In this post, I will show you all you need to know about the website heatmap.
A heatmap is a great way to look at current trends through analytics, check the quality of landing page optimization, and determine what to do next.
Today, heatmaps are used to present complex statistical data. Engineers, marketers, sociologists, and researchers all use heat maps to provide comprehensive comparative data.
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What Is A Website Heatmap?
A website heatmap tracking tool uses a color palette to visualize data on a graph. For example, if you’re looking at a web page and want to know which elements get the most attention, a heat map will show that information based on the user data of that page’s visitors.
What Does A Heat Map Show?
A heatmap uses a color spectrum from warm to cool tones to show the areas of a website page that attract users’ attention (warm tones attract the most attention, cold tones the least).
Types Of Heatmaps
There are several types of heat maps, depending on the functionality of the service that provides the data. Let’s consider the most common of them.
Basic Heatmap
Classic choice. Using a thermal gradient, it shows the areas of the page that attract the most attention.
Scroll map
How long is your content? Do users read everything you write? Where is the best place to place a CTA button? Should you use longer articles? Should I use an infinite scroll or add pagination? All these questions can be answered with the help of a scroll map.
Confetti
A rather specific version of the classic heat map. The map displays areas with user clicks, which vary depending on the color, type of action, etc.
Heatmaps: When To Use Them?
If you are doing marketing, content marketing, or you are interested in information about user actions on the website, it is recommended to use a heat map for web visitor tracking. Here are some scenarios where it can be useful:
Website redesign
A website redesign can be a financial and labor-intensive process. The last thing you want to see is that the new design doesn’t work better than the old one. That’s what a heat map is worth using, tracking user behavior at each stage of change.
A/B testing
Do you need to test several landing options and choose the best ones? Need to know where is the best place to place a CTA button? Check how well the elements are placed on the page among several options? A heat map is an essential tool for A/B testing.
Pros And Cons Of Heatmaps
Site heatmaps are an underestimated tool in many ways. Often site owners are not aware of their existence at all.
And this is a big drawback because working with heat maps gives a lot of advantages to a business owner, marketer, website developer, or content marketing specialist.
We can point out at least 4 advantages:
Visibility
Color visualization allows you to present large amounts of data in the most simple and visual form. This saves time for analytics because looking at a heat map is much easier than working with the same data, but presented in tables.
Opportunity to improve the site
Heatmap analysis will tell you which elements to make clickable, which sections to remove from the text, where to place an advertising banner, and where to add a call to action in order to increase the efficiency of traffic processing and site conversion.
Usability improvement
By increasing the functionality of site elements, such as capture forms, by making the transition from section to section noticeable, you want the site to be more convenient for visitors – and they perceive it more loyally.
The growth of the position of the site in the search results
By improving the content, visual design, and usability based on heat map data, you can reduce the number of bounces, and increase the time of user sessions – search bots will see this, and the site will rank better in search results
Every coin has two sides – and heat maps have their downsides too. But there are few.
Insufficiency of data
The main disadvantage is that the marketer or the owner of the site/business is tempted to draw conclusions only on the basis of heat map data. In fact, it is more rational to use other analytical tools so that the reliability of the data is the best.
Also, the cost of using the full functionality of such services can be very tangible for startups and small businesses.
Website Heatmap: 10 FAQs
Understanding how visitors interact with your website is crucial for improving user experience and conversions. Website heatmaps provide a visual representation of this interaction, helping you identify areas that need improvement. Here are 10 frequently asked questions about website heatmaps:
1. What is a website heatmap?
A website heatmap is a visual representation of user behavior on your website. It typically uses a color gradient to show where users click, scroll, and hover their mouse. Warmer colors indicate areas with higher engagement, while cooler colors indicate less activity.
Different types of heatmaps track specific user interactions:
Click heatmaps: Show where users click on your website elements like buttons, links, and images.
Scroll heatmaps: Indicate how far users scroll down a page, revealing content visibility and engagement.
Mouse movement heatmaps: Track user cursor movement, helping understand user attention patterns.
3. What are the benefits of using website heatmaps?
Identify usability issues: See if users are struggling to find specific elements or complete desired actions.
Optimize call-to-actions (CTAs): Ensure your CTAs are positioned effectively for maximum clicks.
Improve content engagement: Understand how users interact with your content and identify areas that might need adjustments.
