Cyber attacks are growing in severity and frequency, and businesses of all sizes are at risk. Statistics reveal global cybercrime damage will likely hit $10.5 trillion by 2025. Identifying, assessing, and remediating these risks is a significant aspect of optimizing cybersecurity, and it can be done by penetration testing. A penetration test or ethical hacking […]
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]]>Cyber attacks are growing in severity and frequency, and businesses of all sizes are at risk. Statistics reveal global cybercrime damage will likely hit $10.5 trillion by 2025. Identifying, assessing, and remediating these risks is a significant aspect of optimizing cybersecurity, and it can be done by penetration testing.
A penetration test or ethical hacking is an effective cybersecurity technique organizations use to detect, test, and highlight the vulnerabilities within their security posture. Ethical hackers carry out cyberattacks against a system to uncover exploitable security vulnerabilities. Security professionals use penetration testing techniques with specialized tools to discover problems before attackers exploit them.
Penetration testing tools help ethical hackers evaluate the organization’s security infrastructure and defend against unknown or zero-day threats. Due to the high number of penetration testing tools available, it has become difficult for security professionals to pick up the best testing tool. This article provides a detailed insight into the 20 best penetration testing tools businesses can deploy within their network.
Penetration tests have become an integral part of security testing. It offers critical information that helps companies to stay ahead of hackers. The ultimate goal of penetration testing is to safeguard the organizational network and data against cyber attacks. It enables ethical hackers to assess the security framework and their ability to defend it. In addition, it provides high-risk weaknesses and common vulnerabilities within the network.
Besides this, penetration testing offers other benefits too. Below are the reasons why businesses must perform penetration tests:
As a whole, penetration tests enable organizations to discover security gaps before hackers can exploit them. Hence, security professionals must use reliable tools and maximize their security.
Penetration tools are typically used for the security assessment of a network or a service. If your company hasn’t started using one, it’s the right time. Below is a detailed insight into the 20 best penetration testing tools worth using, so look at them and decide which suits your needs the most.

Nmap is an open-source pen-testing tool popular for discovering any holes or weaknesses within an organizational network. It comes with a debugging and comparison tool that compares the scan results and ensures the most accurate results.
Most impressively, this penetration testing tool uses IP packets to analyze what hosts are available on the network, which operating systems they use, and the services they offer. In addition, it can help audit network security issues to provide information on the servers, packet filters, firewalls, ping sweeps, and much more. Since it is open-source software, it is free to download and use and is compatible with all major operating systems like macOS, Linux, and Windows.

Metasploit is a reliable and open-source pen tester tool that discovers the network’s and servers’ systematic vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers use custom codes to uncover network vulnerabilities and gain deep visibility of the network. This penetration testing tool is compatible with all popular operating systems like macOS, Linux, and Windows computers, having a minimum of 4GB RAM and 1GB storage.
Besides this, it comes pre-installed into the Kali Linux system and includes various anti-forensic tools for sincerely evaluating the network against existing vulnerabilities. To benefit from this tool, you can download it for free, or if you want to access all its advanced features and functionalities, you can upgrade to a paid version.

Burp Suite Professional is a Java-based penetration testing tool that PortSwigger web security develops. It is a combined testing and vulnerability scanning tool designed for web applications. The tool efficiently determines and decodes the encryption used to transfer the data packets across the network and can even encode similar data within the network and ensure finding all the vulnerabilities within the attack surface.
Burp Suite Professional provides a detailed report for the pen-testers to understand the network’s vulnerabilities clearly. It comes in three different versions, and all versions run successfully on macOS, Linux, and Windows OS. Since it offers a paid version, which is quite expensive, users don’t prefer to use it.

Hydra is a reliable password penetration testing tool that allows ethical hackers to crack network service passwords. This handy tool prevents password theft and brute force attacks and works efficiently on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris operating systems. It is an easy-to-use tool that supports protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMB database, and more.
In addition, it supports more than one connection in parallel, reducing the time to crack a password, unlike in sequential brute-forcing and ensuring efficiency. However, the tool comes preinstalled with Parros and Kalxi Linux OS. If you use any of these tools, you can start using Hydra immediately.

Wireshark is an open-source penetration testing tool that provides a microscopic network view. It efficiently debugs the standard TCP/IP connection problems and analyzes hundreds of protocols, including the real-time analysis and decryption of various protocols. In addition, this pen tester tool allows ethical hackers to identify the flaws within the security systems at the user authentication level.
After performing the tests, it provides a comprehensive report in a format easily understood by any operator and ensures a smooth user experience. The software is compatible with various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris, and is available to download for free.

OWASP-ZAP is a free and open-source penetration testing tool that allows users to find vulnerabilities within web applications. The best thing about this tool is that it provides automated scanners and tools that enable you to find security vulnerabilities manually. It intercepts and inspects the messages sent between the browser and web applications and sends alerts about any suspicious activity.
Besides this, it is a flexible and easy-to-use tool compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can also run OWASP-ZAP in a Docker container, and its functionality is scalable with various diverse extensions published on GitHub that ensure a fantastic user experience.

John the Ripper is another password-cracking tool whose primary purpose is to detect weak passwords on a given system and expose them. One impressive feature of John the Ripper is that it uses dictionary attacks, meaning it uses random words from the dictionary to detect a password.
Also, it can access encrypted passwords and ensures that it doesn’t miss out on any password combination within a given parameter. This tool is free to download and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Unix. However, this tool won’t allow the users to test network vulnerabilities at a deeper level.

Cain and Abel are one of the best free penetration testing tools that use various methods for password recovery and packet analysis on Microsoft Windows. It allows easy recovery of different types of passwords through brute force, dictionary, and cryptanalysis attacks. In addition, it also monitors and sniffs network data packets, which they capture and analyze to get important information about the network.
The tool offers a range of impressive features like the APR, which allows sniffing on switched LANs and Man-in-the-Middle attacks and boosts efficiency. Developers created this tool to run on Microsoft Windows from Vista to the latest Windows operating system, and hence won’t work on any other platform, which might disappoint the users.

Canvas by Immunity is a leading security assessment tool that allows penetration testing, hostile attack stimulations, and exploit research and development. It includes hundreds of exploits that can be used by different use case categories and exploits library extendability to penetration testers and security professionals globally.
This tool is easier to use than most free and open-source tools and efficiently operates on Linux and Windows operating systems but on Android phones with certain restrictions. It is a premium penetration testing tool with yearly licensing fees, which some might find costly.

Kali Linux is an open-source penetration testing tool managed and maintained by Offensive Security. It is a free penetration testing tool for experts and visually impaired individuals using the Linux operating system. Being an open-source project, Kali Linux provides meta-packages, tool listings, and version tracking to generate software versions of their testing processes.
It offers other advanced multi-platform features that support security professionals while conducting a test on desktop, mobile, docker subsystems, and virtual machines. Besides this, Kali Linux also saves time manually setting up tools by adding an automated configuration system that optimizes the tool according to your case and ensures a smooth and hassle-free user experience.

SQLmap is another open-source penetration testing tool used to uncover and exploit SQL injection flaws, i.e. when user input can alter the execution of the SQL query. It is an impressive automated tool with detailed features like remote commands, DB fingerprinting, and detection engines, making the search process more manageable. Ethical hackers or penetration testers utilize the tool to hack the databases and understand the depth of network vulnerabilities.
Besides this, SQLmap also works as a password-cracking tool that automatically recognizes the hash formats and uses a dictionary-based attack technique to detect vulnerable and exploited passwords. This tool is compatible with Microsoft Access, SQLite, MySQL, and IBM DB2 servers and Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems.

Hashcat is a trusted and fastest password recovery tool that supports hashing algorithms and efficiently works with various attack modes. It is an open-source, MIT-licensed, and advanced password recovery tool capable of cracking over 100 algorithms like DXX, SHA1, and UNIX. Another impressive thing about this software is its multi-device compatibility feature.
You can download this tool on macOS, Linux, and Windows to prevent password cracking and brute-force attacks, and because of its open-source nature, you can use it for free. Besides this, developers are also continuously updating this tool. Thus, the penetration testers must check their GitHub repository to use the latest version.

Netsparker Security Scanner, previously known as Invictic, is one of the best automatic web applications for penetration testing. It can identify everything from cross-site scripting to SQL injections, find websites and web services, tell which are outdated, and track their updated status.
One impressive characteristic of this pen-testing tool is that as it allows ethical hackers to scan up to 1000 web apps simultaneously, the users can customize the security scans with attack options and URL rewrite rules to ensure a more efficient process. In addition, it saves the users from conducting manual scans and instead performs continuous automated scans, which saves time and increases efficiency.

BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework) is a reliable penetration testing tool that uses GitHub to locate the issue and is suitable for checking a web browser. It is an advanced tool that explores weaknesses beyond the client system and network perimeter. In addition, this tool has an impressive feature that allows the pentester to use the client-side vectors to determine the security state of the web browser.
Besides this, it hooks one or more web browsers and uses them as beachheads for launching directed command modules and further attacks against the system within the browser context. As BeEF relies on the GitHub repositories to recognize the issues, it’s free to use and download. But it does accept donations to keep running its services.

Aircrack NG is an advanced penetration testing tool for identifying flaws within wireless connections. It is a complete suite of tools to test the Wi-Fi network security. The tool efficiently monitors the given Wi-Fi network, captures the data packets, and then exports them to text files for further network analysis.
It also uses a password dictionary and statistical techniques to break into the WEP and can set up fake access points and carry out replay attacks on the network. Initially, the tool worked on Linux OS, but now it has extended its support for Windows and macOS.

Ettercap is a free and open-source security suite designed to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks. It is an excellent tool for building the packets per the user’s need and performing specific tasks. It is an excellent tool for building the packets per the user’s need and performing specific tasks. The software can send invalid frames and complete techniques that are more difficult through other options.
What’s impressive is that it features sniffing of live connections, content filtering on the fly, and other exciting tricks that enhance the user experience. Also, it supports active and passive dissection of many protocols and includes several features for host and network analysis. You can use this tool for free on Windows and other supported platforms.

Nessus is a penetration testing tool that enables users to perform a complete vulnerability assessment of web applications and operating systems. It is a fantastic tool that efficiently detects and fixes vulnerabilities, including missing patches and software flaws. In addition, it can perform both credential and non-credentialed scans, providing more visibility and depth into the vulnerabilities.
This way, Nessus ensures complete test coverage of your operating system and identifies every security flaw within your app. Another good thing about this tool is that it easily integrates with tools like Microsoft Azure, ServiceNow, and Google Cloud. Plus, it works on various operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, it is not a free penetration testing tool but comes with a seven-day trial version, so you can use it and decide whether it’s worth using.

W3af is an open-source, python-driven testing suite that helps audit your frameworks and web applications for vulnerabilities. One impressive feature of W3af is that it enables the pen testers to easily exploit the SQL injections to understand the scope of security risks.
In addition, it offers a manual request generation feature that acts like a man-in-the-middle attack proxy and helps in manual web app testing. This tool is also handy for expert users who want to create custom HTTP requests and responses. Since it is an open-source tool, it is free to download on various popular devices and operating systems and attracts more users.

Acuntenix is an automated penetration testing tool for your web application. It checks and scans for the ever-growing threat of web application vulnerabilities and ensures the security of all assets. The advanced micro recording technology is Acuntenix’s most impressive feature. It lets you scan complex multi-level forms and password-protected site areas to identify and mitigate flaws.
Besides this, it can detect over 7000 vulnerabilities, including SQL injections, weak passwords, XXS, misconfigurations, and exposed databases. The tool has a paid version, but you can contact the support team to have a demo of the product.

Wapiti is a rare penetration testing tool that allows you to audit the security of your web applications. It performs black-box scanning of the web application by crawling the web pages of the deployed web apps. It scans the web pages and injects the testing data to check for any lapse in security.
In addition, Wapiti detects vulnerabilities in file disclosure, database injection, Command Execution detection, and XXE injection. It is a free and open-source tool, so users can download it and start using it immediately on Linux and FreeBSD.
Several pen-testing tools are available, but not all are worth using. Hence, it’s essential to choose the tool wisely. Here are some key features you must look into in the penetration testing tool before using them:
You must choose a pen-testing tool with all the above features to get accurate results.
Penetration testing involves hacking in to check for vulnerable spots that the malicious attackers can exploit. For this purpose, ethical hackers use manual and automated technologies to compromise servers, web applications, network devices, wireless networks, mobile devices, and other potential exposure points. The entire process comprises five different stages, and below is a brief overview of them:
That’s it. These are the steps of a successful penetration test; ensure to use a reliable tool like the ones mentioned above.
As there are different types of penetration tests similarly, there are various methods to carry out these tests, and below is an overview of these methods:
Companies can decide which method to use to test their assets’ security.
Security professionals adopt different penetration testing types depending on their objective, scope, and requirements for assessing their organizational security. Below is an insight into the most common types of penetration testing software, so have a look:
Besides this, social engineering, OT, and database penetration testing are also some types of penetration testing.
Penetration testing or ethical hacking exposed computer systems, networks, applications, and website vulnerabilities. As cyber-attacks increase in number and sophistication, organizations must perform regular penetration testing to boost the security posture of the entire organization. The tools mentioned above are some of the best penetration testing software available. Organizations must invest in such tools to reduce risks and boost security.
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]]>As the amount of data grows, so does the company’s attack surface and the risk of losing sensitive business data. Data loss has become a severe challenge to business organizations, resulting in many consequences, from financial loss to loss of brand reputation and facing regulatory compliance issues. Stats also revealed that 94% of companies that […]
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]]>As the amount of data grows, so does the company’s attack surface and the risk of losing sensitive business data. Data loss has become a severe challenge to business organizations, resulting in many consequences, from financial loss to loss of brand reputation and facing regulatory compliance issues. Stats also revealed that 94% of companies that experience data loss never recover, which is alarming and raises the need to use data recovery software.
Data recovery software is an advanced tool to recover lost, deleted, or damaged data from USB drives, memory cards, hard drives, or other digital storage devices. It enables users to restore important files or documents that might get lost due to system failure, human error, natural disaster, or malware attacks.
While data recovery software can simplify recovery, choosing the best one can be challenging. This guide provides a detailed insight into the best data recovery software, so go through them and choose the one that fits your criteria.
Data recovery has become vital for maintaining business integrity and ensuring business functions properly. It is the best option to retrieve lost or deleted files from the system or on any storage device, such as flash drives, hard drives, tape drives, and more. It uses deep scanning technology to analyze the storage medium and find files like audio, video, emails, contacts, or other essential business documents.
The software can recover files accidentally or intentionally deleted or lost due to the following:
Data recovery software is simple and easy to use. Once installed on your device, configure it according to your preferences, and your backups will run automatically. At first, the app will fully copy all the data, including files, folders, applications, and images. Once the data is copied, it gets encrypted with the advanced protocol to protect against unauthorized access. The encrypted data goes to the cloud server until you restore it.
When you experience a data loss, sign into the backup vault, select the backup you want to restore from, and begin the data recovery process. Once the process begins, the backup copy of your data is sent back to your devices. But if you want a complete system restoration, it will take some time, while if you only want to restore a file or a folder, it proceeds instantly.
Data recovery is an integral aspect of the backup and recovery process. It is a software-driven process allowing users to recover and restore deleted, lost, corrupted, damaged, and inaccessible data. Businesses rely on data to make informed decisions and support day-to-day operations. Data loss can impact business integrity and continuity; hence, using data recovery software to retrieve the data is crucial.
There are numerous notable benefits that businesses can avail by using reliable data recovery software, such as:
More and more companies have adopted the remote or hybrid working culture, which increases the risk factor because employees use unsecured devices or shared systems, which can cause data loss. Data recovery software can protect them from unfortunate situations, ensuring uptime and maximum productivity.
As you research the best data recovery solutions, you will come across many options but selecting the right solution for data recovery is vital. There are several different data recovery services available today. Below is a detailed insight into the 15 best data recovery software worth using, so have a look and select one for your business:

