Introduction Hackers appear to be in full control in the present era of digitization, where almost everything is happening online. Internet security threats now include malware, phishing links, or identity theft. To shield your personal information, we have curated the 20 best cyber security apps and websites for you. If you are worried about privacy while browsing or just want to spare yourself from the trouble of cyber threats, these cyber security apps and websites will help you do so. Let’s start this journey of making your savvy browsing safe and functional. Why Cyber Security is Important The computer-based world is an interconnected system, and cyber security app and websites are more important than ever. There are a lot of dangers lurking in the digital landscape that can compromise your information and internet activities. Let’s talk about the most common cyber threats and why it’s so important to use safe cyber security apps and sites. Common Cyber Threats Malware: Viruses, worms, ransomware, and other types of malicious software designed to damage or disrupt your electronic devices. Malware can steal sensitive information, lock you out of your systems or devices, or spy on your activities. Phishing: A malicious email or message that tricks you into divulging sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing attacks are now typically highly professional versions of the phone trick. They often imitate well-known institutions in the hopes of lulling you into a false sense of security. Data Breaches: Fraudsters steal confidential information that should be secure from companies and customers. The information exposed can include social security numbers, bank account details, credit card information, and personal addresses. High-profile data breaches can expose tens of millions of users, damaging both their finances and reputation. Exploits and Zero-Days: Attacks exploit software vulnerabilities that developers are not aware of (zero-days), which can cause the software to act in ways that are not designed or authorised, giving unauthorised access or causing damage. Ransomware: It typically locks your machine or encrypts your data, and then makes you pay to unlock it. If you pay, there’s no guarantee you’ll get it back, but that means you really need to have all your security bases covered. Importance of Using Cyber Security Apps and Websites Cyber security apps and services help to secure your information from these assaults. Cyber security apps and sites combine the use of encryption, frequent security patches, and strong data protections to keep your information safe. If you use a cyber security app or website such as ProtonMail, your email will be end-to-end encrypted, and the provider will not be able to read it, which makes it much harder for third parties to read your messages too. Encrypted data streams (HTTPS, for example) securely transmit the information between your cyber security apps, browser and the site so that man-in-the-middle attackers cannot intercept data. Find tools such as HTTPS Everywhere to explore whether it’s secured or not. Real-Life Examples of Cyber Threats To illustrate the impact of these threats, consider the following examples: Ransomware Attacks: The average cost of a ransomware attack in 2023 was $4.54 million, and only 8 percent of businesses that paid the ransom had data recovery. These statistics highlight the financial and operational needs conveyed. Phishing attacks: Phishing represents 39.6 percent of all email threats. It remains the most used method by cybercriminals. The victim may fall for the trap (‘take the bait’), leading to huge financial losses and theft of personal data. How Cyber Security Protects Your Data and Privacy Top Cyber Security Apps and Websites NordVPN Description and Features NordVPN is one of the leading virtual private network (VPN) services, offering a selection of powerful security and privacy tools: choose from hundreds of servers in more than 6,000 worldwide locations in 110+ countries, and protect your web activity with AES-256 encryption, a strong no-logs policy, and a kill switch, along with advanced tunnelling protocols such as NordLynx, an in-house implementation of WireGuard for enhanced performance. Benefits of Using a VPN for Secure Browsing A VPN like NordVPN does two things to improve your online experience. Firstly, it disguises your data as something completely different and encrypts it, so other people cannot see what you are doing on the internet. Using a VPN is a great way to use a public Wi-Fi network securely since they tend to be targeted by hackers on a regular basis. A VPN also lets you sidestep geo-blocking, which allows you to gain access to content in other parts of the world without sacrificing security. How to Get Started with NordVPN Here’s how you do it: 1. Go to NordVPN.com to create a subscription you are comfortable with, which could be monthly, yearly, or the best deal–the two-year one. 2. Download and install the cyber security app on your device. 3. Log in and connect to your favourite server. 