Guide to Cyber Security Tools for Beginners: How to Build Your Defense from Scratch

Due to the many tools and tactics available, getting started in cyber security can be hard. Finding the right tools and learning how to use them correctly can be hard for many newbies. Using the wrong tools or settings because of this can put your digital information at risk.

To make hacking easy for people new to it, this guide shows you how to set up your defenses from scratch and keep your online life safe. Let’s get into it!

What is Cyber Security?

Cyber security refers to the practice of protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It involves a variety of technologies, processes, and controls designed to safeguard systems, networks, and data from cyber threats.

This protection helps to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information. Cyber security is critical in managing the growing complexity and volume of cyber attacks and is essential for protecting personal, corporate, and government information against unauthorized access and attacks.

Basic Terminologies in Cybersecurity

Source: Canva Pro

Cyber security is a broad field with many terminologies, each significant in understanding how to protect computer systems and networks from cyber threats. 

These are some basic terms that are essential to know:

1. Malware: Short for “malicious software,” it refers to any software intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client, or computer network. Examples include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and ransomware.
   
2. Virus: A type of malware that, when executed, replicates by inserting copies of itself into other computer programs, data files, or the boot sector of the hard drive.
   
3. Phishing: A cybercrime in which targets are contacted by email, telephone, or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking, and credit card details, and passwords.
   
4. Firewall: A network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and an untrusted network, such as the Internet.
   
5. Encryption: The process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. Ideally, only authorized parties can decipher a ciphertext back to plaintext and access the original information.
   
6. Ransomware: A type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
   
7. Spyware: Software that enables a user to obtain covert information about another’s computer activities by transmitting data covertly from their hard drive.
   
8. Cybersecurity: The practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks.
   
9. VPN (Virtual Private Network): A technology that creates a safe and encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the Internet.
   
10. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service): An attack that aims to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic.

Understanding these terms can help you better grasp the basics of cyber security and the measures needed to protect digital assets.

What is The CIA Triad?

The CIA Triad is a widely recognized model for cyber security that outlines three fundamental principles to guide information security policies and measures. 

These principles are:

1. Confidentiality: Ensures that data and information are protected from unauthorized access or exposure. This is often implemented through methods such as encryption, access controls, and secure communication protocols to ensure that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information.
   
2. Integrity: Ensures that data is accurate and unaltered during storage, transfer, and processing. Techniques such as checksums, hashes, and digital signatures are used to detect any unauthorized changes to the data. Maintaining data integrity helps to ensure that information remains correct and trustworthy.
   
3. Availability: Ensures that data and resources are accessible to authorized users when needed. This involves protecting against attacks that may render information systems unusable, such as denial-of-service attacks, and also implementing backup and disaster recovery plans to ensure that critical systems can continue operating during and after an incident.

Together, these principles form the foundation of most cyber security programs and strategies, emphasizing the importance of protecting information from unauthorized access, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data, and maintaining the usability of systems.

Common Types of Attacks or Cyber Threats and Vulnerabilities

In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, numerous threats and vulnerabilities continuously pose risks to individuals, organizations, and governments. Understanding these common cyber threats and vulnerabilities is crucial for implementing effective protective measures. 

Here are some of the most prevalent ones:

Common Cyber Threats

1. Phishing: This involves attackers posing as legitimate institutions or individuals to trick users into providing sensitive data like passwords or credit card numbers. Phishing is often conducted via email, but can also occur through social media, text messages, or phone calls.
   
2. Ransomware: This type of malware encrypts the victim’s data, rendering it inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment to unlock it. It can spread through malicious downloads, email attachments, or vulnerabilities in network security.
   
3. Malware: A broad category of malicious software, including viruses, worms, and trojans, which can damage systems, steal sensitive information, or perform other harmful actions. Malware typically spreads through infected websites, email attachments, or unpatched software vulnerabilities.
   
4. Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks: These attacks aim to make a website or network resource unavailable by overwhelming it with a flood of traffic. DDoS attacks use many compromised devices to generate the traffic, making them more difficult to stop.
   
5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks: These occur when attackers intercept communications between two parties to steal data or manipulate the conversation. Common scenarios include attacks on unsecured Wi-Fi networks and compromised session tokens.
   
6. SQL Injection: By injecting malicious SQL code into databases via a vulnerable website, attackers can read, modify, or delete data. This is a prevalent issue in websites that do not adequately sanitize user input.
   
