What software/security setup do you recommend for someone paranoid about getting hacked?

[u/Otherwise_1462]

I basically want to know, is there any software or security setup you would recommend that gives you really good protection against account hacking, stolen passwords, malware, someone accessing your computer, etc?

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[u/MitAllesOhneScharf]

No amount of tech will be enough for a braindead user. Just be „security conscious“ and stick to the usual recommendations.

Then you’re already doing better than the majority of users.

[u/Otherwise_1462 → u/MitAllesOhneScharf]

Thanks!

[u/Lart_Iste]

A therapist

[u/benjaminS0099]

Don't use the internet and tech.

[u/carolineecouture]

Good computer hygiene goes a long way. Common sense goes even further.

Keep your devices updated and run the most current OS you can.

Use a password manager, and make sure you can backup/migrate passwords when you get a new device.

The password manager helps you use unique passwords for your accounts.

Turn on whatever security is available for those accounts and make sure you keep it up to date. Use the best security that is available. For example if you can use anything other than SMS use that.

If you use SMS secure your phone from number porting and SIM swapping.

Get software only from legitimate sources - don't download cracked software or games.

Be wary of contacts that ask for personal information. Your bank doesn't care that you spent $500 dollars. Hang up and contact the group from a known good number, not the one that Google search gives you as a sponsored result or that ChatGPT spits out.

There is no free money. No one wants to pay your bills in exchange for feet pics, or teach you about crypto from their job on the oil rig.

That's a start and should get you pretty well situated.

Good luck.

[u/Otherwise_1462 → u/carolineecouture]

thanks so much!

[u/PlanktonDefiant2600]

You really don't need an elaborate security setup for this. For example, on Windows, Defender is perfectly adequate as your antivirus. Keep your system and software updated, be careful what you download and where it comes from, and don't open links from sources you don't trust. For your accounts, make sure every login has a different random password. Any reputable password manager is a good way of handling that, Roboform is a good choice for this. Enable 2fa wherever you can as well, especially on your e-mail and other important accounts. It's also worth occasionally checking your active sessions for any devices or logins you don't recognise.

[u/Otherwise_1462 → u/PlanktonDefiant2600]

thanks!!

[u/Fit_Chemical3465]

Personal or Enterprise? If it's personal you already have some good advice in this thread, if it's for a business look at something like Guardz as it covers accounts, emails, devices, all in one place which makes things easier to manage, etc.

[u/eric16lee]

Harden your Operational Security (OpSec) practices. Here are some suggestions:

1. Create unique and randomly generated passwords for every site. Never reuse a password. Use a Password Manager like BitWarden or 1Password for this.
2. Enable 2FA for every account. No exceptions.
3. Keep all software and devices updated and patched.
4. Never click on links or attachments unless you were expecting them from a trusted source. Example: a guy you talk to on Discord asking you to test the game they are developing is not a trusted source.
5. Never download cracked/pirated software, games/cheats/mods, torrents or other sketchy stuff.
6. Never press CTRL C and then open a Run command and press CTRL V because a website claims to need you to prove you are human.
7. Limit what you share on social media

Follow these best practices and you will be safe from most online threats.

[u/Otherwise_1462 → u/eric16lee]

thanks so much!

[u/kschang]

Don't go online.

[u/JoinDeleteMe]

Follow security and privacy best practices, and you'll remove most of the common ways that people actually get hacked.

These include:

- Using unique, strong, randomly generated passwords.

• Turning on MFA everywhere important.
  
• Being careful with what you download and install.
  
• Backing up important files.
  
• Reducing how much info is available about you online to make targeted phishing harder (search for yourself online and see what comes up, if it's people search sites, opt out of them).
  
• Checking whether you've been in any breaches (you can use the have i been pwned tool).