If you’ve ever asked yourself, “when is the best time to do a security checkup?,” the answer is simple: It’s always a good time to assess your cybersecurity.

At Proton, your security is our top priority, which is why we’ve shared our most important cybersecurity guides to help you create a strong, impenetrable system that keeps your data safe.

We believe your data belongs to you and you alone, which is why we protect it with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption. But your security doesn’t have an on and off switch, and it isn’t something you can outsource to a single tool or service. Think of your cybersecurity as a web composed of your behaviors, the systems you employ, and the tools you use. It’s only as strong as your weakest link. 

For example, you could do everything right: Use a privacy-first email server like Proton Mail, set strong passwords, and use two-factor authentication. But if you fall for repeated phishing attacks (emails that pretend to be from a trusted source to get you to share information), your information is still at risk. According to Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, the most common link in data breaches is human error(nova janela), accounting for 60 percent of all security fissures.Robust cybersecurity requires consistent input, monitoring, and attention. That’s exactly why we created these guides, so you can educate yourself on how your data works, stay vigilant, and ensure you’re always in control.

It’s also why we launched the world’s first Data Breach Observatory, so you can see if your business is affected in real time, monitor where and when data is leaked onto the dark web, and mitigate your risk. When you combine the guides below with our privacy-focused tools, you can rest assured that you’ll have all your cybersecurity bases covered.

At Proton, we’re building a better internet where privacy is the default. To do this, we encrypt as much of your data as possible, making it more secure even if the worst happens. If you want an internet that focuses on protecting your data rather than collecting it, join us!

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How to avoid being phished

In 2025, phishing is still one of the main ways scammers manipulate employees(nova janela) to access confidential information. It’s so pervasive that Comcast Business analyzed 4.7 billion phishing attempts, just in 2024 alone. (nova janela)

A phishing email typically appears as though it’s from an authority, such as a bank, and tries to instill a sense of urgency to make you act before you can investigate it. Its ultimate goal is to get you to share sensitive information or to click a link that will deliver malicious software, including ransomware, onto your device.  

While some can be quite convincing, most phishing operations send mass emails, hoping to catch someone while they’re distracted. You can usually spot a phishing attempt if you just remember to take a moment and look closer. You should investigate any email that:

  • Is from an odd email address or one that you don’t recognize
  • Is unexpected or a surprise
  • Is poorly written or full of grammatical errors
  • Claims something is urgent and can only be fixed by clicking a link contained in the message

If you’re uncertain whether an email is a phishing attempt, you can always try to contact the sender by calling or texting them at a number you know is real. For example, if you’re suspicious an email from a bank could be fake, look up its phone number on its website. Do not click a link or download an attachment until you’re certain you’re not dealing with a phishing attempt.

Learn more about how to prevent attacks

How to make a strong password

Your password is the first line of defense for your online accounts, which is why it’s critical that you put effort into creating a strong password. 

The easiest way to make sure all your accounts have strong, unique passwords is to use Proton’s password generator, followed by a secure password manager, to create and save your passwords for you. Then, all you need to remember is a single strong passphrase for your password manager.

But your password is only the first half of the equation. Your online usernames are often the same as your email address, which is a key piece of your online identity. Even though websites frequently ask for your email address, it’s important to keep this information private if possible. That’s why Proton Pass lets you generate email aliases to keep your real email address private.

Learn more about securing your accounts with strong passwords

How to use aliases

An alias is a randomly-generated email address that forwards emails to your main inbox without sharing your personal email address. With Proton Pass’ hide-my-email alias feature, you can enter aliases into online forms in lieu of your actual email address, protecting your real email address from being disclosed or leaked. 

Just think of all the newsletters, subscription services and mailing lists that you’ve signed up for over the years using your personal email address. That address likely ended up being sold to other companies (ever wonder why you get emails from businesses you never signed up for?) which can then use your data to ascertain even more information about you to sell you more things. And the more lists your email address is on, the more likely it is for it to fall in the hands of a scammer. 

By using Proton Pass’ hide-my-email alias feature, you can prevent spam and phishing, protect your privacy, and take back control of your online identity.

Learn more about protecting your account with email aliases

How to use two-factor authentication

If your password is your account’s first line of defense, two-factor authentication (2FA) is the backup that keeps you safe if your password is cracked. Most 2FA methods require you to enter a one-time passcode from an authenticator app on your phone, but there are also hardware security keys that you simply need to tap. You should avoid 2FA that relies upon SMS, as this has proven less secure. (Proton Pass includes built-in 2FA so you can autofill your username and password, as well as your 2FA passcode.)

You can use Proton’s Authenticator app as an extra layer of security without having to rely on a code sent by email or SMS — and you don’t even need a Proton account to get started. Simply download the app on your mobile device or desktop and scan or import your existing codes. With the authenticator app, you’ll never have to worry about losing access to your accounts again.

Learn more about securing your accounts with 2FA

How to keep your device secure

There are four easy things you can do that will protect you from the vast majority of threats that could compromise your device’s security:

  • Always keep your device’s operating system, apps, and other software up to date.
  • Secure your device with a strong password.
  • Do not give anyone physical access to your device unless you trust them.
  • Turn Bluetooth and AirDrop off if you’re not actively using them.

Developers release updates in response to known security vulnerabilities. If you use outdated software, you’re leaving vulnerabilities in place that malicious actors are actively exploiting. The best way to keep your software up to date is to turn on the auto-update option everywhere you can.

Preventing physical access to your device and securing it with a strong password are common-sense measures. If an attacker gets hold of your device, it can be very difficult to make sure that they did not compromise it.

Bluetooth and AirDrop are convenient features, but known attacks, such as BlueBorne (nova janela)and BrakTooth(nova janela), can take advantage of them. By keeping Bluetooth off, except when you’re actively using it, you reduce the chance that your device could be affected by these exploits. 

How to prevent cyberstalking and social engineering

The information you freely share with the internet can often be used by malicious actors. This is because social media posts can often contain a lot of information that you might not consider, including:

  • Your location
  • Your appearance
  • Your friends and acquaintances, and more

Consider your social media platforms. If you constantly post photos of your trips or whereabouts on social media, you let people — and burglars(nova janela) — know you’re not home. 

If you use social media, you should consider adjusting the privacy settings for your preferred platform and think about what information your posts reveal — and what could be done with that information if it fell into the wrong hands.

Learn more about preventing cyberstalking

How to choose a browser that protects your privacy

You might not normally consider your choice of browser as a cybersecurity decision. However, nearly everything you do online requires using a web browser, such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or Mozilla Firefox. This gives your browser access to nearly all of your browsing activity, as well as your IP address, location, device operating system, and more, making it worth your while to consider which browser you want to use.

Google Chrome, by far the world’s most popular browser, has been custom-built by Google to sweep up as much data as possible(nova janela). Even Chrome’s “privacy features” are actually designed to facilitate Google’s surveillance of your browsing activity. To protect your data, you should use a privacy-focused browser like Mozilla Firefox, the Tor Browser, or Brave.

Learn more about privacy-focused browsers

How to recover from a data breach

While preventing a data breach or hack is always preferable to recovering from one, sometimes a cybersecurity failure is not your fault. Unfortunately, major data breaches by corporations(nova janela) continue to happen, sometimes affecting hundreds of millions of people(nova janela). When this happens, you’ll want to act quickly to make sure none of your information can be used to steal your identity or drain your bank accounts.

Learn how to recover from a data breach(nova janela)

We hope these guides help you keep your information safe and private. Thank you once again to the Proton community for all your support. 

Join us to protect your privacy and help build a better internet where privacy is the default. And as always, stay secure.

Get Proton for free today