Prioritize website redesign efforts: Data-driven insights from heatmaps can guide website redesign efforts
4. How do I set up website heatmaps?
Several website analytics tools and heatmap services can be integrated with your website. These tools typically involve adding a tracking code to your website’s codebase.
5. How can I interpret website heatmap data?
Analyze areas with high activity (warm colors) and low activity (cool colors). Consider these factors:
Click heatmaps: Are users clicking where you intend them to? Are there irrelevant elements attracting clicks?
Scroll heatmaps: Do users scroll down far enough to see important content or CTAs?
Mouse movement heatmaps: Are users drawn to specific areas of the page? Are there areas they seem to be overlooking?
6. Are website heatmaps the only tool for website optimization?
Heatmaps are a valuable tool, but they should be used alongside other analytics data:
Traffic sources: Analyze where your website visitors come from to understand their behavior better.
Conversion rates: Track conversions (e.g., form submissions, purchases) to see if heatmap insights translate to improved user actions.
Session recordings: Observe actual user behavior through session recordings to gain deeper context into their interactions.
7. What are some limitations of website heatmaps?
Heatmaps don’t tell you “why” users behave a certain way. They only show what they do.
Heatmaps can be skewed by sample size. Ensure you have enough website traffic data for accurate insights.
Heatmaps don’t capture user demographics or motivations. Combine heatmap data with other analytics for a more holistic view.
8. How often should I check my website heatmaps?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Regularly review your heatmaps, especially after making significant changes to your website design or content.
9. What are some privacy considerations with website heatmaps?
Heatmaps typically anonymize user data to comply with privacy regulations. Ensure your chosen heatmap tool has appropriate data privacy practices.
10. Are website heatmaps expensive?
Website heatmap functionality can be included in some website analytics tools or offered as a standalone service with varying pricing plans. Free trials or limited free plans are often available to explore the features before committing.
Conclusion
Heatmaps are a great way to visualize the data on your website, and help you identify trends and patterns. However, they are not perfect.
It can be difficult to predict what the future holds for your company website, but heat maps can help you see what’s working now and what’s not.
The summer season comes with many goodies, offers, and discounts. This summer will not be any different, but a summer to remember with Surfshark’s jaw-dropping giveaway.
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This typically involves getting both Surfshark VPN and Surfshark Antivirus at a discounted price, often as a bundled subscription. You’ll enjoy the benefits of both services in one package.
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While advertised as “free,” it’s usually not entirely free. The Antivirus likely comes bundled with the VPN subscription at a discounted rate compared to purchasing them separately.
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Is the discounted price significant compared to separate purchases?
Do the features of the Antivirus meet your expectations?
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Encrypts your internet traffic, protecting your privacy online.
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In this post, I will show you 4 ways to remove Mac purgeable space.
We all love to make use of various apps and software that make our lives easier. We also like to store all of our work, educational materials, memories, etc., in a digital form.
Each of those things takes up computer storage, and so you have previously battled with limited Mac memory space warnings asking you to delete some files.
Deleting purgeable memory can help in such a situation – click this link to learn more about purgeable space. Otherwise, here are 4 simple ways you can clear purgeable space on your Mac.
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What Is Purgeable Memory?
Before looking at the different ways to clear it, let’s just briefly establish what purgeable memory is and how getting rid of it can help you with storage.
The Mac operating system uses purgeable memory, which is a type of storage that can be removed in case more space is needed. It’s essentially a redundancy feature where your operating system always holds specific files or documents available to remove if and when required.
These files are typically stored on your iCloud, and they have been selected as purgeable because they have not been used for a long period of time. Deleting your purgeable memory will not have any immediate impact on your Mac and the files can always be re-downloaded if needed.
How To Clear Purgeable Space On Mac
Now that we understand what purgeable space means, here are 4 ways to clear purgeable space on Mac:
1. Allow your Mac to do it when needed
Unless you need the extra storage space in your Mac for a specific reason or just want to clear it up, your Mac will free up the purgeable space if and when needed. This will happen automatically whenever your Mac does not have enough storage space for new files.
However, there are many scenarios in which you may want to clear the purgeable space yourself before your storage gets too clogged up. The next three points will cover how to do it manually.
If you are comfortable using the Mac Terminal commands, you can use it to manually create a large file, forcing your Mac to empty the storage and then remove the file – this way forcing your laptop to empty the purgeable space.
