As a remote worker, it's expedient that you're cautious of cybersecurity threats. You need to monitor your Wi-Fi networks to ensure they are safe enough to access sensitive data. This is because the slightest vulnerability in your system can expose you to cybercriminals. Thankfully, there are cybersecurity tools to avert this.
These tools protect company data from theft and come in different forms. While a few beef up your security by warning you of possible attacks, others directly protect you from cybercriminals. Here's a list of the best free cybersecurity tools to keep you safe as a remote worker.
1. Burp Suite
Burp Suite is a toolset used for penetration testing. It helps measure the weaknesses of your security system and when to adjust them. Burp Suite uses a collection of tools that helps prevent hacking.
Burp Suite tests for vulnerabilities using a web crawler that maps the application you want to check. It has a great intercepting proxy that inspects and modifies traffic and requests you send from a browser to a target.
The goal is to vet all angles of possible attacks from cybercriminals. The best part—Burp Suite comes in a free version that gives you access to most of these features.
2. Defendify
Defendify is an online cybersecurity SaaS platform that provides standard protection for companies. As a remote worker, it's common to work with different tools and gadgets. So, Defendify offers layers of security that give protection across technologies, especially if you have no external cybersecurity team.
The first layer is assessment and testing, which checks the weaknesses of your systems and technologies. Knowledge of this would help you improve in this area. You'll also identify data vulnerabilities that may expose you to hacking.
The second layer helps educate staff members on cybersecurity risks and how to tackle them, and the third layer helps identify threats through active monitoring and awareness. These three features are available on the platform for free.
3. Kali Linux
Kali Linux is an open-source, Linux-based cybersecurity tool designed for penetration testing. It can also perform security audits and digital forensics. Unlike other tools, you can install Kali Linux on mobile devices, pre-built virtual machines, and Amazon Web Services. And because of its versatility, it is a cost-effective way of implementing cybersecurity on a budget.
As an extension of the Debian distribution, Kali Linux is stable, safe, and freely available. Its networking features are disabled by default to prevent external factors from affecting its installation. The latest version of Kali Linux comes with over 600 penetration testing tools that are preinstalled, providing that extra security for your systems.
4. Wireshark
If you enjoy using network hubs as a remote worker, you may be prone to a network sniffing attack. Wireshark is the perfect tool to protect against those attacks, where cybercriminals monitor networks for information. As a protocol analyzer, this tool monitors data traffic and interprets signals that each system communicates.
Using a Wireshark, you can trace the connections of network sniffers and detect when there's a surge of network traffic. Wireshark is also used as a troubleshooting solution tool. It detects slow servers and analyzes HTTP traffic.
Entities like educational institutions, small businesses, and digital companies can use Wireshark to protect private information from sniffers. It checks malicious software and hacking possibilities in your systems, reducing your susceptibility to a cyber-attack. This tool is available for Windows and MacBook versions.
5. PfSense
PfSense is a free, open-source software based on FreeBSD distribution. It doubles as a firewall and router, protecting your computer system from unauthorized traffic by filtering networks, allowing only safe ones. This way, no one can steal sensitive information or hack your system.
PfSense is becoming increasingly popular among remote workers and freelancers and is perfect for home use. This tool is expandable, so you get a detailed configuration of your work. In addition, it also has anti-spoofing properties that protect your systems from spoofers that can steal company data and falsify them.
Its GeoIP blocking features help you block traffic from certain locations. The best part of using PfSense is its user authentication feature that authorizes access to your network based on specific codes you have used.
6. KeePass
KeePass is a free and open-source password manager for Windows. If you don't use Window, there are cross-platform alternatives that are fully compatible with KeePass, such as KeePassXC. Either way, this tool is perfect for blocking access to hackers and preventing cyber thieves from stealing your passwords. It is also available in mobile versions.
KeePass uses multiple user keys to provide strong security. This allows you to use multiple keys for multiple servers, which is great if you manage different clients. To use this feature on your android, you should first learn how to add multiple user profiles on your android and understand how to use guest mode.
Also, your passwords aren't on the cloud because KeePass stores them and your sensitive data on your local device, which better protects your files from prying eyes. KeePass is also customizable, giving you great control over security. Finally, this tool doesn't require additional plugins or installations, making it less complicated.
7. Tripwire
Tripwire is one of the best cybersecurity solutions for digital and IT companies. It's a free open-source software that monitors and alerts you when there's a file change in your system. Remote workers need this to prevent corrupt networks and files from penetrating their systems.
It's efficient in catching intruders and keeping your online systems safe. By checking the integrity of your files, it notifies you of malicious changes for swift damage control.
Tripwire can tell who's changing what and give information on how they are making these changes. It works across Windows, Linux, Unix, and macOS operating systems. It also has excellent integrity monitoring capabilities for network devices, database instances, and directory services. This way, you can monitor everything in your system at a glance.
You can also track files, group policy objects, registry keys, and the output of commands. When any of these changes, Tripwire gives a rundown of how it happened to help you prevent future occurrences. It can also trace how these elements looked and detect if they have changed. Tripwire is a tool that helps with proper security management.
8. Aircrack-ng
Aircrack-ng is a suite of Wi-Fi security tools used for penetration testing. It monitors networks, tests attacks, performs penetration testing, and cracks Wi-Fi networks to measure the vulnerability of a system. While this seems more like a technical tool, remote workers can still use this to tighten their data security.
This combination of tools can track weak access points, detect spoofing traffic and access points, and crack malicious Wi-Fi passwords. Like the others, it's also a free and open-source tool. It has packet sniffing features that help analyze packets and export packet data to prevent security attacks.
You can use Aircrack-ng for Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, and Open BSD operating systems. This is it if you're looking for a free tool that provides top-notch Wi-Fi security.
Achieving Data Security in a Remote Environment
Aside from working with cybersecurity professionals in your workplace to improve data security, you can monitor your network's weaknesses and adjust them using these tools. That said, achieving data security in a remote environment is only possible when you practice proper privacy habits and protect your private information as you work online.