HELPFUL TOOLS

We’ve done our homework by putting together a collection of helpful tools for you so that you don’t have to spend time finding them for yourself.

There so much available here that’s FREE, as well as premium products with free trials.

If you decide to click-through and purchase from one of the providers listed below, we might receive a small commission which helps us keep our service going.

ONLINE SECURITY TOOLS

PASSWORD MANAGERS

If you want to use different passwords for each online log-in you have and let a password manager either simply store or, even better, generate and manage all your various online log-in details, then check out the very highly-rated apps below:

1Password – one of the top 10 password managers worldwide. It’s FREE for 30 days.
Dashlane – also often rated in the top two password managers worldwide. It’s FREE for one device.
Bitwarden – consistently rated in the top 5 password managers. Try their single-device plan for FREE (forever).
AUTHENTICATOR TOOLS

So many online accounts and services offer the added security of 2-factor authentication now. It means that even if someone knows your username and password, it would be virtually impossible to log-in – a BIG step-up in security for everyone (particularly if you regularly re-use passwords!)

Any of these apps can be installed on your phone (Authy syncs with more than one device too) and generate the random 6-digit code that changes every 30 seconds for each account that you link to the app.

When you sign-in to your account, as well as your username and password, you’ll be asked for the current 6-digit code for that account.

Bear in mind, with the exception of Authy (which you can sync across multiple devices), if you change your phone, you will also have to link the accounts in the new app on the new phone before you get rid of your old one, otherwise you won’t be able to sign-in to any of them.

Google Authenticator – probably the most widely-used  code generator out there. FREE.
Apple
Android

Authy -sync all your accounts securely so that you can use it across any device  – very handy when you switch phones, for example. FREE.

Apple
Android
Microsoft Authenticator – works with all online accounts PLUS additional deeper integration with Microsoft accounts. FREE.
Apple
Android
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Please be aware that free versions of apps that have paid-for premium alternatives often come with annoying privacy settings that can mean you’re marketed to upgrade, or annoying ads pop-up all over the place. This health warning does not apply to premium apps with free or trial periods, but you should still check very carefully what contact and data permissions you give to any software provider.
Avast Internet Security – regularly in the top 3 FREE antivirus applications. Paid options include more on-demand features and other services like VPN and password protection.
Malwarebytes – sets itself apart from all other antivirus software by pro-actively seeking-out new malware to stop it even threatening the devices it’s installed on. FREE 14-day trial.
Bitdefender – recently rated No1 antivirus software by several established sources and they claim to have the highest malware detection rates of any in the last 5 years. Not free but even the standard products (Plus) covers up to 3 devices.
Norton (by Symantec) – has re-established itself as one of the most thorough, comprehensive but least resource-hungry antivirus solutions out there. Plenty of free trials across many of their product.
VPNs

Special note for free VPN services: On security grounds, we are very wary of suggesting our users try any of the free VPN services out there (please read this article for our full take on it).

As a result we will never include a free VPN provider in our list below. The providers we highlight here are long-established and independently-audited for security compliance.

As always, please also be aware that free versions of apps that have paid-for premium alternatives often come with annoying privacy settings that can mean you’re marketed to upgrade, or annoying ads pop-up all over the place. This health warning does not apply to premium apps with free or trial periods, but you should still check very carefully what contact and data permissions you give to any software provider.

Express VPN – consistently ranked as the highest performing VPN worldwide. No free trial, but you do get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
IPVanish – always rated very highly for speed. No free trial, but there are monthly, quarterly and annual plans and you do get a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Nord VPN – top 3 performer in virtually all reviews. No free trial, but there are often very heavy sale discounts on (often as much as 70% or 80%!) and you do get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ALL-IN-ONE PACKAGES

Many of the antivirus products above can be upgraded to full online security suites with a VPN, password manager and other elements. That can get quite expensive.

The software in the all-in-one packages below has been put together by third parties to balance protection with value.

While these packages might not bring together the specific brands you might be looking for, they can represent fantastic value for money while tackling some of the major online security issues at the same time.

The Norton 360 suite can solve many of the most pressing security challenges in one package – Antivirus, Firewall, Cloud Backup, VPN, Parental Controls, Password Manager and Secure Document storage from £24.99/year for the first year

Similarly the Avast One suite of Gold and Silver products can protect the whole family with anti-malware, VPNs, dark web monitoring and much more, from £29.99 for the first year 

ANTI-FRAUD TOOLS

CREDIT MONITORING
Experian offer free and free-trial paid versions of their credit reporting and monitoring service.
Equifax offer one free report and paid versions of their credit reporting and monitoring service.
Credit Karma is free, offers monitoring and gives you your credit scores from both Equifax and TransUnion.
CheckMyFile offers a free trial, presents your scores from all 4 credit reference agencies but doesn’t offer monitoring.
ClearScore is free, and it even scans the dark web for password breaches, but only gives you your credit score from TransUnion.