Type in the following command and click enter: mkdir ~/largefiles
Now type in dd if=/dev/random of=~/largefiles/largefile bs=15m and click enter
Leave your laptop for 5 minutes, then click Control + C to stop the command
Type in the next command: cp ~/largefiles/largefiles ~/largefile/largefile2
After that, keep typing in the same command, changing only the last symbol to the next larger number. So, the next command will have “3”, after that “4”, after “5”, and so on. Continue to do that until a message appears saying “disk is critically low”.
Once that is complete, type in rm -rf ~/large files/
Drag the file you’ve created to the trash bin and empty the big. All done!
3. Use the Optimise Storage function
An easier way to clear out purgeable space on Mac is by using the Optimize Storage function.
To access this, go on Menu → click About This Mac → Storage → Manage → select Recommendations on the left.
Here you will see various options for optimizing your memory space and you may clear those out manually.
4. Use a dedicated app
The last, and perhaps easiest, way to clear your purgeable space is by using a dedicated app for it. These apps are designed to automatically identify purgeable files and remove them for you with only a few mouse clicks.
Doing this regularly only takes seconds, yet always maintains a good amount of memory space available.
Yes, it’s generally safe to remove purgeable space. These files are non-critical and your Mac will recreate them as needed.
Will removing purgeable space slow down my Mac?
No, removing purgeable space shouldn’t slow down your Mac. In fact, it might improve performance by freeing up storage space.
Why does my purgeable space keep coming back?
That’s normal. Purgeable space is designed to be temporary and will be used again by your Mac as needed.
Are there any risks involved in removing purgeable space?
There’s minimal risk if you stick to the recommended methods (restart, emptying trash). However, using Terminal commands, if not done correctly, might remove important system files.
How can I check how much purgeable space I have?
Here’s how:
Open About This Mac.
Click on Storage.
Look for the category labeled Purgeable.
Are there any other ways to free up space on my Mac?
Yes, there are several ways:
Identify and remove large files: Use storage management tools to find and remove large unused files.
Uninstall unused applications: Get rid of apps you no longer need.
Move files to external storage: Consider storing less frequently used files on an external hard drive.
Optimize storage with built-in tools: Use features like “Optimize Storage” in iCloud settings to manage storage space automatically.
Remember, the best approach depends on your specific needs and how much purgeable space you need to reclaim.
In this post, you will know whether marketing students should learn cybersecurity or not.
The career of a digital marketer can be very rewarding in terms of salary and experience. However, before you can become a marketer, you need to get the basic knowledge needed for this profession. School or online courses are some of the best ways to go about it.
If you already started your journey of learning marketing, you may be researching other affiliate disciplines that may come in handy. If so, turn your attention to cybersecurity.
If you’re confused about how cybersecurity relates to marketing, hold your questions, because, in this article, we’ll be going over 4 reasons why marketing students should learn cybersecurity.
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4 Reasons Marketing Students Should Learn Cybersecurity
1. To avoid falling for scam emails
As a marketer, you will no doubt have to deal with emails. The reason is that emails are still great ways to engage with customers. It’s common for various businesses to send emails to their customers with links informing them of discounts and deals, and to also share information within the business.
It’s unfortunately still common for employees to click links attached to emails without verifying their authenticity. This can get even worse when employees enter their credentials. You don’t want to fall for a scam email, so you need to learn to protect yourself. A lot of cybersecurity courses teach how to determine if a link is authentic or not. This will help protect you and the organization you represent.
Cybersecurity courses can help everyone ensure their safety online. But to take such courses a student needs time which they often don’t have due to all the academic assignments on their plate. Thankfully, such students can hire professionals that can write papers for money online and lighten their academic load. This way, free time can be used to advance oneself in cybersecurity or other worthwhile activities.
2. To secure a website
Another way hackers can cause problems for a business is by attacking its website. This can range from causing fraudulent links to appear on the website to preventing legitimate users from having access to the website. Both mentioned scenarios can lead to serious implications.
To avoid these issues, a website can use proper encryption technology and two-factor authentication to make sure attacks are less frequent and detrimental.
What most businesses want these days is to have a team that is conscious of cybersecurity threats. If you learn how to safeguard against these types of issues, you can become a very valuable employee.
3. To avoid losing social media accounts
To be a marketer these days means that you need to deal with social media accounts. This makes sense because, with Social Media Marketing, you can reach a lot more people. A lot of businesses have accounts on popular platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. It’s common for marketers to interact with customers through this means of communication.