Disk Drill is the top-rated data recovery software for Windows and Mac operating systems. Its ability to recover lost or deleted data from internal and external devices, regardless of the file system, makes it the best data recovery solution. The software relies on an advanced scanning algorithm and can recover data in over 400 file formats from various file systems and storage devices.
Besides, it has a simple, intuitive interface that ensures a user-friendly experience. It allows users to scan results to search for a particular file and preview it before recovering it. The tool is available in free and premium versions. The free version allows free data recovery of up to 500MB, but you can upgrade to the pro version to increase the MBs.

Recuva is a free data recovery software that can recover pictures, videos, documents, music, or other files from hard drives, floppy disks, memory cards, USB sticks, or iPods. The software can recover files from damaged or newly formatted drives and uses an advanced deep scan mode that looks deep into the drives to find any traces of files you might accidentally delete.
This software also offers two paid versions, i.e., professional and professional plus versions. If you want more features like automatic updates or virtual complex drive support, you can buy the paid versions; otherwise, a free is still a good option for file recovery.

DiskInternals Unerasers is a reliable data recovery solution with robust file-recovering capabilities that enable users to retrieve lost or accidentally deleted files from the system. Unlike most other tools, DiskInternals Unearsers offers impressive features like forensic disk imaging.
It allows the users to create perfect copies of the storage media to recover files from their physical drive and prevent further data loss. In addition, the tool includes a preview feature that lets you look at the contents of the files before starting the recovery process. This software offers free and paid versions and works efficiently on Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is the best software with a streamlined user interface that recovers deleted files from all disk-based storage devices within a few clicks. It allows you to preview the recoverable items to ensure that you are recovering the right files.
In addition, the tool offers various filters to control the scanning process to find the type of file you want to recover and simplifies the searching process. This data recovery solution works perfectly well on Mac and Windows platform and ensures a smooth and hassle-free user experience. It offers a competitive pricing plan, but you can use the free trial version to check whether its features are worth using.

Puran File Recovery is a great option to recover deleted or lost files or partitions from any storage device like a hard drive or USB stick. In addition, it also supports file recovery from formatted disks with minimal effort. Sometimes users find it hard to locate the files to recover among hundreds and thousands of files.
Thus, the software offers an impressive search feature to help find and restore the files you want. It is free to download and use on the Windows operating system; however, it was last updated in 2016, which might be a concern for many users.

Wise Data Recovery is a trusted data recovery tool that retrieves files from a formatted drive or data you lost accidentally. It supports all storage mediums like hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, desktops, mobile phones, digital cameras, and other storage media. The tool uses advanced algorithms that quickly scan and dive deeper into your hard drive to recover lost files in less time.
Besides this, it offers no advanced features, which might disappoint the users. The software is easy to use, lightweight, and compatible with Windows OS. Also, it is available in free and paid versions and is backed with a 60-day money-back guarantee offer.

Steller Data Recovery is a popular data recovery software that offers various solutions like photo recovery software, iPhone recovery software, and video repair software for businesses. It supports all drivers and file formats and retrieves data from all internal and external hard drives, flash drives, memory cards, CDs, and DVDs.
In other words, it helps ensure a smooth data recovery experience. The software is compatible with Windows and Mac, offering free and paid versions and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

CrashPlan is a simple cloud-based application that also works as a storage platform. It keeps a continuous backup of all the files in a campus-based system’s home directory, making it easy to find any specific file. The best thing about this software is that it maintains maximum security and privacy.
It has various compliance certifications and attestations that prove its claims, like SOC2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, and Cloud Security Alliance. The tool works well on Windows, Linux, and Mac and best suits small and large businesses. It is a paid tool but offers a 30-day free trial version that provides complete access to all its features.

DMDE is a fantastic tool for data recovery from hard drives that you might lose due to system failure, natural calamity, or malware attacks. The software uses unique algorithms to recover directory structure files when other software fails to help you. It offers various features like a disk editor, RAID constructor, simple partition manager, a tool to create clones and disk images, and more.
Besides this, it is a portable app that runs directly from a USB stick, meaning you don’t need to install it and get into the hassle of overwriting data when you want to recover it. The tool offers free and pro versions and works effectively on Windows, Mac, and Linus operating systems, ensuring a smooth user experience.

UndeleteMyFiles Pro is a free best data recovery solution to retrieve accidentally deleted files from storage media, including USB flash drives, hard drives, and SD cards. It provides a quick and easy way to search and recover deleted media and employs a two-step process to get back any files on your system.
In addition, it allows you to use the delete file search filters to find any specific deleted file. The data recovery service offers other impressive features like; a file rescue wizard and mail rescue.
What’s more impressive is that it’s possible with the permanent files wiper feature to delete any file without leaving any chance to recover it. Besides this, the tool is free to use, and you can download it on Windows and Mac OS and recover essential business data.

Wondershare Recoverit is a comprehensive and professional solution to retrieve lost and deleted data. It recovers data like audio, video, photos, and emails from hard drives, USBs, SD cards, PC, and Mac computers. Unlike most other software, Recoverit supports over 1000 file formats and guarantees to restore all types of files and file systems like NTFS, FAT, and APFS. This data recovery software offers free and paid versions on the Windows platform. The only issue with the free version is that it can only recover up to 100MB of data, which many users won’t like.

PhotorRec is a data recovery solution designed to recover lost files like documents, archives from hard disks, photos, documents, and videos from digital camera memory. It overlooks the file system and goes after the underlying data; hence, it will even work if the media file system has been severely damaged or formatted.
In addition, PhotoRec ensures users’ privacy and security by retrieving files written into the directory that PhotoRec runs, guaranteeing that you never overwrite any external drive, flash drive, or USB. Besides this, it is a free and open-source tool that works on various operating systems like Windows, Linux, MacOS, Solaris, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD.

TogetherShare is another reliable data recovery solution for businesses and enterprises. It recovers all types of files like audio, videos, documents, emails, and photos that get lost due to system failure, human error, or any other logical error from SSD, memory card, RAID, digital camera, HDD, and USB flash drive.
The software is compatible with Windows and Mac OS and offers free and paid versions. The paid version is also backed up with a 30-day money-back guarantee offer, allowing you to test the software before investing.

Undelete360 is another good option to consider using. It lets you restore accidentally or unintentionally deleted files from your system. You can recover lost or deleted files from hard drives, thumb drives, memory cards, and memory sticks used in cameras, smartphones, and other devices with a single click. This tool supports file and folder recovery, making it stand out among others, and it can be downloaded for free on the Windows operating system.

iBeesoft is the best data recovery solution for small and large enterprises. It allows users to permanently recover deleted audio, videos, images, and documents from internal and external disks. Besides this, it offers various basic yet impressive features, such as it lets you preview the files before recovering them and even repair corrupted files during the search process.
You can download this software on Windows and Mac operating systems and use the free or paid version according to your preferences. The only thing that’s not good about the free version is that it allows recovering 2GB of files.
There are several things to consider when you choose the best data recovery software. Here are a few things that you must keep in mind to enjoy effective results from the data recovery solutions:
All these features are necessary to enjoy a smooth user experience, so don’t overlook any of these features.
Data loss has become a serious problem and brings significant consequences for businesses. To prevent these outcomes, data recovery software is the most trusted method to get your files back. The software retrieves the data like files, audio, video, emails, and documents from a hard drive to a flash drive or any other storage device with a single click.
Several data recovery solutions are available to businesses that recover the data and limit the negative impacts in the event of partial or complete data loss. Ensure you also select a reliable service like the one mentioned in this guide that ensures data security and compliance regulations and hassle-freely manages the bulk of data.
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]]>Cell phone tracking apps allow you to trace someone’s private activities without consent. By secretly downloading the tracker app on an individual’s phone, anyone can follow their location and monitor their actions like text messages, browsing history, photo gallery, and activities on social networking sites. Several free and paid cell phone tracker apps exist, but […]
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]]>Cell phone tracking apps allow you to trace someone’s private activities without consent. By secretly downloading the tracker app on an individual’s phone, anyone can follow their location and monitor their actions like text messages, browsing history, photo gallery, and activities on social networking sites.
Several free and paid cell phone tracker apps exist, but most free ones are fake or virus carriers. This is not good news for anyone unwilling to invest in a paid tracker app. Fortunately, some tracking apps offer a trial or demo version, allowing you to use them for free. This way, you can also test their functionalities, and if satisfied, you can opt for an extended subscription.
After thorough research and testing, the following article reviews the best free cell phone tracker apps you must consider, so let’s explore more about them.
Cell phone tracker apps are becoming increasingly common and can be used on Android, iOS, and Windows PCs. These apps allow you to track the whereabouts of the target’s device along with their audio-video calls, text messages, browsing history, and much more. Besides this, the tracking apps offer a variety of other benefits for personal and business use, such as:
Besides this, malicious actors also use tracking apps to spy on the targeted people to gather information and later blackmail them or launch an attack. However, such activities are illegal, and using tracking software for such activities is not legal.
Tracking cell phones has been made easy with tracking apps. But since the use of these apps varies, everyone must do their research and choose the tracker app as per their needs.
Below is a detailed insight into the 15 best free cell phone tracker apps, so look at them and decide which one will be best to use.

Snoopza is a free monitoring tool that allows you to track calls, pictures, and messages on your employee’s or kids’ devices. It is a powerful yet simple, undetectable, easy-to-use tool on Android and other devices. To use this app, create a free account with a valid email address and password. You need to install the app from your account to the target’s smartphone, log into the account, and start tracing calls, messages, and locations.
On the top, the tracking app comes with a geolocation feature. When you start using the app, it provides a GPS locator and lets you view the location of the target’s device with the help of cell towers and Wi-Fi signals. Besides this, it saves all the information about the browsing activities on the target’s device and allows you to track the browsing history.
Apart from tracking geolocation, this free cell phone tracker app also helps in performing the following functions:
This tracking software is specially designed for Android devices. But you can also use it on Mac and Windows PCs and spy secretly. It is also available in the premium version and enables users to take advantage of advanced features like stealth mode and device monitoring.

Hoverwatch is a cell phone tracker app that 12 million users use worldwide to monitor the recorded data and calls in their online accounts. This cell phone tracker app works in stealth mode and remains invisible on the monitored device. Using this tracking tool is way too simple; sign up for a free account, install it on the target’s device, and start monitoring.
The app remotely records all the incoming and outgoing calls on the target’s device. Recording voice calls is not enabled by default, so log into your user panel and turn it on to enable it. Most impressively, the tracking tool also saves SMS and MMS text messages; you don’t need to receive the root on the monitored device to keep this information. You can listen to the audio calls and messages in the panel or download them on your device.
Besides recording audio calls and messages, Hoverwatch helps do the following functions:
You can use this software on your Android, Mac, and Windows computer, which tracks audio, videos, and photos. It offers free and paid versions for personal, professional, and business purposes, making it the best cell phone tracker app.

SpyBubble is a powerful spying and tracking software that can spy remotely on various supported devices. One best things about the tracking tool is its ease of use. The installation process is simple and fast and doesn’t require any technical knowledge. This makes SpyBubble best suited to beginners and advanced users.
The most impressive features of SpyBubble include SMS and GPS tracker. It provides real-time tracking information meaning the app updates the info after every five minutes. All the digital footprints from the target’s device are transferred to your user account. The app takes screenshots after every few seconds, and if a user deletes files from their device, it’s already captured and sent to your account.
Above all, SpyBubble lets you discover advanced access to someone’s WhatsApp activity. It allows you to access all the hidden and deleted chats, incoming and outgoing messages, and extract media files. Other than this, the software also possesses the following features:
The cell phone tracking software works efficiently on all Android OS, iPhones, and iPads. It offers various premium subscription packages, but you can always request a demo to test the software’s features and functionality. You can even enter your device model on the website’s search bar and check if your device is compatible with the tracking tool.

Glympse is a geolocation tracking software that uses location-based technology to capture and share your actual location using GPS tracking with your family, friends, or colleague. You can send a Glympse to let your friends and family know you’re on your way home or to a party. In addition, co-workers can use it and inform others about their whereabouts while running late for an important conference.
This cell phone tracker app doesn’t need any signup or social network to manage. Within a few taps, you can share your location with anyone via email, Facebook, SMS, or Twitter through a link. The recipients can view your location on the map when they click the link.
The most impressive thing about this app is that it temporarily shares your location. The Glympse automatically expires when the timer runs out. Thus, you don’t have to worry about anyone unnecessarily tracking your location. Some of its other prominent features are as follows:
Since it is a GPS-sharing app, it offers no extra functions that might disappoint the users. The software is available to use for individual and professional use. From small-size companies to medium and large-scale organizations, everyone can take advantage of this software and track their co-workers. You can use the tracker app for free on Android and iOS devices or avail of the 90-day free trial period.

mSpy is another cell phone tracker app specifically designed for parental control. It remotely monitors SMS, calls, routes, GPS location, messaging apps, and other kids’ activities on all smartphones and tablets. Like other tracking apps, the installation process is easy and straightforward and won’t trouble the users.
The software keeps you invisible and provides real-time info because it updates information about all the activities on the target’s device after every five minutes. The collected data from the device is shown in the Control Panel, which you can access from any browser. This way, mSpy ensures that parents don’t miss out on any digital footprints of their kids. You can monitor any data with mSpy, like:
mSpy is compatible with all Android and iOS devices, but the app features vary, so make sure you know what to expect from the tool on your device. The software offers various premium subscription packages but no free or trial version. Still, you can request a free demo to check whether the software is worth using.

