Personal security is a personal responsibility. When people say that, they are referring to physical everyday life. The statement is a commonsensical opinion held and shared by many. It has also never been truer than in the digital era we find ourselves in.
Human interaction and activity are increasingly going online. Nowadays, people communicate online, do business online, and relax online. All that digital activity leaves web surfers open to the many types of cyber threats. The cybercriminals don’t rest as well and continually try to compromise our safety.
Good cyber hygiene practices go a long way to enhancing protection. However, the right cybersecurity tools can all but guarantee safety from your end.
So, in this article, we will be showing you 5 essential tools to incorporate into your online life to protect yourself.
5 Essential Tools to Prevent Security Issues
#1: Antiviruses
An antivirus is software designed to help users prevent the entry of malware into their devices. It also can detect and remove existing malware from the device. This software encompasses a variety of hardware threats, ranging from viruses to ransomware; therefore, the quality antivirus is an incredibly efficient tool.
The software performs its functions through a variety of mechanisms. For instance, signature-based detection compares file signatures to an existing database of known malware signatures.
Meanwhile, behavior-based detection and Heuristic-based detection are similar. They both identify malware by monitoring for suspicious behavior differing from the norm.
#2: Password Managers
By now, you likely know all about how to create a secure password. Many web apps require their users to do so and provide the criteria for strength. However, for security reasons, passwords should also be unique. In other words, you should use different strong passwords for all your accounts.
Unfortunately, their strength is likely to prove a mental burden for people with many accounts. Password managers help with that burden, as they can store passwords and autofill them as needed.
Furthermore, a quality password manager will perform some or all of the following:
- Encourage users not to reuse their passwords;
- Encourage regular password changes;
- Syncing access to the passwords across multiple devices;
- Monitoring the web for any leak of user credentials.
#3: Anonymous Browsers
While no browser can guarantee 100% anonymity, anonymous browsers provide the most security. Such a browser facilitates privacy by protecting location data, personal information, etc.
It protects user data by not storing said information. Most browsers save session data for user convenience or their database. Anonymous browsers do not. Instead, they delete all accrued data after every session, effectively cleaning the slate. Below are some other functions anonymous browsers may offer:
- Disabling trackers like cookies or pixel trackers;
- Encrypted data transmission;
- Preventing fingerprinting;
- Blocking ads.
#4: VPNs
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tunneling technology that secures the connection and transmission of data between a computer and a website. As such, it facilitates privacy via a private network within the general public one you are using.
In addition to the network protection provided, VPNs enhance cybersecurity in the following ways:
- Concealing the user’s IP address and location
- Encrypting data transmission
- Bypassing geo-restrictions and online censorship on content
- Conferring anonymity on user activity
#5: Encryption Tools
Data encryption is the process of transforming readable data (plaintext) into unreadable gibberish. As a result, only authorized persons with the relevant decryption key can access the data.
Beyond the above simplification, there are many types of encryptions and encryption algorithms. People dealing with sensitive information can choose them according to their needs.
The encryption provided by the software may not be up to scratch for your requirements, and that’s why you may want to encrypt something additionally.
For instance, the TLS encryption provided by some software tools is lightyears behind AES encryption tools in terms of security.
Final Note
The first step to ensuring cybersecurity every time you browse the web is to imbibe the right security practices. However, investing in the right tools is a close second.
Sharing your details with caution and avoiding suspicious links are all good. However, it is more secure to have a password manager protecting your credentials. VPNs would encrypt your web transmission, and antiviruses would identify malicious files.
Any one of the above tools would improve your security. All of the above tools, combined, would ensure near-immunity from cyber attacks. That’s as good a recommendation as we can make, so take it.