However, it can also be dangerous, as, in the process of sharing links, you might end up clicking on one that sends you to a fake login page. What’s worse is that you might not even notice it and go on without knowing your login details have been stolen.
Many cybersecurity courses teach how to avoid such digital dangers. Some solutions involve changing user passwords regularly and always using a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols to prevent hackers from cracking your password easily.
4. To secure data
As a marketer, you’re likely going to deal with financial transactions, which involve many risks. When you enter your payment information on e-commerce websites using payment methods such as PayPal, you need to pay attention to the internet connection you’re using.
Many cybersecurity experts will tell you that you shouldn’t make any purchases when connected to an unknown Wi-Fi network. This can lead to the loss of data and, thus, serious financial implications. There are other related threats that a cybersecurity course will include.
Should Marketing Students Learn Cybersecurity? FAQs
Who should learn cyber security?
Cybersecurity knowledge is valuable for anyone who handles customer data or works in a digital environment.
This includes marketers, especially those involved in:
Email marketing
Social media marketing
Customer relationship management (CRM)
Data analytics
Which course is better, cyber security or digital marketing?
There’s no single “better” course. It depends on your career goals.
Digital marketing equips you with skills for promoting products and services online.
Cybersecurity teaches you how to protect information systems and data from cyberattacks.
Consider a double major or courses that combine both skillsets. This can give you a well-rounded understanding of online marketing and data security.
What is the best age to learn cyber security?
There’s no age limit for learning cybersecurity. As long as you have a basic understanding of computers and the internet, you can start learning. Many online courses and resources cater to beginners.
What is cyber security in marketing?
When it comes to cybersecurity, marketing plays a role in raising awareness about online safety practices. This can involve creating educational content, promoting secure products and services, and working with IT to build a strong security culture within the organization.
How to do marketing for cyber security?
Cybersecurity companies can leverage marketing strategies like:
Content marketing: Create blog posts, infographics, or videos that educate people about cyber threats and best practices.
Social media marketing: Share cybersecurity tips and raise awareness on relevant platforms.
Email marketing: Nurture leads with educational content and targeted promotions for security solutions.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity is something everyone should learn, especially someone who makes a living online, like a marketer.
As a marketing student, you can make yourself more knowledgeable and protected on the web by learning cybersecurity. Such novelty notions will also make you more valuable as an employee.
If this article has managed to convince you of the importance of cybersecurity, we encourage you to start learning it today.
Microsoft Playwright is a new, open-source, JavaScript-based, cross-browser automation library for end-to-end testing. Learn more in this article. As a web developer, it can be tough to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of web development. You always have to ensure all website functions are working across all devices.
Learn more about Microsoft Playwright’s role in web development and automation testing by reading the rest of this article.
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Microsoft Playwright API: A Cross-Browser Web Automation Tool
The Playwright is a cross-browser web automation tool designed to make your life as a web developer easier. With Microsoft Playwright, you can write end-to-end tests without worrying about browser compatibility.
That said, it will work on any machine with up-to-date JavaScript. Likewise, you can initiate a test run across Chromium, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and WebKit.
Besides that, the Playwright library provides API for easy automation.
End-to-End Test With Playwright
Playwright’s end-to-end tests run in real browsers. That said, you can test the real browser input pipeline and proprietary browser APIs like:
Intersection Observer
Clipboard
Modern web apps rely a lot on these capabilities. Likewise, it is vital to test them to ensure they work as expected in your users’ browsers.
The Playwright supports users with complete control over their inputs via its Input API. It includes synthesizing all types of inputs, including:
Mouse
Keyboard
Touch
Gamepad
Clipboard events from the same JavaScript codebase
What Can You Do With Playwright?
Are you thinking of using Playwright? Here are some of Playwright’s various functions for end-to-end testing.
Configure Test Retry Strategy
Microsoft Playwright can help you tell if a particular failure was due to flaky tests. It will log information about each instance.
So, you can dig into how many times a particular failed test happened on each occasion.
The Playwright creates a new browser context for all independent tests. With browser context, you can test scenarios across many pages.
It also creates a new profile with your preferences and bookmarks. That said, it allows you the freedom to explore different topics.
The testability feature also allows developers and testers creativity in their end-to-end tests.
Web-First Assertions
Designed for web applications, Playwright assertions are a new way to create and deploy dynamic web content. Checks are also automatically retried until they meet the necessary conditions.