FlexiSpy is a monitoring software mainly for employee monitoring and parental control. Download the app remotely without hassle and control the target’s device by working in an invisible mode. The biggest threat to businesses recently is from employees, either insider threats or unknown threats. With the employee monitoring software, you can watch the employees’ activities and see what they do with the company’s devices.
Besides this, parents can also remotely track their child’s phone calls, messages, and emails and stay ahead of their risky behavior. The parental control app records all information sent and received from the child’s device and uploads it to the online portal, where you can access all the information.
Below are more functions that the tracker app offers:
You can download the tracking app remotely on Android, iPhones, iPads, tablets, Windows computers, and portals. Unfortunately, the tool doesn’t offer a free version; it offers different pricing plans for each device, and every subscription package has a free Portal. But if you first want to check out the software functionality, you can request a demo for free.

uMobix is an advanced cell phone tracker app for modern parents who want to monitor their kids’ activities on their smartphones and tablets. To use it, create an account, install the app on the target’s device, and start tracking. The online spying app shows all the phone calls, text messages, photos, and videos on the target’s phone. What’s more impressive is that it also has a keylogger feature to monitor everything the owner types.
With uMobix, you can view deleted info and access the key settings of the child’s device. You can restrict website access and ensure your kid remains safe from rising online threats. Besides this, the advanced tracking app offers the following features that help parents to stay further informed about their activities:
The uMobix tracking app monitors and obtains information from the target’s device in stealth mode. It logs everything the users do and sends the report to the dashboard. In addition, it takes up to five minutes to synchronize the data from the monitored device, but in iOS devices, it all depends on the backup performance.
The cell phone tracking software is available on Android and iOS platforms, but the features might vary from device to device. The software is available in the paid version, but you can ask for a free demo and decide whether it’s worth using.

eyeZy is another powerful cell phone tracker app for parental control. To use it, you first need to install it, and the installation process is simple and easy, like other tracking apps. An incredible feature of this app is its ability to work remotely and silently in the background without the target knowing about it. The invisible shield ensures that parents can always see what their kids are doing without worrying that they can figure them out.
Besides this, eyeZy enables parents to view private text messages, including the ones that have been deleted, and messages on various social media apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. Also, it allows one to capture the screen and ensures you don’t miss out on any moment. You can also use a range of features you won’t find in other apps. Some of the impressive features that eyeZy offers are as follows:
You can check your device compatibility online with the website tool. Enter your device model and press enter to see if your device is compatible. The spying tool is currently compatible with Android, iPhones, and iPads. However, it doesn’t offer a free version, but you can use the free demo if you don’t want to invest in a paid version.

SpyHuman is a handy cell phone tracker app that parents can use to stay invisible on their child’s device and keeps a track record of their activities without them figuring you out. Besides parents, companies can also use it to locate their employees in real-time GPS location while being undetectable on the target’s device. It is easy to use and download and requires no technical knowledge.
The tracking software offers various features that guarantee a seamless and efficient monitoring experience. Some of the SpyHuman’s other valuable features include:
Apart from this, with the SpyHuman app, you can restrict access to specific websites and control activities on the target’s device. Also, it is a great anti-theft solution that alerts when it detects a change in the sim card. This feature is helpful to parents, employees, and individuals who want to track their lost cell phones.
The best thing about this tracker app is that besides offering a premium plan, it also provides a seven days free trial version. You can access all the advanced features, but unlike the paid version, you will see pop-ups and ads that might spoil your user experience. Also, it is only available for various Android devices, which disappoints the user.

Spyfone is an excellent free cell phone tracker app that monitors calls, text messages, and GPS location. It’s designed for parents and companies to track what children and employees are doing and stay informed about their behavior. You can use the spy app free version on five devices and get real-time information 24/7 by logging in and viewing the data in the private control panel.
The tracker app offers all the essential features with a handful of extra features like:
The panic button and the lost phone feature are relatively new features you won’t find in any other tracking app. These features help find lost or stolen phones and help in reducing parental insecurities about their child’s comfort and safety.
You can download this software hassle-freely on Android and iOS devices, and what’s most impressive is that you can use it for free.

Another trusted cell phone tracker app worth using is XNSPY. It is a multi-platform spying app for employee monitoring and parental control. The app is easy to install and sends 24/7 alerts, so you don’t miss out on any unusual activity on your cell phone. These alerts can be about suspicious contact, sim card replacement, check-ins, and check-outs at specific locations. Also, it provides exclusive actuarial reports that collect and provide detailed data about the target’s device in an organized way.
Besides this, the app is fully fledged and includes a range of features and capabilities, such as:
With all these features, the app keeps you posted about your friends and business workers’ digital footprints and ensures you remain informed about their every move.
You can easily download the spying app on your Android and iOS apps. The tool is not 100% free, but you can always try out the demo to decide if it meets your standard.

Clevguard is a great cell phone tracker app for parental control and tracking the activities of your loved ones. It is an ultimate tracking tool that takes less than five minutes to download and makes you invisible on the target’s device while running smoothly in the background.
This tool allows you to monitor calls and text messages on 30+ social networking sites like Snapchat, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Besides this, Clevguard performs the following function and
If you are concerned about your child’s whereabouts, Clevguard allows you to set up a geo-boundary informing you when your child leaves their boundary. You can also view their browsing history and learn if they’re using any dating platforms or inappropriate sites unsuitable for them.
The tracker app is compatible with Android, iOS, and Windows devices, ensuring a fantastic user experience. The software isn’t available in the free version, but like other smartphone tracking apps, you can start a demo and use it freely.

Mobile Tracker is the best free cell phone tracker app that you can consider using to track your friends, family, or employees. It allows you to track calls, messages, GPS locations, photos/images, and social networks. The installation and configuration process varies from device to device, but the website offers step-by-step instructions for every device and guarantees that users won’t find any difficulty.
The tracker app offers a range of valuable features that enable the users to access the target’s device completely. Some of these features include:
The tracking software offers a free version with access to all basic and advanced features, which users like the most. The only downside of using a free version is that it will display unwanted ads. But if you want an ad-free user experience, you can upgrade your plan to the paid version.

If you want to track your lost phone, there is no better option than using Where’s My Droid. It is a free cell phone tracker app for Android devices that you can easily download from the Google Play Store and use to locate your phone using the GPS locator feature.
The most impressive feature of this tracking app is that it locks your phone and keeps your sensitive data safe and out of the reach of threat actors. Also, with the GPS Flare feature, you can learn about your device location if your battery is relatively low. The app has other valuable features, such as:
The tracking software is available in free and premium versions with slight feature variations. However, the free plan does cover all the essential features making it worth using. This tracker app’s only significant drawback is its limited functionality for Android devices. If you use iOS or any other device, you won’t be able to use this software, which users don’t like.

Life360 is a great cell phone tracking app for Android devices that enables individuals and their families to track and connect with their loved ones wherever they go. You can easily find the app on Google PlayStore and download it without requiring technical knowledge.
This tracking software offers an impressive range of features that are worth using. Some of these features are as follows:
The app offers free and premium versions; however, the features vary significantly. If you want to access the advanced features and have a budget, you can upgrade your plan and keep posted about your family activities.
Many cell phone tracker apps are available online, and choosing a suitable one can be overwhelming. You must look into a few essential factors to make the right choice.
Also, choose an app with all essential features like a control panel, access to call logs, browsing history, text messages, and GPS location.
Cell phone tracker apps are excellent tools for finding or monitoring the target’s lost device. Different tracking apps have different purposes. Some are for individual use, while others are for tracking kids, employees, and family members. The above guide covers all these categories, so compare them and pick the best one.
With the best spying app, you can track someone’s location, messages, calls, browsing history, photo gallery, and more. In other words, you can remotely access the target’s device and keep posted about their moves. There are various things to consider when choosing a tracker app. It must be compatible with various devices, the installation process must not be complex, and most importantly, it provides access to all advanced features such as website blocking, geo-fencing, and more.
The post 15 Best Free Phone Tracker Apps (Android – iPhone) In 2024 appeared first on BeEncrypted.
]]>Virtual machines are among the most edge-cutting technologies of the modern era. Going virtual is a significant step for any IT professional or programmer, but what is a virtual machine? In a simple realm, a virtual machine is a digital version of a physical computer that can run multiple operating systems and programs, store data, […]
The post 15 Best Virtual Machine Softwares For Windows In 2024 appeared first on BeEncrypted.
]]>Virtual machines are among the most edge-cutting technologies of the modern era. Going virtual is a significant step for any IT professional or programmer, but what is a virtual machine? In a simple realm, a virtual machine is a digital version of a physical computer that can run multiple operating systems and programs, store data, and perform other computing functions.
Each virtual machine possesses its operating system and functions that differ from other VM located on the same physical operating system. It usually runs on the server, but you can also run them on embedded platforms and desktop systems. Besides this, it brings various benefits to the business, such as supporting legacy apps, eliminating the cost of migration to other OS, and testing apps in a secure sandboxed environment.
Different virtual machine software is available, but not all are equal or reliable, making it challenging to pick the right one for your needs. The following guide compiles the best virtual machine software for Windows that benefits the business in several ways. Look deeper into this and explore the perfect match for your business.
Virtual machine software allows organizations to use the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that enables users to access desktop environments like Windows or Linux remotely. In addition, it acts as a digital office available anywhere, anytime, and proves handy to hybrid workers to boost productivity and access all company tools.
Apart from this, virtual machine software can use in several ways, and below is an insight into its benefits:
Despite all the benefits, virtual machines have drawbacks that users can’t neglect. For instance, a VM is slower than a physical machine. Running multiple VMs can also affect your CPU and other hardware components, causing unstable performance. Thus, ensure that you choose a VM software considering the specifications of your physical OS.
The versatility of virtual machines has increased their popularity in the business sector. VMs are easy to manage and use and offer several advantages over physical machines. They can run multiple operating systems on a single device and help IT teams to improve efficiency and reduce management costs.
If you are also searching for virtual machine software for your business, below is a detailed insight into the 15 best VM software for the Windows platform:

VMware is a top-rated virtualization program that offers multiple virtual machine software for personal and business use. This software works on standard x86-based hardware with 64-bit Intel, AMD processors, and 64-bit Windows. Besides this, it is compatible with other operating systems, including Linux and Fedora, and allows developers to develop and test apps. This software benefits the IT admins who can centrally manage and enforce the security policies and allows employees to access all the desktops and apps quickly.
The virtual machine software has numerous impressive security-centric features such as UEFI Boot support, GPU Sandbox renderer, and create/manage encrypted VM. The product is free for personal use, but it offers two premium editions for business, i.e., Workstation Player and Workstation Pro; contact the support team and ask for the pricing quotes.

VirtualBox is a reliable virtual machine software developers frequently use to test apps on various operating systems. It is open-source software that is free to use and runs different programs from both operating systems simultaneously, ensuring a seamless user experience. It supports all major operating systems like Windows, Linux, MacOS, Solaris, and various guest operating systems, providing a great user experience.
One of the best things that users like about this product is that it receives frequent updates and bug fixes, making it the best virtual machine software. Besides this, it offers an impressive virtual network setup that allows you to group and segregate VMs and host operating systems.

Xen Project is a free and open-source virtual machine software that’s an ideal option for API developers to build and monitor security applications thoroughly. It comes with a virtual machine introspection (VMI) supported on ARM and Intel Chips, protecting from malware attacks and ensuring maximum security. In addition, it also boosts security by offering a live patching feature that reduces disruption and downtime during the security upgrades for the DevOps practitioner and security administrators.
The software boosts advanced virtualization in various open-source and commercial applications and is a type-1 hypervisor for multiple operating systems using the same hardware. It is among the most versatile and customizable VM apps for the Windows platform, and all credit goes to its unique architecture.

Microsoft Hyper-V is a free virtual machine software that efficiently creates a virtual experience on the host PC and server. It is a popular VM software because of its ability to take snapshots of the virtualization process and clone different VM versions in an isolated and secure environment. These features protect the VM from malware or other threats and help in future data backups for future use.
Besides this, the virtual Switch is another impressive feature that ensures extensive connectivity and lets you connect your VM to physical and virtual networks. The software is compatible with 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions and is available in free and paid versions.

Oracle VM is a popular open-source virtualization software for Windows that allows developers to deliver code faster by running multiple operating systems on a single device. It is an excellent solution for IT teams who want to reduce operational costs and deploy applications on-premises or in the cloud environment.
The IT teams use this virtual machine software on any x86 host operating system. Besides this, it possesses an easy-to-use GUI and robust command line interface, making it easy for developers to work with multiple operating systems on a single device.

Another reliable free and open-source virtual machine worth using is Citrix XenServer. It provides excellent dependability and reliability to businesses by using various administration tools. For instance, it uses system automation and GPU functionality features, allowing users to participate in virtualized activities actively. Besides this, it creates virtual data hubs and protects the virtual infrastructure from advanced threats.
It’s regarded as one of the best VM software for Windows 10 and offers free and paid versions. The fundamental edition of the software is free to use. However, it won’t allow access to all the advanced features. Thus, you can upgrade to the premium version of the software to take advantage of all the features.

QEMU is an open-source machine emulator that creates a virtual environment on multiple architectures and operating systems. The software can run programs, and the OS is seamlessly made for one machine on another machine. In addition, it allows the users to perform emulation for user-level processes, and admins can run many unmodified guest operating systems.
Apart from this, it uses a dynamic binary translation to enable the machine’s processor to run various operating systems and can stimulate different sets of instructions. This VM software is its multi-device compatibility feature. You can use it on Windows, Linux, and Solaris for free.