4. That’s it! You are safe on the internet in a matter of minutes. Bitdefender Overview of Bitdefender's Security Features Bitdefender is one of the best antivirus programmes currently available on the market because it excels at detecting and blocking all sorts of malware, ransomware, worms, and viruses, as well as protecting your privacy against phishing websites and securing your homepage against malicious code. It boasts real-time threat detection, multi-layer ransomware protection, and web-filtering technology to prevent you from accessing suspicious web pages. Protection Against Malware and Phishing With its advanced algorithms and machine learning, Bitdefender protects your system against new and unknown threats and neutralises zero-day exploits before they can execute on your device. Bitdefender’s anti-phishing engine inhibits access to fraudulent websites, which try to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting users. Installation and Setup Guide Installing BitDefender is simple. Go to the BitDefender website, choose your plan, and purchase it. Download the installation file and follow the instructions on the screen. Your BitDefender software is now installed on your device. Run a full system scan to clean your device, and you're done! LastPass Importance of Using a Password Manager With cyber threats on the rise, LastPass (or a similar password manager) is a must for keeping track of complex passwords for every website. The mnemonic technique is helpful for remembering and typing one master password, but LastPass allows you to add and use all the accounts you wish without having to think about the passwords or replicate them among sites. Key Features of LastPass LastPass securely stores your passwords, auto-fills any form you open with an entry field for usernames and passwords, generates a random password string when you need to create one for a new site, stores secure notes, offers password sharing, and uses multi-factor authentication, among other things. Tips for Creating Strong Passwords This is where you want to create passwords that are long, random, and distinct for each account, avoiding common words or phrases and using a mix of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters. Since you’ll never have to remember these passwords, make sure to rotate them regularly and use LastPass to store all of them. ProtonMail Secure Email Service Features ProtonMail is an end-to-end encrypted email service that offers a high level of security because your emails can be read only by you and the recipient. No one in between–not even ProtonMail–can have access to the email contents. ProtonMail includes other important features like zero-knowledge encryption for when email service providers are instructed to hand over personal files. Benefits of End-to-End Encryption End-to-end encryption blocks any third party from accessing your emails as they traverse the internet from one person’s inbox to another, ensuring that your emails aren’t read or stolen even if the ProtonMail servers are hacked. It also helps protect sensitive communications from surveillance. ProtonMail’s servers are located in Switzerland, perhaps the only country with stiffer privacy laws than the United States. How to Set Up and Use ProtonMail It’s easy to set up ProtonMail. Just go to the company’s website and sign up for a free account (paid accounts are available for features such as more storage and advanced security options), then start sending encrypted emails. ProtonMail also has mobile cyber security apps for iOS and Android. DuckDuckGo Privacy-Focused Search Engine Our search engine, DuckDuckGo, puts privacy first. Unlike other search engines, we don’t track your searches, don’t save your personal data, and prevent third-party trackers from following you around the web. How DuckDuckGo Protects Your Search Data DuckDuckGo protects your search data by encrypting the connection and not keeping track of your search history. It also comes with locked-down settings–tracker blocking and links to encrypted connections to other websites–to help prevent data collection and surveillance of your Internet activity. Tips for Integrating DuckDuckGo into Your Daily Browsing DuckDuckGo is easy to switch to. You can set it as your default search engine in your browser settings. DuckDuckGo also has a browser extension that blocks trackers and forces sites to encrypt their connections with you, so that more of your web browsing is private. The DuckDuckGo mobile cyber security app has these privacy protections on your smartphone as well, so your privacy is consistent across all your devices. Signal Secure Messaging App Features Cyber security app Signal is a secure messaging app that includes a robust encryption protocol for its messages, calls, and media. Individual messages, calls, or media shared using Signal are encrypted end-to-end, meaning that only the sender and receiver can read them. Cyber security app Signal includes the ability to set messages to self-destruct after a certain time period lapses, referred to as ‘disappearing messages’. Benefits of Encrypted Communication With cyber security app Signal, you know your conversations are private because you know they are scrambled and secured against eavesdroppers such as hackers and government surveillance. Signal’s encryption protocol is open-source, meaning it is reviewed and updated frequently by security experts around the world. This makes it less susceptible to vulnerabilities. How to Start Using Signal for