Playwright Tracing
Cut errors by configuring test retry strategy and capturing execution trace videos.
One-Time Login
The authentication state of the context can save and reuse all tests to make them faster. This shortcut bypasses repetitive log-in operations.
Each Playwright test is still in full test isolation from the other modules, so they can run without affecting one another’s results.
Produce Trusted Events
You can interact with dynamic controls and produce trusted events using Playwright. The tool uses your browser’s input pipeline.
Test Frames
With the power of selectors, Playwright can pierce through shadows and enter frames.
Auto-Wait Feature
With the Playwright auto wait, you can explore without worrying about timeouts. The Playwright can wait for elements to be actionable before performing actions.
This tool also has a rich set of introspection events. You can collect data without navigating testing actions with flaky tests.
Trace Viewer
Get all the information you need to investigate a test failure with Playwright trace. It includes a test execution screencast, DOM screenshot, and source file.
The benefits don’t stop there, though! It also lets developers view database responses without changing any code.
Playwright Inspector
Inspect the page and generate selectors with Playwright Inspector.
Check the click points in your browser’s console to see what happens when users click them. Also, explore execution logs to know the behavior of the different elements on the screen.
Codegen
Codegen is a tool that lets you generate tests by recording your actions. It’s easy to use for any web developer. You can also save them in any language.
Multiple Tabs, Origins, and Users
The most efficient way to test your site is by creating multiple tabs, origins, and users. With this feature, you can create scenarios for testing on your website.
Likewise, it helps to pinpoint any issues with user navigation.
Both Playwright and Selenium are popular tools for browser automation, but they have some key differences:
Playwright is faster and more lightweight, especially for headless browser testing.
Selenium has a larger community and a more established ecosystem of libraries and plugins.
Choosing between them depends on your specific needs. If speed and ease of use are priorities, Playwright might be a good choice. If you need a more comprehensive range of existing tools and community support, Selenium could be better.
Is Microsoft Playwright free?
Yes, Microsoft Playwright is an open-source project freely available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license. This means you can use it for free in any personal or commercial project.
Is Playwright a tool or framework?
Playwright is considered a framework rather than just a tool. It provides a higher-level API for interacting with browsers compared to lower-level tools. This makes it easier to write and maintain automated tests.
What coding language does the Playwright use?
Playwright itself is written in TypeScript, but it provides bindings for various popular programming languages like Python, Node.js (.js), Java, and .NET. This allows you to use Playwright with the language you’re already comfortable with.
Does the Playwright need coding?
Yes, Playwright requires writing code to automate browser interactions. You’ll need to use the provided libraries in your chosen language to write scripts that instruct Playwright how to interact with web pages.
Is Playwright suitable for UI testing?
Yes, Playwright is very well-suited for UI testing. It allows you to automate various user interactions with web pages, simulate different scenarios, and check for expected results. This helps ensure that your web application functions as intended from a user’s perspective.
Final Thoughts On Microsoft Playwright
The web browser is an essential and integral part of the internet experience. Modern browsers’ architecture can be complex because they run on different processes.
But the Playwright solves this problem by running tests out-of-process. Now, using test runners frees the Playwright from typical limitations.
It also has modularity and extensibility, so test automation is made much easier with Playwright.
In this blog post, we’ll explain how you can prevent a data breach, and what you should do if you’re hit by one. Keep reading to find out.
According to the government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2021, a huge 39% of businesses and 26% of charities experienced a cyber security breach in the previous year. This rose to 65% of medium-sized businesses, 64% of large companies, and 51% of charities with high rates of income.
These statistics certainly are sobering, but to protect organizational and customer data, we need to know more. In this article, learn what data breaches are, what steps to take if your organization is hit by one, and how you can prevent the issue from happening going forward.
Before I show you how to prevent a data breach, let me answer the basic question – what is a data breach?
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What Is A Data Breach?
The European Commission, from which we get the influential GDPR data rules, classifies a data breach as a security incident that results in data confidentiality, availability, or integrity.
That means that if the private data of your customers, business, or any other party that you hold is shared, lost, accessed, or altered in some way, then you have suffered a data breach.
What To Do If You Experience A Data Breach?
If you experience a data breach, the first thing you need to do is contact the supervisory authority within 72 hours of the breach taking place. In the UK, you will typically need to get in touch with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
If the data breach is likely to impact the rights and freedoms of the affected individuals, then you must notify them immediately too. From there, you need to record the breach, as the ICO may investigate. If you don’t have the right records, you could be hit by fines.
