Cyber Security tools include various apps and solutions capable of mitigating risks and safeguarding sensitive information against cyber threats.
List of extensively used basic cyber security tools:
- Wireshark
- Nmap
- Web security
- Metasploit
- Ncat
- Aircrack-ng
- Entersoft Insights
- Nikto
- Cain and Abel
- Kali Linux
- John the Ripper
- Forcepoint
- PAROS proxy
- NMAP
- Truecrypt
- LifeLock
- Bitdefender
- TOR
- Malwarebytes
- Mimecast
- VIPRE
- SiteLock
A massive number of internet threats exist in cyberspace. Cyber threats like Malware, Viruses, Trojans, Scareware, Worms, Ransomware, etc., always intend to disrupt the sensitive information of individuals and organisations.
All organisations should know the amount of risk involved in each step in the cyber world. Hence, organisations must know the essential tools and methods to protect against cyber security challenges due to cyberattacks. Most organisations now include a dedicated team for handling cyberattacks.
Various tools are now available to defend network security and are implemented with the latest cyber security technology.
Let’s discuss the details of the critical cyber security tools and how to use them:
1. Firewalls:
Firewalls serve as one of the basic cyber security measures that function as a barrier between an organisation's internal network and the external network. They filter every packet of data that moves in and out of the network in an organisation. Moreover, they filter malicious packets.
You can use firewalls as software or hardware per the data's need and significance to be safeguarded. Each packet of data must pass across a firewall and be filtered.
Remember that nothing in this cyber world can guarantee 100% protection. The reason is hackers can create data packets that work as genuine but are malicious inside. Such data packets can overwhelm firewall filtering and ultimately compromise computer security. You can use an overall firewall because it is the best defence for protection against cyberattacks and cyber criminals.
2. Antivirus Software:
It is a program that prevents, detects, and discards viruses and other malware attacks from individual networks, computers, and IT systems. Moreover, it safeguards your networks and computers from different viruses and threats. For example, it protects against spyware, adware, worms, Trojan horses, browser hijackers, keyloggers, rootkits, adware, botnets, and ransomware.
The majority of the antivirus programs have an auto-update feature. This feature enables the system to check for new threats and viruses regularly. Besides, many antivirus programs provide extra services like scanning emails to ascertain that they are protected from malicious web links and attachments.
You can use reliable Antivirus software in your system. Make sure to update it regularly to let it deal with all kinds of advanced cyber threats. Every antivirus software has a vault containing the threat information that should be kept up to date.
3. Public Key Infrastructure:
Public-key Infrastructure (PKI) verifies the receiver's identity. After identification, it helps to send and receive the data over the Internet. Primarily, it assists in distributing and recognising public encryption keys.
Usually, PKI is implemented with the TLS and SSL technologies that help safeguard the data transfer between server and user who use the HTTPS.
In other words, this tool encrypts the server communication and is accountable for the padlock and HTTPS in your browser’s address bar. You can use the PKI tool to solve various cybersecurity concerns and incorporate it into your organisation’s security suite.
4. Penetration Testing:
This cybersecurity tool checks the quality of security systems by recognising the presence of any security vulnerabilities in the system.
Ethical hackers attempt to penetrate an organisation’s security system to know whether they can detect any vulnerable points to access the security system. They use identical methods and strategies an original hacker would use to penetrate a cybersecurity system. If they can penetrate successfully, they will develop a solution to close the particular vulnerability. They will undertake this step after discussing it with the organisation’s cybersecurity team.
Penetration Testing challenges the type of attack a business may perceive from criminal hackers. The attacks can be code injection, password cracking, and phishing. This tool works on a simulated real-world cyberattack on an application or network.
You can use this tool to perform Pen Tests using manual or automatic technologies. As a result, you can methodically evaluate web applications, servers, network devices, wireless networks, endpoints, mobile devices, and many other prospective points of vulnerabilities. After the Pen Test completes, the testers provide you with findings and threats. Moreover, it can assist you with recommendations about possible changes to your system.
5. MDR:
MDR (Managed Detection and Response Service) is a contemporary cyber security tool. It can assist in threat intelligence, threat analysis, recognizing detection, monitoring, and attack response using machine learning and artificial intelligence in cyber security.
The working of this tool is focused on threat detection instead of compliance. It hugely depends on security event management and advanced analytics. Although many functions are automatic, MDR involves humans too for monitoring your network. You can also use this tool to carry out remote response and incident validation.