Protecting yourself online should be your top priority. With an increase in cyber threats, it’s evident to put immense effort into securing your online presence. Although you can find several internet providers offering internet security alongside the services, still it’s better to get a standalone cybersecurity tool to maximize your protection.

Well, that’s what we’re here for. We’re sharing some of the best cybersecurity tools that you should get this year. Even having one of these will make it easier to protect yourself online. But before that, let’s check out the kind of cybersecurity tools you have:

Types of Cybersecurity Tools

Cybersecurity tools can be divided into the following categories:

  • Penetration Testing: used in automation to improve efficiency and minimize issues
  • Packet sniffers: monitors network traffic
  • Encryption: converts readable data into undecipherable text for protection
  • Scanning web vulnerability: scans web apps for insecure servers, cross-site scripting, etc.
  • Network defenses: applies techniques and tactics to prevent cyberattacks on a network
  • Network security monitoring: monitors the network and detects abnormalities
  • Detecting network intrusions: reports network security problems and identifies malicious attacks

When choosing your network provider, ensure that you know what kind of security tool are you getting with it. For instance, Xfinity packages offer the xFi Advanced Security alongside its internet services. It’s built to offer internet security for Xfinity internet services. 

But, as highlighted earlier, you should go for a standalone cybersecurity tool instead of depending on the one provided by your provider. You have a better chance of customizing it according to your needs as well as implementing the security protocols wherever needed.

Best Cybersecurity Tools to Get

Now that we’ve seen different types of cybersecurity tools, it’s time to check some of the options available in the market that you can get:

  • NMAP

Short for Network Mapper, it’s one of the best cybersecurity tools that you can get. It has some amazing features including security vulnerability identification, gathering information on network resources, monitoring hosts, etc. 

In addition, it easily supports multiple OS such as Windows, Linux, MAC OS, etc. Apart from this, it’s easy to use because of its flexible and portable interface that can be installed and well-documented on every system.

  • Wireshark

If you’re running a global platform or at least connected to a WAN, then Wireshark is a great cybersecurity tool to have by your side. It comes with amazing features including real-time data analysis over network protocols, which helps with monitoring. 

Moreover, you have a customization option in terms of network rules that you can implement. Any data packet traveling on the network matching the rule will send a notification that will keep you alerted. It also identifies packets from Pcap-supported protocols, making the network safer.

  • Cain and Abel

One of the veterans in the domain, Cain and Abel allows you to strengthen security on your devices. It identifies weak passwords as well as runs system assessments for such passwords. In addition, it identified routing protocols so that the chances of packet compromise can be mitigated.

Moreover, it also uses force attacks that help crack encrypted passwords or decode scrambled passwords. It’s one of the best cybersecurity tools you can have if you want to strengthen password security on your Windows. It’s an open-source tool; however, you’ll need to find alternatives for MAC. 

  • Burp Suite

If you’re looking to enhance organizational security then Burp Suite is an excellent option. With its real-time scans, you’re able to enhance network security while identifying loopholes in your network. 

Note that the loopholes that this tool identifies can have a great impact on the security of your organization, so it’s a big plus. In addition to this, it helps improve the network by self-inflicting attacks that help simulate the impact. Hence, you’re able to create defenses that would protect your network in case of a real-time attack.

  • Gophish

If you’re looking for protection against malware particularly ransomware and phishing attacks, then Gophish is a great tool to have by your side. It’s truly a great tool for organizations since it can easily be implemented in organizations where phishing attempts take place.

You can get its full-featured toolkit that will help set the appropriate anti-phishing rules. In other words, you can truly improve the overall network security of your organization and help safeguard your employees from any such attempts.

  • Kali Linux

One of the best cybersecurity tools that have been used for penetration testing, digital forensics, etc. Kali Linux is a great choice against cyberattacks. The best thing about this tool is that it comes with 600 pre-installed programs that network administrators can use to implement security protocols, as they want.

Moreover, it also houses some of the tools mentioned above such as Wireshark, NMAP, etc. that fortify your network’s security. Computer experts depend upon it for carrying out multiple network-related processes including simulating attacks, exploiting or probing targets, etc. 

Closing Thoughts

Although the list can go on, with the tools that we’ve mentioned earlier, you should be able to strengthen the overall network security of your home/ organizational network. Ensure that you have a safe internet connection and run these programs relentlessly to improve the overall security for avoiding any cyberattack.