Must-Have Cybersecurity Tools In 2020

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common by the day. These incidents of digital intrusion can range from mildly annoying to devastating. The threat posed by cybercrime has led to the adoption of solutions such as antivirus.

Over the years, antivirus has become a must-have tool for anyone concerned about the safety of their computer system. While antivirus might have been an adequate solution to digital threats in the past, it’s not enough to protect you against modern cyberthreats.

False Sense of Security

Traditional detection-based antivirus protects your device through constant scanning and removal of existing malware signatures. This software can protect you against classic dangers such as less sophisticated dangers like known trojans, viruses, and worms. Antivirus software can’t provide protection against threats without a signature database for detection. Research shows that antivirus will only protect you against 30-50 percent of new threats when they first appear.

Here are some of the major cyber risks facing the public in 2020 that antivirus alone won’t protect you against.

  • Phishing. Hackers have always employed social engineering attacks such as phishing to trick their victims to reveal sensitive information. Phishing attacks target information such as credit card details, passwords, and login credentials. Cybercrooks are increasingly coming up with sophisticated, more convincing phishing tactics.
  • Ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware). In this type of attack, hackers infect computer systems with a piece of malware that encrypts all their data. Ransomware attacks are mostly used to target businesses and high net worth individuals. Forbes predicts a 300% increase in ransomware attacks in 2020, most of which will be targeting small businesses.
  • AI-Enhanced Cyberthreats. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is causing major disruption out there. And it seems like cybercriminals are also using the technology to launch sophisticated cyberattacks in the form of complex and adaptive malicious software. AI-enhanced cyberthreats such as phishing are on the rise and are much harder to defend against.

How to Protect Yourself

Cyberthreats are constantly evolving and newer threats will always be unknown to the typical antivirus. Therefore, using antivirus alone to defend against cyberattacks only provides a false sense of security. IT security experts recommend a layered approach when it comes to defending against newer, sophisticated threats. Here are top security tools you can use to protect yourself against these threats.

VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a piece of software that turns a public network into a private connection. It masks your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic to provide privacy and anonymity online, making it one of the most effective tools when it comes to online security. Learn how a VPN functions and protect your online presence.

Email Security

The human element is one of the biggest weaknesses in IT security. Cybercriminals can persuade email recipients to share confidential information or inadvertently download malicious code into a network via sophisticated and often convincing phishing strategies. Email security focuses on preventing these attacks by identifying dangerous emails.

Vulnerability Scanner

If there are any vulnerabilities in your system, you need to be aware of them as soon as possible. That way, you will be able to patch them before hackers take advantage. A vulnerability scanner is a security tool that can help you identify vulnerabilities in your system early before they can lead to a breach.

Encryption

Using encryption software is the most effective way to protect your data against physical theft. Stolen laptops often end up in the hands of cybercriminals who may try to access the information you may have stored on it. Encrypting your hard drives makes it extremely difficult for cybercriminals to access this information.

Cyberattacks are becoming more common. By 2021, the total cost of cybercrime will hit $6 trillion, that’s more than the annual cost of damages caused by natural disasters. Relying on antivirus alone will not protect you against newer, more sophisticated threats. Cybersecurity experts recommend a layered approach that combines different security tools such as VPN, email security tools, encryption software, etc. to protect against these threats.