Since there are clear legal ramifications that result from being exposed to a data breach, it’s important that you get the legal representation that specializes in the field of data and technology. While you may understand some facets of the process, having an expert on your side can make the process much quicker, simpler, and more likely to conclude satisfactorily.
The best way to prevent data breaches from happening is to first adopt the mindset that one is almost certain to happen. That way, you can move forward and take a proactive approach.
This involves creating data breach detection systems, investigation processes, and reporting methods that allow you to identify data breaches, understand them, and combat them in line with the law.
Transparency is crucial at every stage. Covering up data breaches is a criminal offence, so you need to create a culture in which staff feels comfortable reporting breaches and have the means to easily do so.
Hopefully, your business never experiences a data breach, but if it does, there are plenty of things you can and must do to make sure the worst doesn’t happen again and data privacy isn’t infringed upon.
How To Prevent A Data Breach – And What To Do If You’re Hit: FAQs
How can data breaches be prevented?
There’s no foolproof way to prevent a data breach entirely, but you can significantly reduce the risk by following best practices like:
Using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Keeping software and operating systems updated with the latest security patches.
Being cautious about emails and attachments, especially those from unknown senders.
Having a data security plan and employee training on cybersecurity awareness.
What is the first step you should take if you suspect a data breach?
If you suspect a breach, immediately change your passwords for the affected accounts and any other accounts where you might be using the same password.
There isn’t a universally agreed-upon 5-step process, but a general approach might involve:
1. Identifying and containing the breach: Stop the attackers from gaining further access.
2. Assessing the impact: Determine what data was compromised and who was affected.
3. Notifying authorities and individuals: Report the breach to relevant authorities and inform affected individuals.
4. Taking steps to prevent future breaches: Improve security measures to reduce the risk of future attacks.
5. Monitoring and remediation: Continuously monitor for suspicious activity and take steps to fix any vulnerabilities.
What should I do if I am aware of a data breach?
If you’re informed of a data breach that affects you, change your passwords and consider enabling account monitoring or fraud protection services (if offered). Stay vigilant for suspicious activity related to your accounts.
What should you do immediately after a data breach?
The most immediate action is changing passwords for the affected accounts and any others at risk. Monitor your accounts for suspicious activity and consider placing a temporary hold on your credit card if financial information might have been compromised.
How do I protect my data after a breach?
Following a breach, be cautious about phishing attempts that might try to capitalize on the situation. Stay informed by following updates from the organization that experienced the breach about what steps they are taking and what you should do.
Read on as I show you how to organize your digital life with Desktop.com, an intuitive virtual desktop software.
Basically, virtual desktop software empowers employees to work from anywhere by providing them with a virtual desktop that they can access from any device. Users no longer have to be locked away in their offices or cubicles to get their work done.
With virtual desktops, employees can log in from home, the local coffee shop, or even on vacation and still access all of their files and programs as if they were sitting at their desks.
Virtual desktops provide several benefits for businesses and their employees: They reduce IT management costs because there’s no longer a need for servers or network equipment. They also improve employee productivity by removing roadblocks to accessing files and programs from anywhere.
This Desktop.com review explores the features and benefits of virtual desktop software so you can decide if it’s right for your business.
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What Is Desktop.com?
Desktop.com is essentially a cloud solution for remote work, workspace management, project collaborations and teamwork. It is a digital life organizer that integrates organization, resources, collaboration, and management as a cloud-based solution.
Desktop.com integrates essential tools and organizational features that include Password Manager, Identity Management, Multi-factor authentication, Chats, HD-quality video conferencing, and more.
To proceed with the Desktop.com review, let’s show you its major benefits.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Desktop.com?
As a remote solution for managing online resources, organizing digital life and collaborative efforts, individuals and teams can enjoy the following benefits and more from Desktop.com.
Managing digital life
A healthy work-life balance is maintained by keeping your digital life organized. Your digital life and devices represent your virtual life and office, where you spend most of your time as a remote worker. Hence, it is essential to keep your digital workspace organized for increased productivity and efficiency.
You may consider using Desktop.com to clear all digital clutter from your digital workspace and organize your apps, tools, projects, and teams on your device and browser for easy access. In the process, you can achieve a high organizational standard and efficiency that guarantees productivity.