Secure Messaging Just visit the App Store or Google Play Store and install the free cyber security app Signal, then create an account using your phone number. From that point forward, you can start sending encrypted messages and making free, secure phone and video calls. To make it easier for you to start journeying towards this privacy-enhancing destination, cyber security app Signal also includes a one-click feature that invites your contacts to download the cyber security app. The cyber security app also has a very straightforward interface, designed to ensure security and ease of use even for unscheduled passengers. Tor Browser How Tor Browser Enhances Online Privacy Tor Browser anonymizes what you read by passing your internet traffic through a worldwide network of relays, or ‘nodes’ operated by volunteers. It obscures your IP address and encrypts your communications many times over. This multilayer encoding, or ‘onion routing’, as it’s often called, is the closest thing to a telecommunications Black Hole. Step-by-Step Guide to Using Tor Plug-ins: Go to the Tor Project website to download the browser, then follow the installation instructions provided for your OS. Connect to the Tor Network: Open the Tor Browser and click ‘Connect’. Browse normally: Use the browser as you would any other. Tor comes with security plug-ins by default, including HTTPS Everywhere and NoScript, to help anonymize your activity. Tips for Maximising Security on Tor Be supplementary: Use a virtual private network (VPN) as well, and make sure it’s a VPN with fast servers in multiple locations so that your data is secure even at the ‘onion routers’ (vpnMentor). HTTP Sites – NO …Use only HTTPS websites. Ensure your traffic is encrypted all the way to the exit node when you use HTTPS sites. One browser calls for JavaScript to be disabled: NoScript Plugin. Disable JavaScript to block script attacks that can compromise your privacy. HTTPS Everywhere Importance of HTTPS for Secure Connections The next time you launch your web browser, don’t overlook the significance of HTTPS. Those three little letters keep your communications with websites safe by encrypting their contents between your browser and their servers. The more websites that use HTTPS by default, the less likely it is that hackers will eavesdrop on their clients or steal their passwords. And don’t forget, you tend to do a lot of business (financial and otherwise) online. How HTTPS Everywhere Ensures Secure Browsing HTTPS Everywhere will trigger your browser to communicate with a server using HTTPS whenever possible. This extension, which works with Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Android browsers, forces a website to use HTTPS each time you communicate with it. The outcome is that your connection with each website is always encrypted, thus reducing the risks of data leakage or potential snooping. Installation and Usage Instructions Install the Extension: HTTPS Everywhere is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers. Go to your browser’s extension store > search for HTTPS Everywhere > install. Extension: Enable HTTPS Everywhere: After you have installed it, HTTPS Everywhere will be running for you and will automatically attempt to connect you securely over HTTPS to any websites that support it. Personalisation: You can tweak things to your preferences, such as adding environmental exemptions for sites that still register. ExpressVPN Features and Benefits of ExpressVPN It provides military-grade security in the form of AES-256 encryption and a strict no-logs policy. There’s also a kill switch to stop any data leaks if your connection unexpectedly drops, and more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries will ensure stable speeds wherever you are in the world. How It Protects Your Online Activity With cyber security app ExpressVPN installed on your device, your internet traffic is encrypted and stays hidden from your ISP or anyone else–vital for securing your privacy when you’re using public Wi-Fi when your data is most likely being blatantly pilfered. Setup and Usage Guide Sign up for ExpressVPN: Choose a plan from the ExpressVPN website and create an account. Download and Install the App: Install the cyber security app ExpressVPN on your device–Windows PC, Mac, Android smartphones and tablets, or iOS smartphones and tablets. Open the cyber security app, log in, connect to the server, and that’s it. Your internet traffic is now encrypted and secured, so you can explore the internet as safely as possible. Connect to a Server: 1. Open the cyber security app. 2. Log in. 3. Connect to a server. 1Password Comprehensive Password Management Features AES-256-bit encryption prompts users to choose passphrases, which are translated into secure and randomised elements that remain buried within a user’s ‘vault’. 