7. Zero-Day Exploits: These involve attackers exploiting a previously unknown vulnerability in software or hardware before the developers have released a fix or patch.
   

Common Vulnerabilities

1. Weak Passwords: Simple or commonly used passwords can be easily guessed or cracked using brute force methods.
   
2. Software Flaws: Bugs or flaws in software can create openings for attackers to exploit. These vulnerabilities may exist in operating systems, applications, or embedded systems.
   
3. Misconfigured Security Settings: Inadequate security configurations can leave systems exposed, such as unprotected databases, default settings, or unnecessary services running.
   
4. Outdated Systems: Failing to apply security patches and updates can leave systems vulnerable to known exploits.
   
5. Social Engineering: This encompasses tactics that trick users into making security mistakes or giving away information. It often involves psychological manipulation and preys on human error.
   
6. Insecure APIs: Poorly designed or unprotected application programming interfaces (APIs) can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to systems and data.
   

Essential Features of Cyber Security Tools

Source: Canva Pro

Cybersecurity tools are essential in protecting information and systems from cyber threats. 

Here are some key features that are typically included in effective cyber security tools:

1. Threat Detection: The ability to detect and identify various types of cyber threats, such as viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks, in real time. This feature often uses signatures, behavior analysis, and anomaly detection techniques.
   
2. Firewall Protection: A firewall controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. It helps to block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
   
3. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): These systems monitor network traffic for suspicious activities and known threats, logging information about such activities and attempting to block those threats.
   
4. Encryption: Encryption tools protect sensitive data by encoding it so that only authorized users can access it. Encryption is crucial for protecting data both at rest and in transit.
   
5. Data Loss Prevention (DLP): These tools prevent sensitive data from leaving the organization in an unauthorized manner. They monitor, detect, and block sensitive data while in use (endpoint actions), in motion (network traffic), and at rest (data storage).
   
6. Antivirus and Anti-malware Software: These cyber security tools are fundamental for scanning, detecting, and removing malicious software from a computer system.
   
7. Patch Management: Automatic updates and patch management ensure that software and systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches. This reduces the risk of vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
   
8. Access Control: Access control measures restrict who can view and use resources in an IT environment. This includes authentication, authorization, and audit.
   
9. Incident Response and Forensics: Tools for incident response help organizations prepare for, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber security incidents. Forensics tools help in investigating and analyzing attacks to understand their impact and origin.
   
10. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): SIEM systems provide real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. They help in logging security data and generating reports for compliance.
    
11. Endpoint Security: Protects individual devices like desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from being exploited by malicious campaigns. Endpoint security platforms can detect and block malware and other threats.
    
12. Cloud Security: As organizations increasingly rely on cloud-based services, tools specifically designed to protect data in the cloud are crucial. These include identity management, access control, and data encryption tailored for cloud environments.
    
13. User Behavior Analytics (UBA): This feature analyzes user behavior to detect anomalies that could indicate potential security threats, such as a user accessing sensitive data at unusual times.
    

How to Set Up Basic Cyber Security Measures

Source: Canva Pro

Use Strong, Unique Passwords

• Employ complex passwords that include a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Avoid using the same password across multiple sites or systems.
• Consider using a password manager to store and generate strong passwords.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• Use MFA wherever possible, especially for accessing important accounts like email, banking, and social media.
• MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring two or more verification methods (something you know, something you have, or something you are).

Keep Software and Systems Updated

• Regularly update all software, including operating systems, applications, and antivirus programs to protect against known vulnerabilities and exploits.
• Enable automatic updates when possible to ensure timely protection.

Install and Maintain Antivirus Software

• Use reputable antivirus software to detect and remove malicious software.
• Keep the antivirus software up to date and run regular scans.

Use a Firewall

• Ensure that your network is protected by a firewall, which helps block unauthorized access while permitting outward communication.
• Many operating systems come with a built-in firewall, which should be enabled.

Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

• Change the default username and password of your Wi-Fi router to something strong and unique.
• Enable WPA3 encryption on your Wi-Fi network to secure your wireless traffic.
• Hide your Wi-Fi network so it doesn’t broadcast the network name (SSID).

Backup Important Data

• Regularly back up important data to an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage service.
• Ensure backups are done frequently and tested regularly to ensure their integrity and functionality.

Educate Yourself and Others

• Stay informed about the latest security threats and practices.
• Educate employees or family members about cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of not opening suspicious emails or links and recognizing phishing attempts.