Red Hat Virtualization is a premium VM software that offers sophisticated and user-friendly features and is users’ preferred choice. It is an enterprise-level virtualization platform allowing users to create or replicate previously established virtual environments. In addition, it is an open-sourced solution supported by a community offering high-performance virtual servers and ensuring the best user experience.
This virtual machine software’s most impressive feature is that it automates, manages, and modernizes the virtualization workloads and increases overall efficiency. It works perfectly well on Windows and Linux OS. Though the software offers premium versions, you can use the trial version and decide whether it meets your requirements.

Kannel-based Virtual Machine or KVM is another open-source VM software that virtualizes x86-64 Linux systems. It is an easy-to-use and free program that offers compatibility with Windows, Solaris, Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems and guarantees a smooth and user-friendly experience.
The VM app offers impressive features that other software doesn’t, such as host-guest communication, live migration, and hotplug support. It has no license, type-1 hypervisor capabilities, and various performance extensions, making it an ideal choice for virtualization and cloud infrastructure implementation. In addition, it consists of a core virtualization infrastructure for various modules and even runs unmodified Linux and Windows images on the free virtual machine app.

Parallels Desktop 18 is the best VM software, enabling users to run Windows on Mac OS without rebooting. It allows the users to run different Windows apps like Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, and Visual Studios without worrying about slowing down the MacOS. You can download and install the Windows OS on Apple M-series or Intel computer hassle-free, drag-and-drop files, and copy and paste the text between the two systems.
The software’s most impressive feature enables users to use a uniform clipboard and include Windows notifications in the Mac notification panel. This way, it ensures that you use the Windows program and the Mac apps and enjoy a smooth user experience. It offers three paid editions, but you can download the 14-day free trial version and check its credibility.

Google Cloud Compute Engine is an advanced VM software to enjoy a secure and customizable experience on multiple operating systems. This software is best for web development companies who want to test online apps in a customized environment. It offers a container-optimized OS that enables a secure virtual testing environment. Besides this, the software also comes with various advanced features like confidential computing, high memory support of up to 12TB, and spot machines that increase efficiency.
This reliable VM software works smoothly on the Windows environment and offers a paid version, which might not be in everyone’s budget. However, you can also use the trial version to check its features and functionality. If you want to use this software, contact the sales department and ask about the pricing quotes.

Nutanix Hyperconverged Infrastructure is a free and open-source VM software for Windows that’s worth using. Unlike others, it is a flexible VM software that enables developers to build an infrastructure that matches their needs and empowers a single team to manage all the applications, data, and security across all environments. It ensures enterprises run applications from any location as per the requirement without hassle.
The software’s most impressive feature is that it unifies public, private, and distributed clouds and protects enterprise data and services from attackers and advanced threats. Besides this, it offers fast deployment and supports various hardware platforms to run the virtual server.

Portable VirtualBox is a free, open-source software tool that allows users to run any operating system from a USB stick without the hassle of separate installation. It automatically checks for VirtualBox updates and ensures that the users don’t miss out on critical updates that can increase security risks. Besides this, the VM software offers other impressive features; it has a configurable home directory, supports the creation of portable operating systems, and allows saving files and documents in editable form.
The software works efficiently with Windows host PCs and supports guest multiprocessing and RDP authentication. It needs different kernel drivers installed to start its services, so make sure you have already installed them, and if not, then you need administrator rights to run the virtual machine software.

Proxmox Virtual Environment is an open-source server management platform for enterprises that manages two virtualization technologies, i.e., KVM for virtual machines and LXC for containers with a single web interface. By combining two virtual technologies, the VM software ensures maximum flexibility within the production environment. In addition, it integrates various tools for configuring high availability between servers, disaster recovery, and software-defined storage networking.
You can use the KVM virtualization for Linux and Windows images and containers to run conflict-free Linux applications. You can use the KVM virtualization for Linux and Windows images and containers to run conflict-free Linux applications. The software code is available under the free GNU AGPL and v3 software license and is free to download and use. But, the Proxmox VE subscription is an add-on service program designed to help IT professionals and businesses update their Proxmox VE deployment and take advantage of all the advanced features.

V2 Cloud is a popular desktop virtualization software that allows quick installation and management of the Windows cloud desktop. The VM software is easy to install and use, requires no technical expertise, and ensures a smooth and user-friendly experience. It offers a centralized platform that enables remote working culture and supports published applications that allow the publishing of Windows to an end user without providing full desktop access.
Besides this, the software offers a wide range of security features like HTTPS encryption and two-factor authentication, reducing the likelihood of data breaches. To benefit from this software, you need to buy the premium subscription; however, if you first want to test how the software works and if it’s worth using.
The online market is full of VM software, but deciding on one that is a perfect fit for your business is challenging. Thus, you must keep in mind some crucial factors while picking the best virtual machine software:
The criteria mentioned above ensure the best user experience with virtual machine software, so don’t overlook these things.
Virtual machine software is an excellent tool that enables developers and security teams to manage online threats. It improves security by allowing IT professionals to develop a secure sandbox environment to analyze dangerous files without affecting their network or device. However, suppose you are using a virtual machine to perform some original task rather than testing an app or software. In that case, a virus can quickly move from the VM to the host OS during file-sharing and risk the device’s security.
Besides this, if a virtual machine is on a vulnerable network with other physical and virtual machines, the virus or malware can escape through the VM software and bring potential risk. Thus, use the best anti-virus software on the VM. It acts as the first line of defense and protects the device from privacy intruders and online attacks that can compromise the device’s security and steal sensitive data.
Virtual machine software is an edge-cutting technology that allows businesses to run multiple operating systems and applications on one physical computer. VM software has several benefits; it will enable the developers to test new applications and software in a secure environment, create data backups of physical computers, or restore the data from the host systems.
Several VM software are available, but they vary in features and compatibility. Depending on your needs, you can choose reliable free or paid virtual machine software for Windows that runs efficiently and smoothly and provides the best results.
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]]>Binance is a popular and the biggest cryptocurrency trading platform, but its full version isn’t available in the US. The UK, US, and Canada government authorities have banned the platform because of security concerns. If you still want to use Binance for trading, you must use a VPN. It will mask your IP address, and […]
The post The Best Binance VPN in 2024 appeared first on BeEncrypted.
]]>Binance is a popular and the biggest cryptocurrency trading platform, but its full version isn’t available in the US. The UK, US, and Canada government authorities have banned the platform because of security concerns. If you still want to use Binance for trading, you must use a VPN. It will mask your IP address, and by offering end-to-end encryption, the feature makes your trading activities wholly anonymous and private.
Because of strict restrictions, you may get caught if you use an unreliable VPN for Binance. Fortunately, some reliable VPNs are out there that bypass the detection system and ensure secure access to the Binance platform.
This article explores the six best VPNs for Binance and the regions where it’s banned. So, read along and get to know about such VPN providers.
If you’re in the US, UK, Canada, or Malaysia, you won’t access the Binance platform. Even if you try, an error message on your screen says, ” We cannot provide the service in your region”. The governments of these countries have blocked access to one of the popular trading sites because users might misuse it and start engaging in illegal trading activities. Moreover, there’s always a risk of getting scammed and losing money on the trading platform. The potential hackers might trick you and target you for cryptojacking attacks.
The best VPN for Binance ensures you get around the restrictions and allow people to access the platform. Besides this, using various features, it maintains high security and online protection. The VPN uses the industry’s highest encryption standard and protocols that protect your data from prying eyes and ensure no one invades your privacy. Thus, you must use a legitimate VPN to enjoy a safe and secure trading experience.
Since Binance faces geo-blocks, you must install a reliable VPN for trading to use this platform. With the VPN market full of options, deciding the best one can be a real challenge. After carefully testing various VPN providers, here’s the breakdown of the six best VPNs for Binance. so, let’s get started with their short reviews:
NordVPN: its top-ranked VPN provider, 5000+ servers, all security features, works with Netflix, Torrenting, Tor, and ISP throttling – 30-day Free trial.
NordVPN is another excellent choice to use on Binance. It is a secure and reliable VPN that’s headquartered in Panama and is a safe jurisdiction to run a VPN company. Additionally, the VPN follows a verified no-log policy under which the VPN doesn’t store any users’ records and keeps your trading activities private.
The VPN uses military-grade AES-256-bit encryption and NordLynx tunneling protocols that help safeguard your trading data from privacy abuses. Besides this, it uses an impressive double VPN feature that adds an extra protection layer and lets the users enjoy enhanced protection during trading. Some other impressive features offered by NordVPN include:
NordVPN is popular for offering various specialty servers, and obfuscated servers are one of them. It helps bypass the censorship filters and lets users access the Binance platform even in the banned regions. Also, the VPN has a global server network in more than 60 countries that offers blazing-fast connection speed across all servers, including Canada, the UK, and the US.
To use NordVPN on Binance, you must buy the premium subscription plan because NordVPN doesn’t offer a free version. But if you’re hesitant to invest, grab the 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
ExpressVPN: it has 3000 servers around the world and works great with Torrenting, Netflix, and special features for Tor. Offer 30-day Free trial available.
For providing maximum online protection and the fastest connection speed to the users, ExpressVPN emerges as yet another of the best VPNs for Binance. The VPN has been a favorite choice of users because it offers global server coverage in 94 countries. You can connect to any server and safeguard your online identity on Binance. In addition, it has dedicated obfuscated servers that help bypass censorship and access Binance safely in restrictive regimes like Russia, China, and other regions where it’s banned.
Moreover, the VPN follows a strict zero-logging policy and also belongs to the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands, so your data won’t be logged or shared. It uses AES-256-bit encryption and a 4028-bit RSA key to safeguard your trading activities on Binance and ensure a safe and secure trading experience.
The VPN comes with a variety of security and privacy-focused features that make your trading experience worthwhile, such as:
You can download ExpressVPN on multiple devices and platforms and enhance your trading experience on Binance. The VPN offers no free trial period, but you can benefit from the 30-day refund offer.
CyberGhost: it offers 7500+ servers around the world, works with torrenting, Netflix and also provides great privacy features. 45-day Free trial.
CyberGhost is the best VPN for Binance and other crypto-trading platforms because of its extensive server network and features that enhance the trading experience. It has over 9000 servers in 91 countries globally, including the regions where Binance is banned. All the servers offer unlimited bandwidth and fast connection speed, meaning you can easily and quickly establish a connection from anywhere to access the trading platform.
On the top, the VPN offers robust security to traders. For this purpose, it uses AES-256-bit encryption along with WireGuard and OpenVPN protocol. In addition, it uses a range of privacy-focused features that keeps your trading activities hidden from snooping eyes. Some advanced features include:
The most impressive CyberGhost feature worth using for trading is the NoSpy servers. It helps retain more online anonymity while you process your trading activities. This feature is also useful when you want to access the Binance platform where it’s banned.
Apart from this, the VPN provider belongs to a safe jurisdiction that isn’t a member country of the global surveillance alliance. Also, it follows a no-log policy, so your data will not be recorded or shared. Overall, CyberGhost VPN is an excellent option for Binance, and you can also enjoy the 45-day money-back guarantee offer.
Surfhark: It’s great with Netflix and torrenting, can bypass ISP throttling, and has great privacy features. 3500+ servers and come with a 30-day free trial.
Another best VPN for Binance is the SurfShark VPN. The VPN is popular among users for its wide range of features and top-notch security and protection on the trading platform. It offers a decent server network across the globe comprising over 3200 servers in 65+ countries, including countries where Binance is banned.