Stay on the same page with your team
Teamwork improves productivity and guarantees success. Using Desktop.com to create multiple workspaces—each with its customized desktop—allows users to stay in tune with team members and monitor projects based on categories or groups.
More so, Desktop.com’s integrated chat and HD-quality video conferencing features are invaluable tools that guarantee seamless communication and collaboration for increased efficiency.
Onboard and offboard members for workspace or desktops
As an admin, you can use Desktop.com’s friendly access control to add or remove team members from projects, workspaces, or desktops. This ensures that an added team member gets access only to the tools, resources, and information needed to get started.
Import content easily to your desktop
Desktop.com makes it easy to import content to your desktop by using its drag-and-drop tool, browser plugin or adding content directly from Desktop.com.
You can easily select and add apps to your desktop from several app categories in Desktop.com’s AppStore.
Enjoy seamless app transition
With Desktop.com’s single sign-on and Password Management, you can enjoy seamless transitions across apps without logging in and out from one app to another.
Enjoy additional security layers
Desktop.com’s Multiple Authentication and Domain Verification provide extra security layers for personal and team accounts.
Getting Started Using Desktop.com
Onboarding desktop.com is as easy as falling off a log; the following steps will walk you through getting started with Desktop.com.
Get started by clicking here to select a Desktop.com plan of your choice.
Create a desktop.com account by filling out your personally identifiable information or using your Google, Facebook, Apple, or Microsoft account.
Complete your registration by choosing either a Free or Pro plan, and agree to Desktop.com’s Ts & Cs.
Tap the continue button to proceed to the payment page for the Pro plan.
Fill in your credit card details to enjoy a 2-week free trial.
Create a workspace by inputting your workspace name and URL, then proceed by clicking the blue customize icon.
Select the apps you need to get started and click next to proceed. You can also add either a Google Workspace or Microsoft Office 365 platform to your workspace.
Invite other team members, or you may skip this step in the meantime.
Proceed to the workspace by clicking go to workspace.
Set up your Desktop by choosing ‘invite people to chat’, create a new desktop, import bookmarks and apps, make your first call, and much more.
Now, for this Desktop.com review, let’s show you its key features.
What Are The Key Features Of Desktop.com?
Collaborative Bookmark Manager
Desktop.com’s collaborative bookmark manager gives you easy access to information when and wherever you need it, and it ensures that data remains shareable amongst team members, especially when collaborating on a project, and also by making it easy to organize and share bookmarked links.
You can organize all your bookmarks by tagging them for easy search and sharing among team members. If it’s necessary, you can also arrange them into folders for easy access.
Additionally, you can view your bookmarks in preview mode, import bookmarks using Desktop.com’s browser plugin, and save links easily.
Shared Digital Workspaces and Desktops
Desktop.com’s Shared Digital Workspace feature lets you create a digital workspace and desktop access for every team member.
Hence, you can eliminate digital clutter by having your apps, icons, and folders organized into a central location that unfolds with a single click, distributing tools and information across team members, picking up right from where you left off, and searching across your workspace to find anything effortlessly.
Third-party Integrations
Desktop.com has tons of third-party integrations that let you save time and achieve more. This eliminates the need to switch between accounts, making switching between apps seamless and providing your team with updated information on collaborations.
HD Video Conference
Enjoy seamless, high-density video calls or conferences with your team members without installing a video call application. You can send private messages and share notes and links among participants during calls.
Other intriguing features you can enjoy are background, sound, and output quality controls, password conferencing, and screen sharing.
Chat
Stay in touch with your team even while on the go by communicating with them privately or in custom groups. An in-app feature like a Status indicator shows the status of your team members, whether online, offline or busy.
Also, Desktop.com’s Chat has a cross-app feature that lets you send messages to other cross-platform chat apps right from your desktop without the need to switch.
Passwords & Security
Desktop.com’s Password & Security feature secures your digital workspace whether you’re working remotely or collaborating as a team.
Depending on your level of exposure, you can add extra security layers to secure your workspace and accounts with Desktop.com’s security features, like SSL, to protect you from phishing, botnet, and malware infections.
Moreover, you might as well add encryption technology to keep your files and communication secure, MFA to authenticate login attempts, SSO to improve access control, and Domain Verification to protect your workspace.
Desktop.com App Store
Add all your favourite apps with a single click right from Desktop.com’s vast web app repository.
You can improve your productivity by finding any app using the App Store’s advanced search and filter features or use the regular add button to add and share third-party apps not in Desktop.com’s App Store with your team members while using the single sign-on feature to restrict access to apps on your workspace.
