We all have a device of some form in our households. Technology has become so advanced that we can pack incredibly powerful systems into small packages. Between laptops, smartphones, and tablets, there’s likely to be at least one device in every household.

However, amongst all the advancements in technology and the progress that has been made in technology, cybercrime has also flourished. It’s something that not many people pay attention to, after all, how much damage can someone do with your smartphone right?

The answer is that they can do a ton of damage, and if you simply believe that it will never happen to you, then you are putting yourself even more at risk. Unfortunately, cybercrime is dangerous, but what’s truly holding us back is the fact that we think that cybersecurity is a complex subject — that we need to be IT experts to understand. Luckily that’s not the case, we’re going to show you the basic cybersecurity tools you need to have down below!

Why is Cybersecurity so Important in 2022?

Cybersecurity is more important now than ever before. According to the latest studies, there has been a drastic rise in the frequency and the success of cyberattacks in recent years — more specifically in the past two years. Two main factors have contributed to this sudden spike in cyberattacks.

The first reason why cybercrime has become more popular in recent years is that more and more people have access to devices. Whether it’s a laptop for school, a smartphone to keep in touch with friends and family, or a tablet to work from anywhere, having a device of some form is crucial in this day and age.

Let’s take a look at smartphone numbers. It’s a small pocket-sized device that can do just about anything you need it to, and some are even more powerful than lower-end laptops, which makes it a good baseline to look into. It’s estimated that there are more than 6.648 billion smartphones in use worldwide — in other words, 83.72% of the world’s population. That number is estimated to increase by one billion units year on year until 2025.

The second reason why there has been an increase in cyberattacks is because of the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As the majority of the world’s population was unable to leave their homes, they had to find ways to keep themselves entertained while staying inside the house. Many office jobs became remote jobs as people took virtual meetings and started working from home. More people were keeping in contact with their close friends and family too as they wanted to be sure that they were still safe and healthy.

The link between these two causes is that there is an increase in screen time. With more people spending time on their devices, more opportunities were created for cybercriminals to move in and breach the relatively low security that people had on their devices. This made it much easier for cybercriminals to take advantage of people — especially those who are new to owning a device and are unaware of the dangers they face online.

Luckily though, protecting yourself online is not as difficult as you might think it is. You might feel overwhelmed by the choices that you have in cybersecurity tools, but we’re here to simplify and streamline that process for you by explaining what each one is and why you need it.

One of the most important cybersecurity tools you can invest in is premium antivirus software. This is an important tool to use because it will constantly scan your devices for any viruses or other forms of malware. If any malware has been detected on your device, the antivirus software can take action to remove it. You can find antivirus software for any device, including your smartphones and tablets.

A virtual private network — perhaps better known as a VPN — is a handy tool to have if you’re travelling. A VPN will create a secure connection that will mask what you’re doing on your device as well as your physical location. This is done by connecting you to a secure server in another country. Using a VPN will protect you from cyberattacks that are common when using unsecured networks (public WiFi hotspots at hotels, airports, and restaurants), and it will give you the ability to bypass geo-blocking or internet censorship.

One thing that compromises many people’s security is weak passwords — using information that relates to you such as your name or date of birth. This gives the hacker an easy way to break into your account if they find the correct information. Many people also use the same passwords for multiple accounts — if you fall victim to a phishing scam that steals your passwords, all of your accounts will be at risk. The solution is a premium password manager that is secured with a randomly generated master key. This will act as a virtual vault for all of your passwords, and only you have access to it.

What to Keep in Mind With Cybersecurity

There are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to cybersecurity. These are elements that are often overlooked, but they could put you at risk if you don’t pay attention to them.

The first is to ensure that you always use premium cybersecurity tools rather than free ones. Free cybersecurity tools often have a lot of drawbacks that can put your devices even more at risk. For example, free VPNs slow down your internet connection, bombard you with ads, give you daily data limits, and even offer fewer global servers to choose from.

You also need to ensure that your software is always up to date. Whether it’s your device’s operating system or the antivirus software, these updates are sent out and they are usually very important. Software updates are often used to fix flaws that have been picked up in the software, and sometimes they can be used to add extra security features to help against new strategies used by cybercriminals.