Above all, Surfshark VPN comes with camouflage and no-borders mode, disguising your traffic as regular internet traffic and circumvents restrictions. Using these features enables you to continue your trading activities on Binance even in regions where it faces geo-blocks. Besides this, other distinctive features that Surfshark offers include:
The VPN also uses uncrackable AES-256-bit encryption, 2048-bit RSA key, and WireGuard protocol, making it impossible for anyone to view your online activities. The VPN also belongs to a safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands and exhibits a strict zero-logging policy. It means that the VPN won’t log any of the trading activities that can expose you in front of ISPs and government surveillance agencies.
As a whole, Surfshark is a secure VPN for Binance. Try it now by availing of the free trial period or the 30-day money-back guarantee offer.
Proton VPN: it has 1400+ servers and is loaded with all privacy features. Works with Netflix, Torrenting, Tor, and bypassing the ISP throttling. Free Version available.
Proton VPN is another of the best VPNs for Binance. It uses robust encryption standards and tunneling protocols and ensures that your trading activities remain under the cover. Also, it belongs to Switzerland, respecting users’ privacy, and thus doesn’t have any laws under which your browsing data is recorded or shared.
The VPN provider has a decent server network that ensures a fast and stable connection and doesn’t hinder the user experience while using the Binance platform. Besides this, it offers specialized core servers that enhance your security level and allow you to continue your activities without worrying about prying eyes.
Proton VPN’s stealth protocol and alternate routing technology help bypass the geo-blocks and ensure safe and hassle-free access to the trading platform. In addition, the VPN uses an impressive kill switch feature that prevents solid leak protection while you engage in trading. Other notable features that Proton VPN offers are as follows:
Overall, Proton VPN is a reliable VPN to use on Binance. The VPN comes with free and premium plans, but for a secure trading experience, you should always use the paid version.
VyprVPN: it has 700+ servers in over 70 Countries, works great with Torrenting, Netflix, special features for Tor. Offer 30-day Free trial available.
VyprVPN is another of the best VPNs for Binance that has improved a lot from the past and thus competes with other top-rated VPNs in the industry. It uses the industry’s highest encryption and WireGuard protocol that maintains maximum online anonymity on Binance.
Unlike best Binance VPNs, VyprVPN offers a limited server network, which won’t cause any speed issues. The VPN uses a proprietary Chameleon protocol that boosts browsing speeds and doesn’t cause any significant connection drops. Besides this, it protects from DNS and IP leaks and ensures that you remain utterly anonymous on the trading platform. The VPN also lacks advanced features but does cover all the essential security-centric features like:
Furthermore, VyprVPN is a private VPN that keeps your trading activities private. Golden Frog company from Switzerland owns it and doesn’t retain or share users’ online activities with anyone. It also follows a no-log policy and refrains from keeping users’ activity and connection logs. Moreover, the company has undergone a third-party log audit process in 2018, so you can use it on Binance or any other trading platform without worrying about your privacy.
Unfortunately, the VPN doesn’t offer any free trial period. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t try out the VPN. Get VyprVPN now and enjoy the 30-day refund offer.
While choosing the best VPN for Binance, looking for the following features is essential for ultimate privacy and security.
Ticking all these features ensures you can use the platform smoothly and safely, so don’t skip any of the factors mentioned earlier.
For trading on Binance in the US, UK, Canada, Japan, or any other country, you must use a VPN in the first place. Using a VPN hides your online identity, encrypts the trading traffic, and ensures no one can view your online activities. If you’re looking for a VPN for Binance, consider using any VPNs mentioned above. These VPNs are well-tested on Binance and give excellent service without compromising your online security and privacy.
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]]>Hushmail is a secure email provider that works to keep its users’ data safe. It uses end-to-end encryption, robust encryption algorithms, and built-in OpenPGP support to secure email messages. The email provider is HIPAA compliant; hence, it is an ideal service for health professionals, lawyers, and small businesses. However, there are some drawbacks to using […]
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]]>Compared to other email providers, Hushmail lacks several advanced features. But it does include the essential features that ensure an anonymous emailing experience. The following are the features that Hushmail offers, along with some of its major drawbacks:
Hushmail is a secure email provider that works to keep its users’ data safe. It uses end-to-end encryption, robust encryption algorithms, and built-in OpenPGP support to secure email messages.
The email provider is HIPAA compliant; hence, it is an ideal service for health professionals, lawyers, and small businesses. However, there are some drawbacks to using Hushmail, like its high price, limited features, and device compatibility.
Also, because of Hushmail’s shady logging policy and invasive jurisdiction, people often criticized it and looked for other better options. This Hushmail review will look at these things deeply so you can decide whether to use Hushmail or choose any other best secure email provider.
The features listed above are not enough to conclude if Hushmail is a reliable option to use or not. Hence, let’s test and review Hushmail in detail.
The primary purpose behind using a private email provider is to keep the confidential information stored within the inbox protected and out of the reach of prying eyes. Also, private email providers don’t track or log the IP address. Therefore, it is essential to analyze your email provider’s encryption standards, logging policy, and jurisdiction.
Encryption is a vital tool for maintaining online security and privacy. Hushmail uses standard encryption algorithms and protocols to protect your email messages. It uses TLS/SSL encryption, perfect forward secrecy, OpenPGP encryption, and HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) for sending and storing emails on its servers.
When you send an email, the actual IP address from the header is replaced with the Hushmail IP address. But the authorities can access your data since the email provider retains your IP address when you log into its services.
It uses TLS/SSL encryption for the data communicated in transit to its servers, while SSL/TLS encryption is used when firms transmit emails between servers. The email body and attachments are also protected with OpenPGP encryption requiring each recipient’s unique key. All the emails and the attachments are also encrypted when stored on the disk of the Hushmail servers.
In addition, Hushmail also encrypts all the emails sent to recipients who do not use Hushmail. Such emails can be encrypted using OpenPGP encryption and a security question-and-answer method.
When emails are sent to non-Hushmail users, they are stored on the Hushmail servers. The recipient receives an email informing them about receiving a secured email and providing a link to access it. The recipient can create and store their own OpenPGP keys, which increases email security.
However, since the unencrypted emails are stored on Hushmail servers, Hushmail couldn’t encrypt all the emails at rest. This creates another chance for the authorities to access users’ emails and something concerning that users won’t like at all.
The company that runs Hushmail is based in Canada and is a subsidiary of a U.S. firm. The US and Canada are the founding members of the five eyes alliance countries, which might concern the users. Any country that falls under the global alliance countries is bound by a formal agreement to record and share intelligence information about each other’s citizens without their consent.
Besides this, the country follows data retention laws and other legislations like the CLOUD Act. Under this law, companies like the one that owns Hushmail must provide user data to US law enforcement agencies even if the data is stored on servers in another country. All of this raises significant privacy concerns for Hushmail users.
Hushmail isn’t as private as other email providers, and the issue lies in its privacy policy. The privacy policy reveals the information Hushmail logs when it logs the data and what happens with the recorded data. But, some policy points are unsuitable for your digital privacy.
Hushmail, unlike other secure email providers, records the user’s information, like the previous email address, IP address, and browser type, to sign up for its services. It also asks for the phone number when subscribing to the service to send an SMS verification code. The amount of data Hushmail records is shocking and sounds intrusive to the users.
There are other data that Hushmail records and are mentioned in its privacy policy:
More shocking is that Hushmail records the activity data for 18 months and responds to legal orders under British Colombia and Canadian laws to share the information with the authorities. This proves that the company collects and stores email metadata to comply with law enforcement warrants.
Besides this, Hushmail can decrypt the encrypted contacts, messages, and other data and hand over this information to the government or other surveillance agencies. Also, the email provider doesn’t provide a transparency report or Warrant Canary, which fails to prove its stance to the customers.
Hush Communications Canada Inc. founded Hushmail in 1998. The company was established to send and receive private and encrypted emails and web forms from Hushmail and non-Hushmail users. Its headquarters is in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, but other server centers are also in Calgary and Alberta.
A company’s history must be clear so it’s easy for new and existing users to trust them. But this is not the case with Hushmail. After digging out the past, some evidence exposed Hushmail for sharing users’ information with the Canadian authorities.
Hushmail complies with the law and shares all stored or future emails sent or received. The company spy on its users when a court orders. In 2007, Hushmail provided 12 CDS emails to U.S. officials targeting steroid manufacturers.
The CTO of Hushmail, following the case, also accepted that intelligence agencies could break into the encrypted emails of the targeted user accounts through vulnerabilities in the Javascript browser application.
This incident proves that Hushmail records and shares users’ data with higher authorities despite claiming to be a secure email provider. After this incident, no other such incidents to date have been reported. But this incident was enough to prove that Hushmail discloses data in unencrypted form to the government.
Hushmail is not a versatile and feature-packed email provider. It lacks features other email providers offer, like PhishGuard, enhanced tracking protection, password-protected emails, device-level security, and more. The only advanced features that Hushmail offers are discussed below:
Hushmail secure web forms are the latest and innovative version of the old-fashioned paper forms. You can now create a personalized web form for your business and add e-signatures. The email provider allows you to create a web form by dragging fields to your form. In addition, you can also use ready-made templates for your business forms. All the web forms are end-to-end encrypted and HIPAA compliant, so do not worry about compromised security.
Two-step verification is a powerful feature that Hushmail offers to increase the security of your email accounts. The user enters a verification code received via a text message or alternate email address to authenticate their identity after signing into their accounts.
It is a handy feature that prevents unauthorized access to your email accounts. To enable this feature in your Hushmail account, go to the Preferences page by clicking on the upper right side of the menu > selecting the Security tab > tap the pencil-shaped icon to enable two-step verification.
Electronic signatures are an efficient, legal, and easy way to get electronic documents signed quickly. If you are a Hushmail healthcare user, you can include electronic signatures on your forms. You only need to drag and drop the signature field onto the form. But before that, you have to add e-signatures to forms, and here’s how you can do it:
Log into your account > go to Form Builder> create the form you want to use > drag and drop the signature field onto your form > publish the form.
After signing the documents, you can also track the progress of pending signing requests and view the timestamped activity record of the completed and signed forms.
Besides this, Hushmail also uses antivirus and spam filters that rely on machine learning and pattern-matching technology to detect viruses and spam emails.
The best email provider is the one that is easy to install and set up. It must offer a user-friendly interface and dedicated apps for desktop and mobile devices to enhance the user experience.
Getting a Hushmail account is easy; you can set it up without issues. To get a Hushmail account, you must provide your current email address and phone number, which annoys the users. It uses a blue and white theme, giving the UI a decent look. The user interface is similar to other email providers, ensuring a convenient and personalized user experience.
Composing an email message is not all problematic in Hushmail. It is almost the same as drafting a message in Gmail; you can find all the options in the composition window. Additional options include the Form Builder button and Attach secure web form link. These features allow you to create secure forms and attach the custom forms or other prebuilt forms that Hushmail has.
Moreover, Hushmail also has a Search feature. It is simple to use and helps find all the messages when you type in the word or phrase. The email provider also offers the basic Contacts system; the contact page shows all the information about each contact rather than names and email addresses.
You can create automatic responses, folders, email aliases, and block senders. Also, Hushmail supports SMTP and IMAP, meaning you can work with the Hushmail email using any non-Hushmail account with a real client app instead of a web page.
However, Hushmail lacks calendar and file storage features, which most users don’t like.
Hushmail allows users to get in touch and take assistance with customer support via live chat, message, or telephone. The phone and live chat support are available for a limited time from Monday to Friday between 8 AM to 4 PM Pacific time, so you can expect a bit of delay in getting responses from the support team. A message was sent inquiring about the refund policy, but the team responded after 48 hours, which was disappointing.