1Password has a Watchtower feature that alerts users when passwords are weak, reused, or compromised and prompts them to change them securely. It also has secure vaults for storing important documents, supports MFA, and a ‘Travel Mode’ that temporarily removes sensitive data from a device. How 1Password Keeps Your Credentials Safe 1Password offers an additional layer of security by generating a randomly generated, local secret key that sits only on your device and never on its servers. In order to decrypt your data, anyone who breaks your master password still needs the secret key. It also integrates with all major browsers and operating systems. The service populates your passwords in those browsers on any device you use to access the service. Tips for Organising Your Passwords Organise your 1Password passwords into a number of separate ‘vaults’–you might create one for home, one for work, and another for family logins. Use the built-in password generator to create long, unique passwords for all your accounts, and use secure notes to keep tabs on other sensitive details too, such as passport numbers and bank account information. Check back regularly to see whether the passwords or notes still apply. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Protection Features Malwarebytes is all-around protection against malware, ransomware, and other threats. Once installed, it scans your system and protects you against malware in real time. In the process, it intercepts requests to known malicious websites. Further features include anomaly detection and behavioural monitoring, which enable the software to detect and neutralise malicious threats before they can even affect your device. Importance of Regular Scans Regular scans will help you stay safe. Malwarebytes can automatically run scans on a schedule that you specify, so you don’t even have to worry about it. Your system will be audited on a regular basis to make sure nothing slips past your defences. Malwarebytes will do its very best to remove any malware it detects and keep your machine running as clean as possible. How to Install and Use Malwarebytes To use Malwarebytes, first download the software from the product website, install it, run an initial full system scan to eliminate any existing threats that the programme detects, then schedule scans to run in the future and customise settings for your security requirements. All of this is done through an intuitive user interface that is easy for anyone to master. Brave Browser Features of the Privacy-Focused Brave Browser The Brave web browser is another standout in the realm of privacy, automatically blocking ads and Trackers that would otherwise hinder your browsing speeds. It also has ad-blocking features built-in via HTTPS Everywhere, ensuring that your sessions with websites are all secure, and incorporates Tor for anonymous browsing. Brave also pays users in the form of Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) for viewing privacy-respecting ads, which can then be used to support content creators. How Brave Blocks Ads and Trackers Brave does this by using advanced browser-level techniques to prevent ads and third-party cookies from tracking you around the web, which helps to enhance your privacy and speed up the web for you too (there is no point in speeding up websites that give you malware, destroy your privacy, or track you all over the web). They have a bunch of shields built-in and all have a great list of granular controls, so you can decide exactly what you want blocked or enabled on your Brave browser. Guide to Switching to Brave Installing Brave is a snap: head over to their website, and you will find a download area with versions for all your platforms. Install it, and when the browser starts for the first time, you will be asked to import bookmarks, passwords, and other settings from your current browser. Take a moment to look through the options dialogue to configure the interface to your liking, and then get browsing. You’ll find that the web is not only much faster than before, but also more private. Tutanota Secure Email Service Overview Tutanota is the ‘#1 secure email’ with features such as end-to-end encryption for emails: ‘Only you and the recipient can read your emails,’ and even encrypted calendars and contacts. Benefits of Using Tutanota Note how using Tutanota not only protects your email correspondence from being intercepted and then read by the wrong recipient, as you saw in the case of Levison’s customers, but also from having its contents examined by the email provider itself, as was the fate of the former Silent Circle customers. It encrypts your emails automatically–no participation on your part is necessary–and has a no-logs policy. Tutanota’s servers are in Germany, a country with tough privacy laws. How to Set Up and Use Tutanota Setting up Tutanota is simple. Head to Tutanota.de and create a free account. You can upgrade to paid plans, starting at €1 a month for 1GB of storage and up to €5 a month for 10GB of storage. Registering with Tutanota, signing in, and initiating encrypted emailing is instantaneous. The service works with apps for iOS and Android that let you take your secure emails with you wherever you go. The interface is simple and intuitive, with tabs and drop-downs that make managing multiple contacts and secure communication paths a breeze. Dashlane Key Features of Dashlane Password Manager Dashlane in a nutshell: Dashlane is a powerful password manager, featuring a secure vault, password generator, and autofill to log you straight into your favourite websites and apps. Also: dark web monitoring to alert you if your personal information shows up online, and a free VPN to browse the web securely. How Dashlane Enhances Your Online Security Not only will Dashlane secure your online nightlife by helping you to choose unique passwords for all your online accounts, but it will also save and auto-fill your passwords during use (so you’re less likely to be compromised by a password), alert you to whether your password might have been ‘compromised’, and secure your surfing with a VPN connection. Setup and Usage Tips Here’s how to get started with Dashlane: 1. Download Dashlane from its website or from your device’s app store. 