out online reviews. However, make sure not to use only one resource. Fake reviews are a thing, so you have to research even deeper to ensure that you’re not listening to sponsored reviews.
5 Must-Have Privacy and Security Tools
Always look to get the most value for your buck. Explore different options, and don’t only focus on major service providers. Research and explore all tools that you’re interested in, compare features, and see which one brings the most worth for the lowest price. Here’s what we recommend using:
Use a VPN Service
A VPN service acts as a gateway between the user and the web. It encrypts all your user traffic so that it can’t be abused. Even if someone managed to intercept that data, it would be rendered useless since the hackers wouldn’t have the encryption key. This tool protects your privacy and also allows you to access geo-restricted content.
Secure Browser
Browsers contain a lot of personal information – our usernames, passwords, browsing history, shopping preferences, etc. This is why it’s important to use a reliable option that won’t leak your data. Secure browsers that we recommend include Firefox, Iridium, Brave, and Tor browser.
Antivirus
Antivirus protects you from malware, ransomware, and other types of malicious files. It scans every file upon download to ensure that you won’t infect your computers when opening the said file. Make sure to install an antivirus solution, enable automatic updates, and perform weekly scans.
Password Managers
Use a password manager to generate and store passwords. They ensure that hackers can’t grab your passwords, and they eliminate the need for typing, which protects you from keyloggers.
Ad Blocker
Ad blockers will stop those annoying ads from invading your online space. You can find a wide variety of ad blockers in the Google Chrome store. Just make sure to install an ad-blocking service that is reliable. In the past, there were cases where an ad blocker used by over 300,000 people was discovered to contain malware.