You can also connect with the customer support team on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. There is a contact us page; you can scroll down your issue and send your message, but there is no guarantee that the reply will be quick.
On top of that, the Hushmail website is full of knowledgeable resources. It includes FAQs, blogs, in-depth guides, and articles that address common issues that users encounter.
Hushmail customer support service is pretty average. Neither the live chat nor the telephone support feature is available 24/7, which delays addressing users’ problems and causes excellent annoyance.
A significant drawback of Hushmail is that it isn’t compatible with many devices and operating systems. The email provider is available for desktop users and offers a mobile app for iOS users. But it allows users to set up Hushmail on Android devices using a POP and IMAP account.
The iOS app is the best because of its intuitive design and navigation. You can send encrypted emails and attachments even to people who don’t use Hushmail. It provides real-time notifications and allows you to send and receive encrypted emails for any of your aliases. Also, the app has built-in file protection, supports face ID and touch ID protection, and is fully synced with the webmail account to ensure a seamless experience.
Hushmail provides personalized email plans for both individuals and businesses. While there isn’t a free option, you can opt for the 14-day trial of Hushmail Premium, the personal plan. Valued at $49.98 annually, this enticing package boasts two forms of secure email, 10 GB of storage, unlimited email aliases, and the two-step authentication security feature.
Small businesses looking to enjoy Hushmail services can choose Hushmail for Small Business. At $5.99 per month per user and a one-time setup fee of $9.99, this plan ensures you receive the same remarkable features as the Premium plan. The icing is the freedom to use your domain name and create up to 100 email addresses, all seamlessly forwarded to a single account. Should you desire email archiving capabilities, the Small Business Plus plan is available for just an additional $2 per month per user.
If you’re in the healthcare industry and require HIPAA-compliant communication, Hushmail for Healthcare is here to cater to your needs. With the ability to send secure messages to popular email services like Gmail and Hotmail, this plan ensures your sensitive information remains protected. For a modest cost of $9.99 per month, you’ll receive one email account, two secure web forms, and a generous 10 GB of storage.
The five-email account plan offers even bigger storage capacity, five secure web forms, 15 GB of storage, and support for electronic signatures, all for just $19.99 per month. And if you’re seeking even larger plans with additional email accounts and web forms, rest assured, options start at $39.99 monthly.
Furthermore, Hushmail for Law provides a specialized plan to support attorney-client privilege in the US, UK, and Canadian courts. Priced at $9.99 monthly, this plan includes a signed agreement, providing peace of mind and legal protection. Nonprofit organizations can also benefit from Hushmail at a discounted rate of $3.99 per month, while enterprise plans can be tailored to your specific requirements.
Hushmail presents a simple and transparent pricing structure for small businesses and individual users. However, regarding industry-specific email services, things can become a bit intricate.
In addition to the typical plans, Hushmail provides specialized services designed for healthcare, law, and nonprofits. These particular plans are not mere replicas of small business plans; they offer industry-specific features at different price points.
For example, Hushmail for Healthcare ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations, prioritizing the security and confidentiality required in the healthcare sector. On the other hand, Hushmail for Law goes a step further by including a signed agreement that asserts attorney-client privilege, catering to the specific needs of legal professionals.
The peculiar one among the industry-specific plans is Hushmail for nonprofits. While it doesn’t offer any distinct features, it comes at a more affordable price than the standard Small Business plan, with a monthly user cost of $2 lower.
For any other unique configurations, Hushmail provides Enterprise plans. This is not the case despite the name implying that these plans are exclusively for large corporations. These plans are available to anyone, enabling you to customize a plan that aligns precisely with your business requirements.
Hushmail is included in the list of secure email providers but is not as private as other email providers. The email provider allows sending encrypted emails to everyone, including non-Hushmail users. It utilizes robust encryption algorithms to maintain the security of your email messages. Besides this, it has a user-friendly interface and gives a similar experience to using Gmail and Yahoo. There is a native app for iOS devices; you can also use it on your Android device.
But, there are certain loopholes with Hushmail, like improving customer support service. Its past track record doesn’t make it the most preferred choice of users. Also, it logs IP addresses and other data, which is unacceptable. However, by undergoing a log and security audit, the company can prove that they value users’ privacy, attracting more users.
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]]>If you are worried about how mainstream email providers like Gmail log your data and access every email in your mailbox, using a secure email provider like ProtonMail can help maintain email privacy. ProtonMail belongs to Proton Technologies, which has a history of maintaining users’ privacy and has launched privacy-focused products like ProtonVPN. ProtonMail is […]
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]]>ProtonMail is the first and the most polished email provider that received shoutouts on various social media platforms. It uses end-to-end and zero-access encryption to protect your emails from all prying eyes. Also, it offers a great range of security features to keep your email communication private.
However, despite claiming to be a secure email provider, ProtonMail was highly criticized for handing over users’ data to law enforcement. Also, Reddit and Twitter users share mixed opinions about their experience with ProtonMail. After following a litany of mixed reviews, it becomes essential to perform an in-depth ProtonMail review and dig out the truth.
ProtonMail is a featured-rich email provider that offers various features to boost your email privacy and ensure a smooth user experience. To have a quick overview of ProtonMail, let’s first compare its strength and weaknesses:
From a bird’s eye, ProtonMail positions itself as the best secure email provider. However, it’s crucial to analyze each feature in detail to build a narrative.
The best private email providers allow users to send anonymous emails without any trackbacks. They ensure no third party can invade their email privacy and thus uses robust end-to-end encryption and other security-focused features.
Besides, they should belong to a secure jurisdiction that doesn’t invade users’ digital privacy and follows a strict no-log policy. Therefore, it is vital to analyze these aspects while inspecting the security and privacy of a private email provider like ProtonMail.
ProtonMail encryption makes it the most secure and special among others. It uses asymmetric encryption to encrypt and decrypt the messages you receive. All the emails are end-to-end encrypted so that no one except the recipient can view the messages.
The messages are also protected with automatic and built-in PGP encryption. This encryption makes it possible to send emails to people who don’t use ProtonMail. Besides this, the emails are stored using zero-access encryption, meaning no one else can read or share the messages with any third party. It includes messages received from both ProtonMail and non-ProtonMail users.
However, the email’s subject line and sender’s address are encrypted but not end-to-end, which concerns the users.
ProtonMail belongs to a safe and privacy-friendly jurisdiction that gives users some mental peace. The email provider’s headquarter is in Switzerland, which respects users’ privacy and isn’t a member state of the five eyes, nine eyes, and fourteen eyes surveillance alliance. The country is not bound by a formal international agreement to record and share data, so users don’t have to worry about their data and activities being logged.
Switzerland falls in the European Union, so the EU data retention laws are applicable. But, in an appeal, the Swiss Federal Administrative Court confirmed that email service providers like ProtonMail are not considered telecommunications providers. Hence it is not subjected to the data retention laws enforced on telecommunications providers. So ProtonMail won’t compromise your privacy.
ProtonMail promises not to keep IP logs or other metadata to keep emails private and anonymous. But after analyzing the privacy policy, it was shocking that ProtonMail follows a shady privacy policy and temporarily records the IP logs.
The email provider has access to various email metadata, including the IP address, timings when the message was sent and received, message subject, and content of unencrypted messages sent from other email providers.
ProtonMail also accepts the fact that they do log the IP address for a temporary purpose. They log it to prevent crimes and cyber attacks. However, if they observe that the user is involved in activities violating their terms and conditions, they permanently store the IP logs. It means that the email provider monitors and tracks your online communication; from a privacy perspective, it is unacceptable.
Unlike other email providers, the ProtonMail code has been audited by a third-party audit firm. There hasn’t been any significant vulnerability found, which ensures maximum online protection. Still, the company also needs to audit its log policy so the disappointed users on Reddit and elsewhere can rest assured that trusting ProtonMail is not wrong.
Proton Technologies is the parent company of ProtonMail and has also launched other products, including ProtonVPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar. The company was established in Switzerland in 2014 when scientists met at CERN and decided to build a better internet where users can enjoy maximum privacy.
However, ProtonMail was under fire for sharing a user’s data with a law enforcement agency. In 2021, the Swiss authorities shared a climate activist’s IP address with the French police despite using strong encryption. Privacy experts and users criticized the email provider for violating individuals’ privacy.
The ProtonMail CEO, in a series of tweets, said that if any crime is committed, the company is compelled to share the information, and the privacy protections are suspended. The email provider also slightly changed its privacy policy on the same occasion. Previously, ProtonMail claimed that they don’t keep IP logs, but after this incident, it’s mentioned in their privacy that they retain IP logs temporarily.
ProtonMail is a reliable email provider, offering various privacy and security-enhancing features depending on your subscription plan. Following is a brief insight into the feature that comes with ProtonMail Plus and the Visionary plan:
ProtonMail allows setting an expiring time on the emails you send. By default, all the emails sent from the ProtonMail account do not expire, but by enabling this feature, you can set an expiry time of up to 28 days. Once this feature is enabled, the encrypted emails will delete automatically from the recipient’s inbox.
This feature is available for encrypted messages between ProtonMail users and password-protected emails sent between ProtonMail users and people who don’t use ProtonMail. To turn on this feature, open email composer > New message > click on the ellipsis menu at the bottom of the email composer and select the option that says Set expiration time > choose the Expiry time > click on Set.
Password-protected emails are another impressive feature of ProtonMail that allows sending encrypted emails to all users. The emails sent between ProtonMail users are end-to-end encrypted automatically, but the best thing is that you can also send E2EE emails to people who don’t use ProtonMail.
With this feature, the recipient receives an email that tells them they have sent an encrypted message, but to read the message, they need to enter a password. Entering the agreed-upon password takes them to a secure ProtonMail mailbox where they can read and respond to the messages. This feature is set before sending the email; click the Encryption button with a lock icon > Select a message password > click on Set. You can now see a lock icon next to the recipient’s address, indicating the email is now encrypted.
When you respond to a message sent by the recipient of a password-protected email, your response is not end-to-end encrypted. You need to re-enable the password-protected email feature; otherwise, the entire message history will be sent unencrypted.
Business companies send emails using the email tracker option that collects sensitive information like IP address, geographic location, device time, and operating system. The collected information creates your profile to target you with personalized ads. It is a violation of privacy, and also, seeing several ads spoils the user experience. ProtonMail offers an enhanced tracking protection feature that blocks email trackers so you can view the content of the email without being tracked for targeted advertising.
When an email containing the tracker is opened, it will remove and notify you. The email tracker feature is enabled by default, but if you want to disable it, you can do it by navigating the Settings menu. Click on Settings > ProtonMail > Email privacy > Turn off the Block email tracking option.
Email phishing is the easiest technique hackers use to trick users into gaining access to sensitive data. ProtonMail offers anti-phishing protection through the PhishGuard feature. It prevents the ProtonMail accounts from phishing attacks by flagging the spoofed email addresses and marking them in your inbox. Users can also check if the email they received is spoofed by looking at the encryption icon. The presence of the blue lock icon means that the email has come from a legitimate source.
Hackers have become sophisticated enough to compromise device security to access users’ sensitive data. ProtonMail offers a link confirmation feature to identify suspicious links and maintain device security. When this feature is enabled, a window pops up every time the user clicks on the hyperlink in the email. The pop-up shows the entire URL length so a user can inspect it and decide whether to click on it.
By default, the link confirmation feature is enabled, but you can also turn it off or on by navigating to the Settings menu.
Windows: Settings > ProtonMail > Messages and tap on the Confirm link URLs switch on/off.
Android and iOS: Go to Menu > Settings > Account settings > Account name > Mailbox > Privacy and tap on the Request link confirmation switch on or off.
ProtonMail uses an advanced protection feature to keep your email communication secure and anonymous. The email provider uses advanced algorithms and machine learning technology to detect sophisticated attacks targeted against specific ProtonMail accounts. The account user is warned, and the account is secured automatically before any damage is caused.
Another impressive feature that ProtonMail offers is two-factor authentication. It is a useful feature that adds an extra layer of security by allowing the users to set an extra identity verification step to the standard login procedure. The users provide a one-time passcode generated via the device or authenticator app in addition to the username and password to access the account. Using this feature, in case the account credentials are compromised, the attacker can’t access the account without physical access to the device.
ProtonMail maintains the device integrity of the iOS app with an innovative device-level security feature called the AppKey Protection System. It adds an extra encryption layer on top of Apple’s built-in local device encryption that secures the sensitive ProtonMail data. With this feature, the ProtonMail data remains secure from stalkerware, hackers, and tools that aim to spread malware on your device. To use this feature, enable FaceID, TouchID, or PIN protection in the Protonmail iOS app settings.
Bridges is a premium ProtonMail feature that encrypts incoming and outgoing emails. It is a desktop application that runs in the background and encrypts and decrypts the messages as they enter and leave the system. To increase data security, ProtonMail bridges use passwords that are unique and different from your login password.
Besides this, these bridges allow downloading offline copies of your emails on your device. You can integrate the ProtonMail account into your favorite email clients, Thunderbird, AppleMail, and Outlook, via IMAP and SMTP by creating a local email server on your computer.
Most ProtonMail features discussed above are available in the Plus and Visionary plans. Hence, upgrade to a premium subscription plan to benefit from these features.
Besides guaranteed email security, an email provider must provide a smooth and hassle-free user experience. An email provider like ProtonMail should offer various customizable options, dedicated apps for all major apps, and an excellent customer support facility.
ProtonMail is an easy-to-download and use. Visit the ProtonMail signup page, choose the plan you’re interested in, and follow the instructions to complete the download process. Its layout is familiar to Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo and easy to navigate. Users can easily find all the basic functions, such as creating new messages, accessing draft emails, and adding new contacts.
The user interface is also pretty attractive, and recently, the company has revamped its entire UI, so now it looks more appealing than before. There are also various options to customize the layout; you can adjust the inbox, template color, icon sizes, and writing style the way you wish. The paid versions of ProtonMail also allow the creation of custom folders and use filters and labels to organize their emails. All these options make ProtonMail one of the most convenient and customizable email providers.
Moreover, ProtonMail also offers a calendar app. The best thing about this app is that it is end-to-end encrypted and protects the schedules, titles, locations, and descriptions of any event from a third party.
ProtonMail offers dedicated and user-friendly desktop, Android, and Apple apps. Anyone can download these apps from the ProtonMail website or Apple or Google Play Store; each app includes all features and allows easy and secure access to encrypted emails. The users on Reddit have appreciated the web app for being simple, making it pretty easy to use.
Some users have shown great disappointment in mobile app versions. For instance, in the iOS app, the email icon notification needs to be fixed. Even if the reader has read the email, it, again and again, shows a notification. Besides this, there are also issues with the Android app, like it doesn’t have a conversation view, and the app notifications are not synced until the ProtonMail app is opened.
ProtonMail offers decent yet limited options to connect with the customer support team. The email provider doesn’t have a live chat feature option, which is disappointing. To establish a direct connection with the member of the support team, users need to submit a contact form or can also send an email. However, if you are a paid user, you’ll get priority, and your queries will be addressed soon.
The website is also full of knowledgeable material that offers great help to the users. You can find blogs, news, FAQs, and guides. Besides this, a help and support section includes account settings, plans and payments, mailbox customization, and security and privacy.
ProtonMail is an encrypted email provider that doesn’t track emails or log data. It belongs to the safe jurisdiction of Switzerland, so there is no need to worry about data being recorded or shared. The email provider uses E2EE and zero-access encryption to keep your emails secure and anonymous.
Moreover, ProtonMail is easy to use and has an impressive layout and UI. It has many features like enhanced tracking protection, PhishGuard, bridges, and password-protected emails, ensuring a safe and smooth email experience. However, the mobile apps and customer support need a bit of improvement.
The post Can You Trust ProtonMail To Manage Your Emails Anonymously? appeared first on BeEncrypted.
]]>BlufVPN is a newcomer in the market that seems like a secure and reliable VPN. The VPN started its services in 2020 and is helping people all across the globe to protect their online privacy and freely browse the internet. However, the VPN opaque company ownership and logging are quite questionable, which puts the users in […]
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]]>The VPN provider offers an easy sign-up process and a decent server size but quite a few security and privacy features. Look at the table below and see what more this newbie VPN offers its users.
Since BlufVPN is pretty new so, trusting it is a bit difficult. Hence let’s start an in-depth review of BlufVPN to conclude the VPN provider’s performance.
Most users prefer a VPN to boost online security and protect themselves from threats. Thus, ensure that the VPN you choose uses high encryption standards and protocols for data protection. Besides this, the VPN has its headquarters in a non-invasive jurisdiction and keeps your online activities and other sensitive information private, like IP addresses.
BlufVPN protects all online information and internet traffic and ensures that no one else can learn about the users’ digital footprints. For this purpose, the VPN uses a military-grade AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm and a 4096-bit DH encryption key. With rock-solid encryption, your data remains secure and out of the reach of hackers, ISPs, and government surveillance agencies.
The newly launched BlufVPN has its headquarters in Estonia, ranked as a free country in the Freedom House Index Report 2022. Additionally, Estonia isn’t a member country of the five eyes, nine eyes, and fourteen eyes alliance.
However, the country does practice mandatory data retention laws under which the higher authorities log users’ data and online activities. The service providers can collect and retain some metadata for at least one year. Also, in December 2020, the Estonian government was a client of a surveillance company that allows users to monitor calls, texts, and mobile locations by exploiting weaknesses in the mobile telecommunication infrastructure.
Since the country imposes no restrictions on anonymous communication and encryption, there’s nothing much to worry about.
To ensure an anonymous web browsing experience, it’s essential for a VPN not to collect or share any user information with a third party. BlufVPN claims to follow a strict no-log policy and refrain from gathering IP addresses, browsing data, and connection data about the subscribers.
However, when investigated in detail, BlufVPN was found to have a shady logging policy. The VPN provider’s privacy policy revealed that they collect users’ information.
The screenshot clarifies that the service provider logs sensitive information like IP address, browser type, time zone, and device name. Since the VPN logs the IP address during a session, it’s concerning, and most users won’t like it.
Furthermore, no proof like security or log audit report is present that can assure users that BlufVPN won’t compromise their digital privacy.
BlufVPN creates a private tunnel for the data to travel securely without anyone knowing. During this, the VPN uses various secure encryption protocols for maintaining data security:
While browsing the web, use the OpenVPN protocol. It is an open-source protocol that uses AES-256-bit encryption and Blowfish and RC5 protocols to safeguard internet traffic. Since OpenVPN can be run on UDP and TCP ports, it’s not easy to block it. However, with the OpenVPN protocol, the speeds are pretty fast and stable.
When looking for ultra-fast connection speed, use the advanced WireGuard protocol. It has a small code size and uses ChaCha20 encryption that no other VPN protocol uses, so you get the best connection speed.
BlufVPN uses the IKEv2/IPSec protocol with the same encryption as OpenVPN. It is another good option, especially when you want a stable connection, even on mobile devices.
A VPN is a helpful way to circumvent internet censorship and freely access blocked websites and services. Also, you can use the VPN in countries where the state restricts accessing the free internet.
If you’re looking for a VPN to bypass censorship and internet blocks, then BlufVPN isn’t the option to consider. The VPN lacks advanced features and technology like stealth mode and obfuscation technology that helps bypass censorship.
BlufVPN has a decent server network and offers servers in various locations, including oppressive regimes like UAE and Turkey. You can use unrestricted internet in China by connecting to servers in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam. But the absence of essential anti-censorship features results in inconsistent experience.
BlufVPN is a secure VPN provider that started its services in 2020 but didn’t provide much information about it, which is quite suspicious. There is no ‘About us’ page on the BlufVPN website. Plus, on the LinkedIn page, there are no details about who owns the VPN.
Despite providing limited information, the VPN provider enjoys a good reputation and has no bad track records. After digging out news reports, no event involved BlufVPN leaking users’ data. Thus, the VPN so far seems capable enough to maintain online privacy.
A reliable VPN comes with a range of extra features that boost the security and privacy level and improve user experience. Unfortunately, BlufVPN offers no additional security and privacy-enhancing feature except a kill switch.
A VPN kill switch is a vital and innovative feature that ensures that your IP address won’t be exposed when the VPN connection drops. The kill switch automatically disconnects you from the internet when the VPN connection malfunctions until the connection is re-established. It is a helpful feature that allows secure browsing and prevents the VPN from leaking sensitive information. BlufVPN offers the kill switch feature in both Android and Windows apps. This feature is not enabled by default; hence, you must manually turn it on by configuring the settings.
Torrenting and streaming have many security and privacy issues; thus, a reliable VPN is essential. A VPN compatible with streaming and torrenting uses various advanced features that help prevent these issues and boost the user experience.
BlufVPN is another option that you can choose to watch the blocked streaming content. The VPN offers dedicated streaming servers that help to unblock the geo-blocked content on Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Hulu.
Moreover, you can also watch your favorite content on US Netflix without any buffering or significant connection drops. The VPN offers decent and stable streaming speeds that won’t disappoint the users. However, since the VPN lacks obfuscation technology, this can be frustrating and spoil the streaming experience.
BlufVPN allows torrenting and P2P file-sharing, but it isn’t the best option to consider for torrenting. The VPN enables torrenting on specific servers, which increases server load resulting in inconsistent downloading speed. The slow speeds result in an unsatisfactory torrent downloading experience.
Moreover, BlufVPN lacks the advanced torrent-centric feature, i.e., split tunneling, that improves the downloading speed. Also, the VPN doesn’t fully follow a no-log policy and logs a sessional IP address which puts the users in significant doubt. The only feature from which you can benefit is the kill switch. It prevents your torrent IP address from getting exposed and guarantees the utmost online protection.
Using the best VPN for torrenting is recommended if you are looking for a better option.
BlufVPN claims to provide stable and fast connection speeds to users. The VPN speed depends on the protocols and the server you’re connected to. You can switch to the WireGuard or IKEv2/IPSec protocol for maximum speed.
In addition, the VPN has 500+ servers in more than 50 countries. But since the server network is not vast, you can expect issues like overcrowded servers and high ping times.
The VPN provider takes much time to establish a long-distance server connection. Also, you can expect a significantly slower connection. But BlufVPN’s speeds are enough to browse the web without connection lags. You can access websites and web pages with fair speeds.
Besides this, the speed is sufficient during streaming, but the speeds are not ideal for torrenting.
Another quality of a top-rated VPN provider is that it is user-friendly and doesn’t cause any issues while users use it. BlufVPN is a user-friendly VPN offering dedicated apps for different platforms and operating systems. The apps are attractive and easy to download and navigate.
BlufVPN doesn’t offer a vast server network like many top VPN providers. The VPN comprises over 500 servers in 50+ countries. All these servers offer unlimited bandwidth and promise a secure browsing experience. Some locations offer multiple servers, which is a plus point. You can find BlufVPN servers in locations like:
BlufVPN connects you with the optimal server and ensures a smooth user experience.
The VPN offers specific servers for torrenting and streaming, but the exact number is not revealed. The speeds are reliable if you connect to a server within the same country or continent. Still, if you’re connecting to a remote server, you experience connection drops.
BlufVPN’s customer support is one of its most disappointing aspects. Though the VPN on its website claims to offer 24/7 support, no instant live chat option is available. A separate support page provides an email address, support form link, and live chat option to connect with the representatives of the customer support team.
The VPN live chat feature is not like other VPN providers. The Facebook messenger app first asks for your username and password. Also, the live chat feature is pretty misleading as instead of assisting users 24/7; you can only contact them at particular times from 9 am to 7 pm.
The other way to contact the support team is by emailing or filling out the support form, but these services are unresponsive. An email was sent inquiring about the dedicated P2P and streaming servers, but after more than 24 hours, the support team didn’t respond. The only reply they sent was an automated email about receiving the query.
After waiting eight days, the support team finally replied, which was a great disappointment.
Besides this, BlufVPN has a FAQ and blog section. You can find guides and news in the blogs section, but it hasn’t been updated for a while and lacks in-depth research essential for resolving an issue.
BlufVPN is compatible with Android, Windows, and MacOS devices. You can easily download these apps from the respective app store. The installation process is easy and doesn’t at all trouble the users. You can log in to the apps by entering the credentials. Though the VPN selects the best server location, you can also choose a server. Also, for a secure browsing experience, enable the kill switch feature, but you won’t find this feature in the MacOS app.
Apart from this, the VPN isn’t compatible with any routers, smart TV, or gaming consoles, which is a slight drawback.
BlufVPN is a good option for beginners, but there’s still significant room for improvement for a hassle-free user experience. The VPN uses strong encryption and protocols to protect internet traffic from prying eyes. It also allows users to stream geo-blocked content on various streaming platforms quickly. However, the speeds are sometimes inconsistent due to a limited server network and increased server load.
Moreover, the VPN lacks advanced features like split tunneling, obfuscation technology, and port forwarding. Also, despite claiming to follow a no-log policy, BlufVPN logs some of the users’ information, which is unacceptable.
Besides this, BlufVPN lacks compatibility with major platforms and devices, and customer support is not impressive.
BlufVPN is a versatile VPN, but it will not be compared with the top names in the VPN industry until it works on its weak area.
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]]>Online scams take place all over social media, and Instagram’s popularity also has made it an ideal platform for scammers. Scammers are always looking for potential targets on Instagram because it’s a hub for people, influencers, and businesses that rely on it as a key source of their income. Instagram scams have become a norm, […]
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]]>Instagram scams have become a norm, and there’s a drastic increase in the number of these scams. A report found that Instagram scams rose to 155% in 12 months as of March 2023.
As online scammers learn new tactics to infiltrate your account, keeping updated about Instagram scams and ways to avoid them is essential for all users. Read on and learn about the top Instagram scams, signs to spot them, and the actions required to reduce the risk of getting scammed.
Online fraudsters use various methods and tactics to exploit the Instagram app. They do all this to compromise users’ sensitive data and accounts and grab money from them. Instagram scams come in various forms, and the most common types are as follows:
Phishing messages are among the top Instagram scams. The scammer sends you a message by setting up a fake account and pretends to be from some legitimate organization. The scammer lures you into clicking on the link sent in a message. Soon as you click on the link, it will either take you to phishing websites asking you for your details or download malware on your device.
For example, soon after the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, scammers used the queen’s identity to send phishing messages to people. UberFacts, on their Twitter account, posted a screenshot where it received a message from the Queen. She claimed that she was still alive and asked to send $300 via the cash app so she could get back.
The scammer added a Tea and Biscuit message with the Union Jack flag to look more authentic. Most people detected it as a phishing message and thus avoided responding. Moreover, people have reported that they have been receiving emails from hackers. They pose themself as someone from Instagram and inform them about verifying their accounts to get a blue badge.
Instagram is a free platform; it relies on advertisements for monetization. Many ads are submitted for review; this makes it difficult for the company to keep a check and balance on all ads. Fraudsters promote malware-embedded links, fake products, and services and steal money from them. For example, a guy revealed how Instagram ads fooled customers. After seeing its ads on the Instagram feed, he ordered a drone. But when the product arrived, it was not what was shown in the ad, and they charged him double its actual price.
The bitcoin scam is the latest type of scam in which the scammer lures you to earn money by making some initial investment. The scammer tricks you into paying a small investment through bitcoin to earn big rewards. Once you have made the bitcoin investment, the scammer disappears with your money and never appears again. People have reported losing $80 million in cryptocurrency investment scams.
It is also among the top Instagram scams targeting influencers and businesses. In this scam, scammers offer influencers and businesses more likes and followers at a good price to boost their accounts. But once they get their money, they vanish, leaving you behind to regret your mistake. For example, Instagram link-building experts offer different pricing packages to increase followers. But their promises are undelivered after receiving the money.
The influencers market is booming on Instagram. They all want to use their popularity to grab deals and PR packages from the brands. Some scammers take advantage of this and target influencers by impersonating them from a renowned brand. The scammers’ message and show interest in collaborating with them to promote their business. Also, the fraudsters reach out to potential targets with profitable deals. The influencers become fools and provide their bank details to receive the payment, but instead, their bank account.
Giveaways are pretty common on Instagram. The influencers arrange sponsored giveaways for a limited time. During this, brands give free products and services to the lucky draw winners. The followers can win laptops, designer clothes, and gift vouchers through the giveaway opportunity. But, most Instagram influencers are involved in fraudulent activities. The malicious actors use the information for illegal purposes. Also, 45% of Instagram influencers’ accounts are fake, yet they pretend to look like trusted influencers. They fool you by informing you that you have won a prize. But to claim, you must log in to a bogus site, pay the shipping fee or provide your details.
Job scams are usually done for identity theft purposes. The scammers promote a job opportunity that doesn’t exist in reality. The users start seeing stories and posts of some high-paying job opportunities. But to apply for the job, the user has to submit their personal data. This includes a phone number, social security number, or home address, where scammers steal their identity. After obtaining the data, the fraudster opens credit accounts in your name or breaks into your credit card to drain your bank accounts.
In this type of Instagram scam, a user usually sees promotion for a free trial of service. To avail of the trial, they must enter their credit card information and agree to the terms and conditions. The fraudster uses the target’s credit card details for an unauthorized subscription. An example of such a scam is seeing a featured ad about ‘Free Trial Membership.’ But upon clicking on it to find more, you’ve redirected to another site that asks for your credit card details to avail of the service.
Many people have even wasted money on fake or worthless workshops or courses aspiring bloggers and influencers offer. It’s a tactic used by scammers who impersonate experts and provide fee-based crash courses to train people. They lure the people who can get unlimited access to their resource material after paying the fee. But once they receive the fee, they vanish, or in some cases, the course content is unsatisfactory, leaving the participants disappointed.
To prevent Instagram scams, one must know how to detect them. Here are some of the red flags that scammers use that hint to you about the Instagram scams:
If you caught an Instagram scammer doing any of the activities mentioned above, immediately block and report the user before it’s too late.
Identifying Instagram scams is helpful, but it won’t completely protect you against them. There are some best practices you can adopt to prevent Instagram scams:
Using a strong password is vital to prevent Instagram scams. A weak password allows hackers to break into your account and compromise sensitive data. Thus, it’s crucial to use a strong password for your account. The password must be long, complex, and difficult to crack. Use the best password managers if you can’t create or remember strong passwords for your account. They help generate strong and complex passwords and store them in a secure location so no one can access them.
Implementing two-factor authentication is another best way to avoid Instagram scams. It allows a secondary checkpoint for account logins after entering the passwords. When this security feature is enabled and if someone login into your account from an unauthorized device, you’re first notified about this suspicious activity. You’re asked to verify your identity through an authentication code sent via text message or email.
To enable Two-factor authentication on Instagram;
Head to Instagram main menu > Settings > Security > 2FA > Select Started > Choose your Security method
Follow the rest steps that appear on your screen and prevent unwanted access to your account.
Allowing everyone to view your profile and photos on Instagram is risky as this increases the chances of getting exposed to scammers. Thus, change your default privacy settings status to private. Only your followers and friends can see your posts and stories, comment, and send direct messages.
To change your Instagram account setting, Go to menu > Settings > Privacy > tap on Private account mode.
But, this option won’t be available if you run a business account.
If you receive a message from an unknown user that asks for your details or urges you to click on a link, don’t fall for an easy victim. These are usually scammers that want to trick you so they can access your data or account. Be cautious while engaging with these unsolicited messages. Don’t reply to them immediately; first, check their profiles to look for signs of a scam.
Moreover, read the messages to spot the signs of a phishing attack. If someone you know sends you a URL but is out of character, look into its origin. Check details like when the account was created and whether it is verified or not. If you doubt the DM you receive is a scam, report it to Instagram and block the user account.
The third-party apps connected to your Instagram account can threaten your Instagram security. These apps allow you to share pictures from one platform to the other. But during this process, they also harvest your data and personal information, which is concerning. Keeping track of third-party apps helps to prevent Instagram scams. Review these apps at regular intervals and if you find any suspicious or unknown app that you haven’t connected to, remove it immediately.
To review the third-party apps, go to the main menu > Settings > Security > Apps and websites. From here, you can add or remove any app that you find suspicious or no longer wants to use.
Many use Instagram to buy various products but fall victim to scammers. Always buy from verified profiles or business accounts. You can check this by looking for the small blue tick on that account. Besides this, check the seller’s profile, and look for followers’ numbers and user engagement. You can also ask for user reviews on Instagram or Facebook before making a final decision.
Keeping a check on your login activity also helps prevent you from becoming a victim of Instagram scams. Sometimes a scammer isn’t in your location. Reviewing your login activity lets you know who attempts to access your account and prevents damage.
To review your login activity, go to Instagram menu > Settings > Security > Login Activity. If you see any suspicious location, immediately disconnect it by clicking on logout.
Despite taking security measures, anyone can become a target of Instagram scams. If you’re also the victim of any of these scams, then you need to exercise the following things soon:
Following these extra measures can reduce the chances of being scammed on Instagram, so don’t overlook them.
Instagram scams are increasing, and so does the concern to avoid these scams. But to prevent them, you must first know how to recognize the frauds. Look for common signs like unverified accounts, shady profiles, and urgent messages to respond.
You can adopt various practices to prevent these scams, such as setting a strong password for your account, reviewing login activities and third-party apps, and beware of phishing attempts. With these practices, you can prevent Instagram scams and enjoy a smooth and secure user experience on the app.
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]]>The dark web marketplace is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell anything. These marketplaces have come a long way from the Silk Road as a larger portion of the dark web is indexed and actively monitored. However, law enforcement agencies always try to shut down dark web shops. Surprisingly, despite great uncertainty, […]
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]]>Surprisingly, despite great uncertainty, there isn’t any effect on the steady growth of the dark web users and the revenue it generates. Dark web search engines support dark web marketplaces and allow users to use them, but still accessing them is full of risks; they infect your device with malware or viruses but can bring other legal consequences. Therefore, it is crucial that you know how to access dark web marketplaces safely.
While you might be curious to explore reliable and whitelisted dark web shops, it’s advisable to first focus on maintaining your online safety and protection. This guide puts together different ways of safely accessing dark web stores and the list of reliable dark web marketplaces you can consider visiting in 2024.
Tor is one of the best private browsers for anonymous communications and internet freedom. It allows users to stay safe from ISPs, government, surveillance agencies, and hackers monitoring their activities and is the perfect option to access the dark web.
The browser uses onion routing technology to route the internet traffic through multiple relay nodes that provide layered encryption. The layers of encryption hide your data and activity from snooping eyes. Moreover, the layers of encryption and the bounce of your data from node to node effectively mask your IP address, enabling online anonymity. It also allows access to the .onion sites on the dark web that you won’t find using a regular browser.
Using a reliable VPN provider is the safest way to access marketplaces on the dark web. A VPN encrypts the data traffic and keeps your activities private on the dark web. It also masks your IP address, making it difficult for government agencies to monitor or track your activities.
Since the dark web can be accessed through the Tor browser, to ensure increased protection, use a VPN and the Tor browser together. A VPN hides the fact that you’re using Tor, as in some countries, it’s blocked, and because of its criminal reputation, it always raises doubts.

