Stay safe online with these cybersecurity tools

What makes a good cybersecurity tool?

The best cybersecurity tools and techniques are often characterized by their ability to monitor threats, alert users, or remove malware. Utilizing a variety of cybersecurity tools will help you stay safe on the Internet.

After all, your online security can never have too much protection. The importance of robust cybersecurity has been universally acknowledged, to the point where even basic messaging apps will be secured with end-to-end encryption.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most useful cybersecurity measures that you should consider implementing if you haven’t already. Here are five tools of security management to overcome computer crime.

Antivirus

Antivirus software is the bread and butter of all cybersecurity tools and perhaps one of the best known. An antivirus will scan your computer or device and delete malware it recognizes. Basic antivirus software can be acquired from various sources, and most modern computers will already have this cybersecurity tool built in. Microsoft and Apple devices, for example, come packaged with standard antivirus software.

It can’t hurt to invest in third-party antivirus, especially if you don’t fully trust Mac or Microsoft developers. It’s recommended that you acquire antivirus software that’s regularly updated and has support across multiple platforms, including mobile.

Firewall

Perhaps the second most common tool, firewalls often come packaged with antivirus software. Firewalls are one of the most iconic types of cybersecurity tools and are still regularly used. A firewall will monitor a user’s online activity and prevent access or block certain traffic based on a set of predetermined rules.

Firewalls are typically defined by hardware or software. Hardware firewalls are normally built into network routers. Software firewalls are located on a device or computer.

VPN

A virtual private network is quickly becoming as much of a necessity as an antivirus, especially in an age where unauthorized data hoarding has become a habit for many organizations. A VPN will completely encrypt your online traffic and hide your physical IP address. By implementing a VPN with your online experience, your privacy will be protected.

When it comes to cybersecurity tools that can offer multiple forms of protection, NordVPN is a great choice. Not only will you get the standard benefits of a VPN, but most plans also come packaged with the Threat Protection feature.

Threat Protection prevents users from unwittingly stumbling onto a malware-ridden site, stopping them from entering the site with an on-screen warning. Threat Protection also scans executable files you’re downloading for malicious software.

Data breach monitor

One of the biggest risks that people online face is having their personal details leaked and used against them. What’s even worse is that most of the time, a victim won’t even know their account has been compromised. Giant data deposits can be found on the dark web that contain terabytes of login details and passwords. You can find out how much this kind of stolen data sells for in NordVPN’s dark web case study.

Luckily, an online tool is available that can check to see if your details have been used without your consent. The site Have I Been Pwned is a handy solution, and it also has a feature to notify you if your email address appears in one of their databases in the future. NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor does a similar job, and you can have it monitoring the dark web for your credentials at all times.

Password manager

We all know how much of a pain it is to reset passwords, especially with all the rules you need to abide by. Different letter casing, numbers, and symbols must be included to even get the password approved, and good luck remembering that jumble of letters. Luckily, password managers exist.

NordPass is everything you need in a password manager, and is one of the best cybersecurity tools. It bypasses the nuisance of creating complex passwords because it auto generates codes with the right criteria and stores them in an encrypted vault. No need to memorize them either. NordPass will autofill the login details for you. The best part? These services can be yours for free.

Be aware of the risks you face online

By implementing the combinations of techniques and cybersecurity software tools, your online experience should be relatively smooth. Once hackers realize the amount of protection you’re using, they’ll probably move on to easier targets.

Knowledge, however, is the most potent tool. By recognizing the risks and signs of criminal activity online, you’re already one step ahead of the hackers who rely on the naivety and ignorance of their victims.