2. Set up an account using your email and a strong master password. 3. Import your existing passwords or type in new ones manually. 4. Turn on features like dark web monitoring and the VPN. 5. Regularly update your backups and passwords when you can (and when you’re reminded to by Dashlane). 6. Generate strong, unique passwords with Dashlane’s password generator. Privacy Badger How Privacy Badger Blocks Trackers An automatically operating piece of software called Privacy Badger comes to you in the form of a browser extension and blocks invisible trackers as you browse. Privacy Badger is from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and stops advertisers and other third parties from tracking your web browsing by learning which trackers you have come across and blocking any that appear to be tracking you when you didn’t ask them to. Benefits of Using This Extension Use Privacy Badger and you will gain an almost impenetrable layer of privacy from third parties who want to track the sites you have visited when surfing the web. Installing the extension can dramatically reduce both advertiser oversight and the sharing of your information with third parties, even with those you are not aware of. It is easy to install and requires no configuration once in place. Anyone can use it. Installation and Setup Guide To get Privacy Badger, open the extension store in your browser (your Chrome settings, Firefox settings, and Edge settings), search for Privacy Badger, click ‘Add to Browser’, follow the prompts, and install it. After installation, Privacy Badger automatically starts blocking trackers, but you can adjust it to your liking by selecting the Privacy Badger toolbar icon. Kaspersky Internet Security Comprehensive Security Suite Features Kaspersky Internet Security is a security suite that provides protection from all kinds of threats online. It comes with real-time antivirus, an on-demand scanner, a firewall, a secure payments feature, anti-webcam and anti-microphone controls, and an anti-phishing module. A VPN for browsing protection and a password manager to help you manage your credentials are also included in the suite. Protection Against Various Cyber Threats Kaspersky Internet Security protects your devices from all kinds of malware, viruses, phishing attacks, ransomware, and online threats. The programme employs an array of machine learning algorithms to neutralise malicious programmes or files in real time and protect against them. While web browsing or using email, Kaspersky scans the links and attachments you open to ensure they are safe and don’t represent a danger not only to your PC but also to your identity. How to Install and Configure Kaspersky Installing Kaspersky Internet Security is typically a two-minute process. Go to the Kaspersky website and purchase a licence (or buy a packaged licence from a retail store). Navigate to the Kaspersky website and download the installer. Run the installer and follow the instructions. After installation, put in your licence code to activate your licence. Next, fine-tune your settings as per your requirements, including scheduling scans, and turning on the firewall and/or VPN. Finally, make sure to keep the software updated so that you can have access to the latest security patches and the virus definition databases. Tresorit Secure Cloud Storage Features Cyber security app Tresorit provides secure file storage on the cloud market, paired with end-to-end encryption for your files and data. It simplifies storing, syncing, or sharing files between your different devices securely. Its main benefits include secure file sharing, enhanced collaboration tools, and GDPR compliance. Benefits of End-to-End Encryption End-to-end encryption, meanwhile, means your files are encrypted on your device before they are uploaded to the cloud and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient, making it impossible even for cyber security app Tresorit to see your data. End-to-end encryption guarantees your files are not readable by anyone who is not explicitly allowed. Tresorit therefore becomes a perfect cyber security app choice for storing all your sensitive data. How to Start Using Tresorit My first step is to head over to Tresorit’s site and create an account. There are both personal and business plans. The user interface deftly guides the user through installation on a fixed workstation and mobile devices. Once installed, the cyber security app Tresorit runs locally as an encrypted sync engine. Then, simply upload files to the cloud. If you’re on a Mac or Windows machine with the desktop app installed, a Tresorit ‘machine’ is running and keeping all your data local in an encrypted storage location. By double-clicking any folder locally or remotely, you can easily start uploading