Cybercriminals didn’t take a break over the Christmas period just because it was the holiday season. If anything, that’s the time they were more active as they aim to make money for the holiday season, and crypto holders were a popular target. As we start the new year, we want to help you to up your cyber security game.
Read on to discover seven cyber security tools that should be in every crypto investor’s arsenal.
Why Cyber Security Tools Should Make Your New Year Radar
Cybercriminals are always on the prowl. If you think that you are immune to cyberattacks, think again.
Every day is prime time for scammers and hackers looking for their next prey.
And you – as a crypto user – are a welcome sight for cybercriminals because once someone manages to get ahold of your crypto, it’s almost impossible to get it back (due to the irreversibility of blockchain transactions).
Bad actors typically try their get their hands on your crypto using fake websites and apps, crypto malware, and malicious links.
While there’s no telling when a hacker will strike, it’s important to have the right cyber security arsenal to protect yourself.
7 Cyber Security Tools for Your Radar in the New Year
Below, you will find a list of cyber security software and tools you can invest in to protect yourself and your crypto.
Anti-Virus Software
The first step to staying protected is getting anti-virus software. And not just any anti-virus software. Get a good one that provides a strong defense.
Although the way that the viruses behave has mutated over the years, the primary end goal hasn’t, and that’s to take your money.
And because cyber threats come in many forms — ransomware, malware, trojans, etc. — you need to stay protected at all times. Today, there is a plethora of anti-virus software that you can choose from. Each and every one of them comes with its own perks.
Most of the notable anti-virus software such as Avast and Kaspersky should do the trick. But make sure to get the paid version as it will offer more features than the free version.
Anti-Malware Software
Another cyber security item that should be on your Christmas list is anti-malware software.
Anti-malware software is used to detect, prevent, and remove malware from your devices.
This software works to protect your devices from malware such as adware, spyware, and worms. It works by scanning your device’s system for any type of malicious software that tries to penetrate your computer’s system. While there are many similarities between anti-virus and anti-malware software, which may make them seem equal, that’s not the case.
Anti-malware software usually combines sandboxing technology and advanced malware protection features, thus providing broader coverage. It also deals with a variety of threats that the anti-virus software doesn’t.
Bottom line, good anti-malware software will help protect you from hackers, ensure your crypto funds are secured, and protect your privacy.
Crypto-Jacking Blocker Browser Extension
Crypto-jacking has grown in popularity in the last few years. However, not many people are aware of it.
Crypto-jacking is a type of attack where an attacker knowingly infects a website with a malware script and then utilizes the CPU power of any visitor who visits the site to mine cryptocurrency for themselves.
Although this type of attack is unethical, it tends to go unnoticed as most users are never aware of such a threat. Still, even if users were aware, they typically wouldn’t know what websites have this malware.
As a crypto user, you can protect yourself from a crypto-jacking attack by investing in a crypto-jacking blocker browser extension. These extensions work by blocking browser-based cryptocurrency mining sites. A good example of a free crypto-jacking blocker browser extension is Coin-Hive Blocker.
A VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is one of the most valuable cyber security tools that you can get for yourself.
VPN services work by encrypting your data while, at the same time, helping hide your IP address. A good VPN does this by bouncing your network activity to other servers based in other countries.
This helps mask your online identity even if you are using a public WiFi network at an eatery or airport. This way, you are able to browse the internet anonymously, safely, and securely.
A Password Manager
Almost every website or app you download will require you to create an account with your user name and secure it with a password. However, it’s nearly impossible for our human brains to keep up with a plethora of passwords on a daily basis.
A password manager provides encrypted digital storage that securely stores all your password login information for ease of access.
A good password manager should not only aid in keeping your credentials, identity, and sensitive data safe, but it should also help you generate unique passwords that are strong.
Additionally, a password manager should also help ensure that you aren’t utilizing one password for multiple applications or sites. This way, you are guaranteed that should there be a security breach on one site, your compromised password cannot be used on other sites.
A Secure Crypto Wallet
Any crypto investor can tell you how important it is to have a secure crypto wallet to store your digital currencies and tokens. Trust Wallet is one of the most secure crypto wallets in the market.
Trust Wallet enables crypto investors to store over 1,000,000 digital currencies and tokens across 12 blockchains.
Additionally, users can earn returns on the different digital assets that they hold and access Web3.0 applications using WalletConnect (iOS) or the in-app DApp Browser (Android).
Most importantly, Trust Wallet allows users to have control of their private keys as it’s a decentralized wallet, and private keys aren’t stored in the wallet provider’s servers.
A Hardware Wallet
Finally, if you are looking for a safe and secure way to store your cryptocurrency offline, you should consider getting yourself a hardware wallet.
A crypto hardware wallet keeps your private keys stored in an offline environment that is secure, thus making them immune to online attacks
Hardware wallets are excellent for crypto users who have larger crypto holdings that they plan to “HODL” for years to come.
Ledger Nano X and Trezor Model T are just some of the best hardware wallets that you can add to your Christmas shopping list.