Starting from $8 per month and a 14-day trial, you will get more bang for your buck.
If you feel Desktop.com is not for you, the 14-day free trial gives you ample time to downgrade your subscription to the free version or exit Desktop.com at no financial cost.
How To Add A Custom App
Go to your settings—workspace, and click the custom apps button.
Click Create a custom app at the top right of your screen.
Fill up the following in the custom app window that pops up on your screen:
App name
App URL
Select a category
Inputting the app URL fetches the app image
Click the add application button to add a custom app.
Note: For this Desktop.com review, we tested the custom app functionality, and it worked perfectly.
How To Organize Your Digital Life With Desktop.com?
If you’re working remotely from home, you will be heavily reliant on your digital devices to get your work done; hence, you will need more applications than you normally need on a regular basis.
Your devices and desktops become your office space, and you’re more likely to get cluttered with apps, files, folders, browsers, tabs, etc., all of which can result in more stress and less productivity.
By managing your remote work life with Desktop.com, you can improve your productivity, make more profit, cut out stress, and save time. Start organizing your life today by clicking the Get Started button to use the Desktop to organize your digital life.
How Do You Use Desktop.com to Manage Your (Remote) Work and Personal Life?
If you’re working remotely, you will need to communicate effectively and, at the same time, ensure that you can retrieve data and information easily without compromising your privacy or security.
Desktop.com helps you manage your remote work and personal life by helping you retrieve information fast, cut out on distractions, communicate seamlessly with your team members, and manage your space. This gives you control over your work and personal life.
Tips For Using Desktop.com To Organize Your Digital Life
1. Use the right app
Remote work depends on apps; hence, you must use the right app to get the job done. Desktop.com has a vast repository of apps you will need for remote work, and it also helps you define the specific uses of such apps.
For instance, you can enjoy quick access to apps like Google Drive, Gmail, Dropbox, Zoom, and Slack.
2. Use a dedicated platform
Desktop.com lets you create a dedicated workspace that is a one-stop shop for remote work. You can boost your productivity by organizing and managing your links, apps, projects, and teams from a central location.
You can also switch easily between personal life and remote work with Desktop.com.
3. Declutter your workspace
Use Desktop.com’s bookmark manager to declutter your browser tabs and tag links and to organize links into categories for easy sharing and retrieval of information amongst team members and devices.
4. Make communication easy
Communication plays a vital role in teamwork. With Desktop.com, you can boost productivity by effectively keeping in touch with your team members via Desktop.com’s HD video conferencing and chat, getting fast responses and viewing your team members’ status.
5. Organize your workspace
Desktop.com helps you organize your workspace and improve productivity by giving you access to the right tools. It helps declutter your workspace, ensure seamless communication, and manage links, teams, and apps all from one location.
Desktop.com: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Desktop.com Safe to Use?
To get it straight, Desktop.com is safe to use. It is a remote work solution that helps you organize your digital life to avoid digital clutter, improve communication amongst team members, and give you access to the right tools you need to boost productivity.
Desktop.com secures your workspace and accounts with multiple security layers, including SSL, File encryption, MFA, SSO, and more.
Is Desktop.com Legit?
Desktop.com is a legitimate digital workspace solution. It is trusted by millions of personal and corporate users worldwide, and it has earned many 5-star ratings and positive reviews on several review platforms, including Trustpilot, Capterra, Google, etc.
Is Desktop.com Worth it?
Yes, Desktop.com is worth it. The free version gives you access to basic Desktop.com benefits, while the pro plan gives you access to more Desktop.com features.
Top Desktop.com Apps by Categories
Here is a truncated list by categories:
Blogging: BlogIn, CrowdTangle, and more.
Branding: Audiense, Brandfolder, brandseye, and so on.
Business intelligence: 9lenses, Amplitude, Archive, and so on.
CMS: Acqui, Bluehost, Card
Collaboration: Beekast, Cage, Clariti, and more.
Commerce: Alibaba, eBay, Amazon
Communication: Messenger, Whatsapp, Zoom
Customers: Intercom, Pipedrive, Zendesk, and more.
Culture: ArtCollection.io, ArtEngine, Artmajeur, and more.
Design: Canva, Proto.io, Zeplin, and more.
Development: Confluence, GitHub, Stack overflow, and more.
Domain names: Dynabot, