Properly protecting the laptop

 Procedure to properly protect the Laptop 

 There are few things more exciting than the moment you lift the lid of a brand new laptop and boot it up for the first time. As you go about your day-to-day browsing and log into dozens of applications and online platforms on your new tech product, including email, Twitter, Facebook, and Netflix, you must take adequate measures to stay protected from hackers which may be after your personal data, malware, viruses, identity theft, and other cyber threats. The best way to ensure all-around security is to use a combination of the best VPN, the best antivirus, and the best password manager. Together, they'll mask your IP address, help you access region-restricted content, delete malware files before they can harm your system, and protect your online accounts with strong passwords. It's worth noting that there are quite a few bundled solutions which include all three privacy solutions in a single plan. 

THE BEST ANTIVIRUS

The best antivirus software can keep your laptop free from malware, viruses, ransom ware and other cyber threats. Although Mac devices are incredibly secure from the get-go, cyber criminals are getting smarter by the day and their deployed tactics are being tailor-made to target Mac devices.  If you're a Windows owner, Microsoft’s Windows Defender may be enough to keep your laptop free from basic threats, but a dedicated antivirus program offers a much more robust solution, especially as antivirus often comes bundled with password managers, VPNs and parental controls.

Following are the three recommendations:

Norton

Norton is a value-packed powerhouse which comes bundled with a password manager, unlimited VPN data, online storage and even parental controls. It's admittedly not the cheapest of the lot, but with access to LifeLock identity theft protection and a spam call blocker, there's plenty of value on offer. Make the most of its 14-day free trial and 60-day money-back guarantee and see how it works.

Bitdefender

Bitdefender is a lightning-fast antivirus program offering robust cleanup of both new and unknown malware and all of that without taking up a huge amount of resources on your laptop or mobile phone. Also include a VPN, safe banking tools and a firewall, and there’s a generous 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out without taking a risk.

McAfee

McAfee Antivirus Plus and Total Protection Plus are a good solution as they come with the ability to cover up to 10 devices alongside rock-solid security features, like a password manager and ransomware rollback and 24/7 tech support for help. If you'd also like unlimited VPN service, opt for its Total Protection Ultimate plan. 

Selection of Antivirus

First and foremost would be to choose an antivirus with a high malware-detection rate; some of the best options in the industry include Bitdefender, Kaspersky Lab, Norton, and Trend Micro. Ideally, the service you choose should stop more than 95 percent of malware and shouldn't come with a high rate of false positives.

The kind of security you should choose would depend on your particular use case and expertise, and this will also help you avoid unnecessary costs.

If you're tech-savvy and know a thing or two about operating the internet securely, a budget antivirus with basic features will do the job for you.

But if you're looking to rely on your chosen antivirus software heavily or you're picking one out for your kids, an all-purpose security toolkit which includes password managers, identity theft protection, backup software, and more may be a better option. 

If you need antivirus protection for all of the devices in your house, opt for bundles that cover multiple devices and device types in a single subscription. Favourite's include McAfee LiveSafe and Bitdefender Family Pack, which both protect an unlimited number of devices.  

Ease of use is another important consideration. You can either go for a plug-and-play tool like Trend Micro which lets you scan right from the home screen or a more customizable antivirus like Avast. Irrespective of what you choose, it should be a tool which doesn't slow down your system, whether that's in the background or during running scans.

Testing of  ANTIVIRUS Software

Testing process begins by ascertaining an antivirus’s performance and its impact on the system. For this, run a custom-made Excel test which measures the time taken by the device to sort through a database of names and addresses.

The longer it takes the processor to complete the test with a program running in the background, the heavier the antivirus solution’s impact on the system. 

Also note how long it takes to install the antivirus and whether its mere installation leads to any increase in the benchmark time of Excel-based test. Compare the time taken by various antivirus software to perform both full and quick scans. 

Don’t stop after a single scan – at least three or more scans of each of those categories to chalk out results wich are accurate and eliminate any anomalies. 

In addition to trying out a program’s app to understand its ability to show notifications and roll back ransomware changes, also test other tools and utilities that come bundled with antivirus protection. These may include a VPN, a password manager, parental controls and file encryption and shredding.

Free antivirus 

Free antivirus solutions like Windows Defender are more than capable of protecting you from basic malware files – plus it'll also give you a few extra cyber security tools for added protection. However, free offerings are often plagued with ads and popups.

If you believe that privacy is priceless  then you should go for an antivirus program which offers a complete full range of security tools, such as parental controls, a password manager, and identity theft protection, all included in a single subscription. 

PASSWORD MANAGER

A password manager is an essential tool for your laptop and other devices if you want to improve your productivity and security. The best password managers not only simplify storing passwords and personal details to allow you to fill online forms at blazing speeds, but they also offer strong password generators, anti-phishing features, data recovery and robust protection from identity theft. Following are the recommended password managers:

Password

Password is the best password manager offering easy-to-use apps across all device types. Great sharing features mean that it's also ideal for families, and there’s no dearth of security features, either, thanks to “masked” email addresses and key logging and phishing protection. It knocks it out of the park for users who are out and about with its Travel Mode which deletes sensitive data from your devices so that it is inaccessible to anyone trying to look at or steal it.

Dashlane

Dashlane offers intuitive interfaces across the board, especially on its desktop app. It's easy to use, offers a bulk password changer, and valuable extras like dark web monitoring and unlimited VPN service. Although it's admittedly costly than its rivals, there's a free tier available so you can enjoy the service without breaking the bank. 

Keeper

Keeper offers top-notch security, allowing you to use biometrics to access your passwords on your desktop. There are lots of templates to fill in your personal information and the free tier with everything except cross-device syncing is the cherry on top.  

Selection of Password Manager

If you're looking through the options on our list of the best password managers, you can rest assured that all of them perform the basic functions excellently well, so the real consideration when choosing the best password manager for your needs becomes the extra features on offer.

If you like your password manager to also store your credit card numbers, personal details and other frequently used information to allow you to fill out online forms quickly, Maybe you're after a password manager like Keeper or Dashlane which provide extra security in the form of data breach alerts.

One of the most important factors to consider is the storage options offered by a password manager.  

It's worth noting that cloud-based services are generally more convenient and flexible, but for those who want total control over their passwords, local storage of passwords is a far better option.

Multi-device compatibility cannot be overlooked, either. But if you want your password management solution to cover both Android and iOS devices, then opt for a password manager which syncs your account on multiple devices in real time. 

Last but not least, the price of the password manager is an important factor as well. Although privacy has no price, you wouldn't want it to cost you a fortune, especially when there are budget options like Bitdefender and password managers with excellent free tiers like Bitwarden. 

The best password managers offer compatible mobile (Android and iOS) and desktop (Windows, Mac, and even Linux) apps, and they're almost always cross-platform, meaning you can use different apps across different devices, and any data you store in one of them will be easily accessible on other devices.

Password managers are very secure, as they leverage zero-knowledge architecture, complex algorithms to encrypt and decrypt passwords, biometric login and multi-factor authentication. 

However, despite their use of cutting-edge technology, password managers are not absolutely fool proof, so it's always a good idea to pair them up with healthy cyber security practices. These include avoiding using them on public Wi-Fi, choosing a strong master password and refraining from sharing personal details over different communications channels. 

VPN Selection

A VPN will protect your personal information and browsing history from leaking while you’re operating the internet on your laptop. Using the best VPN, you can change your location and access geo-blocked content on any streaming platform of your choice, plus it’ll keep DDoS attacks and ISP at distance when you’re leveraging the graphics power of your portable workstation.

Following are the three options available:-

ExpressVPN  

ExpressVPN is the best VPN in 2023, thanks to a wide network of servers, easy-to-use apps, blazing speeds, and a lot of support options for help on the fly. It offers rock-solid security features, and its unblocking capabilities are just as commendable. In addition to a generous 30-day money-back guarantee, You will also enjoy 3 months of extra coverage for free and 1 year's worth of cloud storage with Backblaze. 

NordVPN 

NordVPN offers a complete security suite packed with extra cyber security tools like built-in antivirus, malware protection and ad-blocking. It tops the charts as the best Netflix VPN, unblocking everything and it’s also the fastest VPN in the industry right now. From class-leading privacy to prompt support, NordVPN has it all. However, if you’re not sure it’ll suit you, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try before you start.

Surfshark

Surfshark is the best budget VPN, and it has enough power under its hood to give premium providers a run for their money. You’re getting unlimited simultaneous connections, perfect for those looking to protect many devices with class-leading speeds. It’s also incredibly beginner-friendly, has clutter-free apps for virtually all devices, and unblocks any streaming platform. Try it out risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Most important factors for a VPN 

Security: Needless to say, this is the most crucial aspect. The VPN you choose must come with essentials like a kill switch and a strict no-logging policy. However, not all VPNs are created equal, so you’ll have to look around to find the one best suited for you. For example, if you want to torrent, you’ll look for a torrenting VPN with P2P support on as many servers as possible. Similarly, if your memo is 360-degree security, you’ll consider opting for services like NordVPN and Surfshark which offer antivirus, cloud storage and data breach tracking all in one subscription.

Server locations: Look for a VPN with a vast network of servers around the world so that you can connect from anywhere. If you want to access foreign content, the VPN you choose must have servers (physical or virtual) in that country. 

Price: Your chosen VPN provider should fall within your budget, although we recommend prioritizing functionality over price, at least at the start of the selection process. Still, if cost is a major concern for you, then select the best cheap VPNs.

Customer support: You can go into an issue while operating a VPN, which is why you must opt for a service with friendly 24/7 customer support available via multiple channels, like email, live chat and phone. 

Other core aspects include looking at a VPN’s unblocking capabilities, whether it goes past the streaming services of your choice, its compatibility with the operating system you intend to run it on, and the number of simultaneous connections on offer.

Testing of  VPNS

Always try to anonymously sign up for the services and install them on a range of operating systems to check compatibility and whether the features work equally well on all device types.

Also try and break the kill switch on the Windows app, ensuring that the provider won’t leak or falter in real-world scenarios. In addition, check the VPNs on aesthetics and ease of use to make sure that they don’t miss out on anything which may be important to you. 

Next verify the advertised speed of a provider via a fresh round of testing every morning on a 1Gbps line using a number of tools, including the Ookla SpeedTest website and CLI, nPerf, Netflix's Fast, and others.  

Also try multiple streaming sites, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, at it and note down its unblocking prowess. Repeat this process with the biggest providers every month to stay on top of any changes or updates.