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As the world becomes more dependent on technology, it’s crucial for both our personal and professional affairs to be protected in the digital age. Owing to the looming threats around cybersecurity, antivirus software has always been considered the best possible way to protect ourselves.
However, with the advent of Artificial Intelligence and deepfakes, safeguarding our digital identity requires certain crucial steps beyond the use of antivirus.
In today’s article, we’re going to look at some of the best tools that you can use to keep your digital life secure.
Here are six simple but effective tools to keep your digital life secure:
Virtual Private Networks (VPN)
While having an antivirus for Windows or MacOS is an important step towards securing your digital devices, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) goes a step further and adds more privacy to your browsing experience by encrypting all types of internet traffic. If you’re someone who enjoys international web series and shows, or want to order a product that’s not available in your country, you can use a VPN to by-pass geographical restrictions safely and avoid censorship.
A quality VPN also provides the right type of encryption and protection while using Public Wi-Fi, which is often seen as a risky activity, especially if you are sharing, downloading or uploading sensitive information or data. And if you’re unsure about which server of VPN service to choose from, an AI powered selection of the best servers will help you pick the right one based on your requirements, internet usage, and personal preferences.
Encrypted Communication Tools
Communication through digital mediums is a part of our lives now, whether they’re happening in a professional or personal setting. That’s why you must use secure and end-to-end encrypted communication tools for messages, calls, and video conferencing. When choosing a communication tool, consider whether it has features such as cross-platform and device compatibility, and if you can share media and documents through it for collaboration.
It’s also important to invest in a software that comes with features like self timed deletion and destruction of messages, especially if you share sensitive information and content through it. Many of the tools today are also equipped with AI- assistant that helps in content moderation and threat detection, which even an antivirus tool can miss from time to time, especially if it’s happening within the constraints of another application.
Anti-Phishing Tools
Just like the right anti-malware tools help in malware detection across the devices, similarly anti-phishing tools protect your devices from any attempted phishing attacks and scams. While an antivirus software will keep a close eye on your device, an anti-phishing tool will be equipped with advanced filters for spam detection and filtering. Since most anti-phishing tools today use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to filter out spammy email content, they can notify the users about potentially fraudulent emails without having to go through the ordeal of figuring it out.
This feature can be especially useful in corporate settings, or personal settings that require a financial transaction. They can also assess the links and attachments without you having to open them while also fact checking the domain and sender authentication. If you choose to adopt any of these solutions in a professional setting, always ensure that the employees are trained to make good use of these tools and are able to identify any phishing attempts.
Password Management Systems
A secure password management system is integral to your business and personal life’s digital privacy. An all encompassing password manager makes it easier for all the users in a shared organization or team to access the required information, while also generating and storing complex passwords to avoid any cyber attacks and keep your data safe.
While choosing a password manager, look for features such as multifactor authentication, preferably through biometric authentication for an added layer of security. You must also pick software that works seamlessly with all of your business accounts and can be used across various platforms and browsers for a secure digital experience.
Secure Cloud Storage Solutions
Your data and other sensitive information is the most important part of your digital identity. When you’re managing your data through cloud storage, making sure that it’s protected from cybersecurity risks like data breaches and insider threats is important. You can do this by choosing an end to end encrypted software for your information and data storage.
It must also be able to sync automatically across devices for a seamless experience. Most importantly, check to see if there’s an option for file recovery and version history to ensure accuracy and accessibility of data. To ensure the highest level of digital security, only pick cloud storage solutions that are compliant with data protection regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR.
Firewalls
Secure firewalls are an essential component of a secure network and cloud system. These devices can make for a high level of protection and security across all the devices in the network, making unauthorized access hard to infiltrate. When choosing a firewall, opt for next-generation firewalls that offer advanced threat protection to your personal and professional devices.
Make sure that they provide comprehensive application-level filtering and deep packet inspection to block out any harmful data from entering your network. When choosing a firewall, ensure that it’s compatible with your cloud storage solution and focuses on user identity awareness and policy enforcement for an extensive privacy and security system.
In a nutshell, the use of antivirus software for protecting your digital life, while important, is not the only way to do so. Whether you’re aiming to protect your family or your business’ digital assets, you must use a combination of tools to achieve that.
For the most part, having a strong Virtual Private Network, end-to-end encryption tools for communication, phishing prevention tools, strong password management systems, secure cloud storage solutions, firewalls, and security compliance tools can help you create a secure digital environment for both your personal and professional life.