The dark web shops are worth exploring, but accessing them is a real challenge. Several marketplaces are available on the dark web that continuously rises and fall because the risks associated with them force law enforcement agencies to shut down these marketplaces.
Still, you can find and visit some reliable marketplaces by using a Tor browser and a VPN. You can find several detailed guides that inform you on how to find reliable dark web markets. The easiest way is to look for features like anonymous payment options, phishing protection, product listings, and vendor information. This information makes it easy to decide if the marketplace is good for use or is a scam.
Here are the 17 reliable dark net marketplaces that you must explore in 2024:
URL: http://xu433i7gnogdh2vlrnvhyqmbry5wew5s7lqf4ddcin3q2nheb7twpyqd.onion/
Vice City Market is a new and cutting-edge dark web marketplace where you can find a range of products and vendors at an affordable price. To access this marketplace, you must register yourself, but before that, you must verify yourself as a human by passing a CAPTCHA test. It possesses a pleasant user-friendly interface that’s built from the ground. Its interface makes it easy to identify the clone websites and ensures that users always use the authentic site.
URL: http://7sdzmbd2645jf2afknowz67coktqxxrldble52sa5ep4g4wxu3zcfmad.onion/
DarkFox market is the largest dark web shop that sells various products and attracts more vendors and users. It is a wallet-based shop, meaning you must first deposit bitcoins into your wallet before purchasing any goods and services. The marketplace is much more organized, which makes it easy to use and navigate. Also, the interface is simple and clean. To access the marketplace, first, register yourself, but before registration, on the homepage, you can view the featured listings, goods categories, and a product search bar from where you can search for any product and even apply filters.
URL: i76guoy77ickcyhazh4bf3hxad2sq2kpwbcopv4z54glq6ynaynvcgid.onion
The White House market offers impressive features like a mandatory PGP requirement that enables 2FA for the user’s profile and adds a protective layer. To prevent the users from DDoS attacks, it provides personal marketplace domains to high-volume buyers and sellers. Moreover, this shop provides detailed statistics about each user profile on the platform, giving users a better idea about the vendors to the buyers and vice versa. This marketplace accepts payments via Monero but also supports the Escrow system.
URL: http://hydram6esdjf6otepmr5c3vjyndsoddz22afphbbjznwb5ln2c6op7ad.onion
Another dark net marketplace that you need to explore is the Hydra market. The entire website is in Russian, but the vendors are present worldwide. It accepts payments through bitcoins and the Escrow system and ensures that your identity remains anonymous during your purchases. It was one of the longest-running dark web business shops. But in April 2022, this site went offline as the American and German federal government law enforcement agencies seized the website servers. There are alternative links available that provide access to the marketplace.
URL: http://invictvevpwxlcrbjktr5sxpqpwtk6lel7vppagvtgxtewa3da5hoqad.onion/
Another dark web marketplace is the Invictus market, where you can find useful and rare products. The website has a clean and easy-to-use user interface without any innovation that won’t trouble the users. It accepts three types of cryptocurrencies: bitcoin, Monera, and Litecoin. All the purchases through this marketplace must be made through escrow. But the website comes with some security risks, and users experience glitches while using the site. As a result, it went down after one month of its launch.
URL: world6zlyzbs6yol36h6wjdzxddsnos3b4rakizkm3q75dwkiujyauid.onion
World Market is another largest dark web shop that deals with various goods and services. Its impressive anti-DDoS protection feature and easy-to-use interface make this marketplace stand out among the others. Furthermore, it doesn’t use JavaScript, meaning the website won’t track your activities or exploit vulnerabilities. The website allows a personalized searching experience, where you can search according to your geographical location, country-specific, and keyword or price-specific search results.
URL: http://megadmeovbj6ahqw3reuqu5gbg4meixha2js2in3ukymwkwjqqib6tqd.onion/
Mega Market is a new yet popular dark web market that reached a skyrocketing reputation after the closure of the Hydra market. It allows you to buy and sell a wide range of products and services with a good user experience. This site supports PGP encryption and two-factor authentication features. The vendors aren’t required to register or apply for a vendor’s account while using this platform. It ensures the buyer’s identity is kept hidden and accepts payments through cryptocurrencies, including bitcoins, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Monera.
URL: http://bohemia65jifi6rj3dcvu23tks5teidk6wllndg62vb37f57e6ymtgid.onion/
Bohemia is a modern dark web marketplace with a great user interface that is easy to use and navigate. It asks you to pay the merchant fee if you want to sell something. This way, it prevents the buyers from getting scammed. The marketplace has laid out several sets of rules that every user is bound to follow, and if any user is found not complying with the law, strict and immediate action will be taken against them. It uses PGP encryption to protect sensitive data and messages and accepts payments via Monera and Bitcoins to keep you anonymous on this marketplace.
URL: darkoddrkj3gqz7ke7nyjfkh7o72hlvr44uz5zl2xrapna4tribuorqd.onion
DarkOde Reborn is a great dark net marketplace where you can find anything you want. The website has a great design and a clean and organized interface, which is easy to use. The homepage includes options like browsing products, searching, mixer, and coin exchange. To purchase products from this marketplace, you need first to register. If you want to buy something, first deposit cryptocurrency in your wallet and the amount will be charged directly. The acceptable payment methods include bitcoins and Monera.
URL: http://6c5qaeiibh6ggmobsrv6vuilgb5uzjejpt2n3inoz2kv2sgzocymdvyd.onion
Cypher marketplace has been on the dark web for a while and deals with the business of a variety of products and services. If you want to buy something from this dark web shop, you don’t need to deposit cryptocurrency in your wallet. It accepts payment through bitcoins and Monera, while some vendors accept the coin. The website looks organized and has a clean, sleek, easy-to-use UI. You can find featured listings on the homepage and can browse the product of your choice, while there’s a search bar too that you can opt to use for searching any particular product or vendor.
URL: alphabay522szl32u4ci5e3iokdsyth56ei7rwngr2wm7i5jo54j2eid.onion
AlphaBay marketplace is one of the oldest dark web marketplaces that was quite popular for selling a great range of products and services. It offers impressive features, including PGP signed address, payment via Monera, sticky and featured listings, and auto shops. In 2017, the website went offline following a law enforcement action taken by the American, Canadian, and Thailand authorities, but since August 2021, it’s again operational. The website’s security has always been a concern for users. In April 2016, its APIs were compromised, which resulted in stolen messages. But since its relaunch, the developers are focusing more on operational security and ensuring that users can have a good experience on this site.
URL: http://asap2uwsfk4armhegwyanjq4mafugzhvjdcchreih556guod3oqtsyid.onion/
The ASAP is a moderate design dark web marketplace that offers helpful tools like mandatory PGP encryption and two-factor authentication for a safe browsing experience. Like other marketplaces, ASAP market also requires you to register for an account. The website allows visitors to view all the goods and services on display before they buy something. The quantity, price, and characteristics of the product are all provided. The platform lacks an advanced search option and a wallet-free payment option.
URL: http://333f7ul6ad4nuq4v4i6q7aqlw4e6qjn6ra4w3bz6jzn3po2eodjkl4id.onion/
The Torrez market is one of the biggest dark net marketplaces, also called a community-driven marketplace. It contains a good selection of product listings that ranges over 35000 items. The website has an interface and design similar to other dark web shops. It uses PGP encryption, two-factor authentication, and OPTP authentication to ensure users’ security. Besides this, it supports wallet-less transactions and accepts payments through Bitcoins, Litecoin, Monera, and Zcash. However, you must wait some time to reassess this marketplace because it’s been shut down. It issued a press release revealing that from December 2021, the website won’t be functional anymore.
Established Year: 2018
Language: English
Status: Active
URL: empiremktxgjovhm.onion
Empire Market is a dark web shop that resembles the AlphaBay marketplace. Its look, design, options, and interface are exactly the exact copy of its competitor, but everything else, including buyers, vendors, and servers, is different. You must register first if you’re a new user on this platform. At its launch, the platform accepted payments through Litecoin, but now it has incorporated support for other payment methods like Monero and Bitcoin. It uses PGP encryption and two-factor authentication to secure your data and communication.
URL: http://nemesis555nchzn2dogee6mlc7xxgeeshqirmh3yzn4lo5cnd4s5a4yd.onion/
Nemesis Market is a relatively new wallet-less dark web shop where you don’t need to deposit any amount in your wallet before buying products from here. The platform allows buyers to review the vendor’s products and services, so it’s easy for them to decide if the vendor is reputable or just scamming them. You can see all the product categories the marketplace deals with on the homepage. Like other marketplaces, it also requires registration for new users and accepts payments in Monera.
URL: http://tor2dore7ufpezrcqaw6txolzo42bzh76i7ifydzkpbp23qhfocwpkid.onion
Tor2door Market is among the largest dark net shops you must visit in 2024. On average, the marketplace consists of more than 11,000 items and 1000 vendors. The website has a sleek design and interactive user interface, making it the most preferred choice to consider using in terms of user experience. You can pay through Monera and Bitcoin using the escrow system or the traditional market account.
URL: silkroad7rn2puhj.onion
The Silk Road was a famous dark web marketplace where users could buy and sell goods and services anonymously. All the payments were made through cryptocurrency, further enhancing marketplace anonymity. The users on this site can review and rate the products that promote reliable and fraudster vendors. Registration is mandatory to access the Silk Road. In 2013, the FBI shut down the Silk Road, but it was later relaunched in 2014 with the new name of Silk Road 2.0, but the German authorities put it down in the same year. Other than the Silk Road 2.0, similar marketplaces also emerged, but they all went down sooner or later.
The dark web shops always conjure up illegal trade and activities. Cybercriminals also use them to launch phishing scams and can even infect your device with malware, increasing the risk of other online threats. Hence, it’s essential to follow some extra security measures while exploring reliable shops on the dark web:
Despite using a VPN, there’s always a risk of the VPN leaking your IP address through DNS or WebRTC leaks or misconfigurations. Therefore, you must run an IP leak test to ensure that the VPN is working completely fine and is not risking your digital security.
Cybercriminals on the dark web marketplace always look for new victims to target them with scams or infect their devices with malware, spyware, or adware. Thus, use the best antivirus software that protects against these online threats.
Having JavaScript enabled on the dark web can be havoc because it can reveal your IP address to your website. Also, previously, the Tor browser was vulnerable to JavaScript attacks as it provides hackers a pathway to track your activities by using the session details. Therefore, for security reasons, disable JavaScript on the Tor browser and enjoy an anonymous browsing experience on the dark net.
Changing the Tor browser settings can further boost your security levels on the dark web shops. For instance, you can choose the preferred security levels for enhanced protection. The security level is set to ‘Standard’ by default, but you can change it to the ‘safest’ and enjoy more security while accessing the dark web.
Besides this, make sure you delete all the cookies and session data by navigating the settings menu. Though the Tor browser by default offers a private browsing mode, if you have disabled it, then enable this mode as it automatically deletes all data and cookies when you close the browser.
Moreover, you can use a Tor circuit, but it won’t improve security; instead will surely improve the browsing speed.
Don’t ever reveal your true identity on the dark web marketplaces because there’s a high chance of hackers and scammers misusing it. Beware of sharing your financial details on the dark web, as this can result in identity theft and your bank account amount stolen.
Always use a fake name and temporary email address while you buy something from the dark net shops. You can even use a secure email provider or a burner email address whenever you visit the dark web.
Using a dark web search engine is a great step towards enjoying a more secure experience on dark net marketplaces. Not all marketplaces you want to visit can be accessed through regular search engines. In addition, mainstream search engines also track your searches and collect personal information.
A dark web search engine like DuckDuckGo offers impressive anonymity features and makes it easy to access dark web shops. These search engines neither track your search queries nor record any information, improving digital privacy and keeping your data private.
Using TAILS is yet another security measure that protects your online identity on the dark web. It is a specific Debian-based version of Linux software that leaves no traces of the user activity or the operating system on the computer. It uses the Tor network because it is a popular network that helps to circumvent censorship and online surveillance.
TAILS is free software that you can download on a USB flash drive and can plug that device into your computer, eliminating the need to install it on your device. It keeps your activities private as it doesn’t store cookies or files on your hard drive without your permission.
The Tor browser comes with pre-installed TAILS. When you use it, all the web traffic automatically routes through Tor. If the operating system detects any non-anonymous connection, it blocks them, thus ensuring maximum online protection.
The dark web is famous for being a marketplace for buying and selling products and services. If you purchase something from the dark web shops and make payment through conventional payment methods like your bank transfer, credit/debit card, or PayPal, you can be caught easily and face legal consequences.
To remain anonymous about your purchases on the dark web, always use cryptocurrency as your mode of payment. If some seller encourages you to opt for other well-known and commonly-used payment methods, then the person is likely to be a scammer, and you must not make any deal with them.
The dark net marketplaces are online black markets where buying and selling all kinds of goods and services are common. Considering the risks associated with dark web marketplaces, it’s crucial that you use a reliable dark web VPN. A VPN adds an encryption layer that keeps your activities private and overcomes the issues with the Tor browser.
Moreover, practice additional security measures to enhance your anonymity and privacy on the dark web shops. This includes using antivirus software, adjusting the Tor browser settings, checking for IP leaks, using TAILS, and making payments through cryptocurrency.
The post 17 Dark Web Marketplaces You Can Visit With Privacy Measures appeared first on BeEncrypted.
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