Secure Physical Devices

• Physically secure devices that hold sensitive information, using locks or secure rooms as necessary.
• Consider encryption for sensitive data, especially on devices that could be lost or stolen, such as laptops and mobile phones.

Limit User Access and Permissions

• Only give employees or users access to the information they need to do their jobs.
• Regularly review access permissions and adjust them as necessary.

Advanced Cyber Security Strategies

• Zero Trust Architecture: This strategy assumes that threats could be both external and internal. It involves strict identity verification for every person and device trying to access resources on a private network, regardless of whether they are within or outside of the network perimeter.
  
• AI and Machine Learning: AI and machine learning can be employed to predict and detect threats by analyzing patterns and anomalies in data. These technologies can automate responses to threats and improve the speed and efficiency of security operations centers (SOCs).
  
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): EDR tools continuously monitor and collect data from endpoints to detect and respond to cyber threats. This includes analyzing threat patterns and behaviors to prevent malware or attacker activities.
  
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA enhances security by requiring multiple forms of verification from users before granting access to systems or data, thus making unauthorized access significantly more difficult.
  
• Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing: Regularly scheduled audits and penetration testing help identify vulnerabilities and ensure that the cyber security measures are effective. This proactive approach helps in fortifying defenses before an attacker can exploit them.
  
• Advanced Encryption Techniques: Using strong and advanced encryption methods to protect data at rest and in transit can help prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
  
• Security Awareness Training: Educating employees about the latest cyber security threats and best practices is crucial. Regular training can help prevent phishing attacks and other forms of social engineering.
  
• Incident Response Planning: Having a well-defined incident response plan helps organizations prepare for and quickly respond to security breaches. This includes roles and responsibilities, communication plans, and recovery steps.
  
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): As organizations move to cloud environments, CSPM tools help manage cloud security risks, including misconfigurations and compliance issues, through continuous monitoring and management.
  
• Blockchain for Security: Utilizing blockchain technology can enhance security in various ways, such as improving the integrity of data transactions and creating secure environments for transactions that require high levels of trust.
  

Common Resources To Help You Learn Cyber Security

1. Online Courses
   
   • Coursera, Udemy, and edX: These platforms offer courses on cybersecurity fundamentals, ethical hacking, network security, and more, taught by experts from universities or industry.
   • Cybrary: This is a cybersecurity-specific learning platform offering free and premium courses on various topics including penetration testing, information security, and cybersecurity compliance.
2. Books
   
   • “The Art of Invisibility” by Kevin Mitnick provides insights into the importance of privacy in the digital age.
   • “Ghost in the Wires” , also by Kevin Mitnick, explores his adventures as a former hacker.
   • “Hacking: The Art of Exploitation” by Jon Erickson is great for understanding programming and cybersecurity from a hacker’s perspective.
3. Certifications
   
   • CompTIA Security+: An entry-level certification that covers a broad range of foundational topics.
   • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): An advanced certification for experienced professionals.
   • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Focuses on the skills needed to become an ethical hacker and secure systems against malicious attacks.
4. Practical Tools
   
   • Virtual Labs: Tools like Hack The Box or TryHackMe offer hands-on cybersecurity challenges and labs.
   • Wireshark and Metasploit: Essential tools for network analysis and vulnerability exploitation, respectively.
5. Community and Forums
   
   • Reddit and Stack Exchange: Communities like /r/netsec, /r/cybersecurity, and the Information Security Stack Exchange are great for getting answers to specific questions, networking, and staying up to date with news.
   • Conferences: Events like DEF CON, Black Hat, and RSA provide opportunities to learn from leading experts and network with other cybersecurity professionals.
6. Blogs and Websites
   
   • Krebs on Security: A well-respected blog by journalist Brian Krebs that covers cybersecurity trends, tutorials and incidents.
   • The Hacker News: Offers up-to-date news on cybersecurity issues, breaches, and the latest in hacking.

Final Thoughts

This guide to cyber security tools for beginners serves as a foundational roadmap to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to safeguard your digital environment. 

By understanding and implementing the right cyber security measures, you can confidently protect yourself against emerging threats and vulnerabilities. As you continue to explore and strengthen your defenses, consider delving deeper into the subject.

For more in-depth insights and strategies, we invite you to read our articles on cyber security services available on our website. These resources will provide you with advanced knowledge and help you build a more robust cyber security posture. Stay safe and informed by leveraging our comprehensive guides and expert advice.

Frequently Asked Questions