files to the encrypted cloud or upload individual items by simply dragging them to the cyber security app Tresorit icon in your system’s menu. From here, you can build a folder structure to organise your files locally on your devices. You can also share files encrypted with cyber security app Tresorit with others through an optional encrypted link or set up shared folders with modifiable permissions. AdGuard Features of AdGuard Ad Blocker AdGuard is a cyber security app that blocks all ads, pop-ups, and trackers on the web. It guarantees easy and quick web browsing, free from intrusive banners and annoying advice. AdGuard, the cyber security app, blocks banners, videos, and pop-up ads, even those that follow you across websites. Cyber security app AdGuard will never overload your device with ads, pop-ups, trackers, or annoying videos. AdGuard provides anti-phishing protection, novice mode for safe web surfing, and parental control over your kid’s browsing history–all for your peace of mind. Cyber security app AdGuard protects you from hacker attacks on your device. How It Enhances Browsing Speed and Security Blocking ads and trackers speeds up your internet and reduces your data usage. When you stop advertisers from seeing what you’re doing online, they can’t gather your data, safeguarding your privacy. Built-in anti phishing filters make the web safer by preventing you from reaching dangerous sites. It also repels malware. Setup and Usage Instructions Installing cyber security app AdGuard is a simple task: visit their website and download the cyber security app AdGuard, designed for current versions of your device; it is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Follow the instructions to install and adjust the cyber security app to your preference: choose your ad-blocking filters and add additional online protection, such as phishing protection and parental controls. Cyber security app AdGuard works in the background, fast, and without slowing your device or making noise while you are browsing. Bitwarden Open-Source Password Manager Features Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that can store your passwords and other sensitive information in a safe place for you with end-to-end encryption, secure password generation, and autofill. And since it is open source, the code being freely available is always subject to being looked at, audited, and scrutinised. How It Secures Your Passwords Bitwarden encrypts data on your device before it is stored on its servers, which means that no one can access it except you. It supports two-factor authentication (2FA), and your passwords are created by a generator that produces long, unique passwords for any site that requires them. Tips for Using Bitwarden Effectively All you need to do is create an account at Bitwarden’s website and download their cyber security app, browser extension, or programmes for desktop and mobile (I use the cyber security app version on my phone and the browser extension on my Windows computer). Then import your passwords into cyber security app Bitwarden or enter them manually, switch on 2FA, and you’re halfway there. Keep your passwords safely in Bitwarden, and regularly rotate the weak ones you’re keeping. Whenever you need to use one, cyber security app Bitwarden can autofill it for you, which is how you log into your accounts. Don’t worry about forgetting the master password again; it’s the only one you’ll actually need to remember. CyberGhost VPN Features and Benefits Cyber security app CyberGhost secures your connection with military-grade encryption, operates on a no-logs policy, and has servers in more than 89 countries. It also has a kill switch, DNS and IP leak protection, and specialised servers for streaming and torrenting. How CyberGhost Protects Your Online Privacy CyberGhost is a cyber security app that encrypts all of your internet traffic to make it unreadable for hackers, your ISP, or the prying eyes of government spies. Hiding your IP behind its own server means your activities can’t be tracked. With a no-logs policy, you can relax knowing that no record of your surfing history or personal details is kept or passed on because of this cyber security app. Guide to Setting Up CyberGhost To set up CyberGhost cyber security app, first sign up for a plan of your choice, and then download the cyber security application on your device. Second, install the cyber security app and log in with your details. Third, connect to a server of your choice, and then surf the web privately. Finally, you can enable additional features such as the kill switch, the block online trackers, and the DNS leak protection switch. The cyber security application interface is easy to use, even for beginners. Conclusion So make the effort to create a browsing routine where you use privacy-focused cyber security apps and sites whenever possible. You will never be fully safe online, but you can substantially decrease your chances of running into malware, phishing attempts, or data breaches. We all have a role in cyber security, and these steps will help ensure the rest of your time online is as safe as can be. Pass the word that cyber security apps and websites matter, and you’ll help others protect their online lives, too. Take Online Cyber Security Courses Now →