Online Security & Privacy Tools

The 10 Best Encryption Software for Sensitive Data 2025: Encrypted Data on The Cloud

If you have data that you don’t want anyone gaining unauthorized access to, you should consider using encryption software. Encryption software protects confidential and sensitive information like your medical history or financial information. There is no shortage of choices, so we list the best encryption software to help you find the right solution. Encryption works...

By Jason Stagnitto — 15 Mar'24 Last Updated: 18 Jul'24
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz

Best Pirate Bay VPN in 2025: Anonymous Downloads and Torrents

If you’re familiar with piracy and torrenting, you probably know about The Pirate Bay – one of the biggest torrent sites in the world. Torrenting can be dangerous for many reasons, including possibly breaking the law. The best Pirate Bay VPN will hide your tracks from authorities and keep you safe from hackers.

By Aleksandar Kochovski — 14 Mar'24 Last Updated: 04 Apr'25
Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu

Worst VPN Warning List: What to Watch Out for in 2025

A bad VPN service could sell your private information to advertisers. Worse still, a bad VPN might infect your device with malware, or you might not even be able to get it to work. Unfortunately, these types of VPNs have swamped the VPN market. We put our detective hats on and dug out examples of...

By Wisdom Sablah — 12 Mar'24 Last Updated: 27 Jan'25
Facts checked by Alison Spedale

Dark Web vs Deep Web: What’s the Difference and How Do They Work in 2025?

The terms “dark web” and “deep web” are often conflated and used interchangeably, mainly because the former is part of the latter. As you’ll learn in our comprehensive dark web vs deep web guide, the deep web encompasses websites that are hidden via non-indexing, paywalling and password protection, whereas the dark web only comprises non-indexed...

By Samson Kiarie — 11 Mar'24 Last Updated: 30 Sep'24
Facts checked by Alison Spedale

What Is Ransomware? 2025 Guide on Types, Variants, Protection Tips & More

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, ransomware resulted in global financial costs of $20 billion in 2021. 2 This figure is expected to grow to $42 billion in 2024 and $265 billion by 2031, indicating that ransomware will remain an online security threat for years. In this guide, we will answer the question, “What is ransomware?” and...

By Samuel Okoruwa — 11 Mar'24 Last Updated: 16 Aug'24
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska

The 10 Best VPN Services Tested in 2025: Free & Paid Providers for Speed, Security & Privacy

The Cloudwards cybersecurity team likes to say that picking the best virtual private network (VPN) is less like finding a needle in a haystack and more like searching for honey in a beehive: there are sweet rewards, but most of what you find is trying to sting you. It never pays to go looking for...

By Samuel Chapman — 10 Mar'24 Last Updated: 28 Mar'25
Facts checked by Simona Ivanovski

Best Afghanistan VPN: How to Get an Afghan IP Address in 2025

If you’re in Afghanistan and want to evade surveillance, you need an Afghanistan VPN. A VPN connects to a server in another region and encrypts your connection so you can safely browse online. However, if you want to watch your favorite Afghan content while connected or when traveling outside Afghanistan, you’ll need to use a...

By Arjun Ruparelia — 08 Mar'24 Last Updated: 19 Feb'25
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz

What Is the Dark Web & How to Access It Safely in 2025

The dark web is part of the hidden web, which comprises non-indexed websites that are mostly used for illegal and illicit activity. If you have heard your peers or colleagues throw this term around and are wondering, “What is the dark web?,” this guide is for you.  We’ll discuss how the dark web works and...

By Samson Kiarie — 07 Mar'24 Last Updated: 30 Sep'24
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska

What Is a VPN? How Virtual Private Networks Work in 2025

A VPN (short for “virtual private network”) is a service that protects you when you connect to the internet. A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic so that no one can see what you’re doing online. It also reroutes your internet connection through a VPN server, which can make it seem like you’re connecting from...

By Aleksandar Kochovski — 06 Mar'24 Last Updated: 27 Jan'25
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz

How to Create a Strong Password in 2025: Generator & Examples

Your passwords are the gatekeepers to all of your personal information online, so it’s important to choose strong ones. In this article, we’ll show you how to create a strong password, and just as importantly, how to remember it. When juggling several online accounts, it’s easy to give in to password fatigue and opt for...

By Mindy Born — 01 Mar'24 Last Updated: 20 Aug'24
Facts checked by Jasna Mishevska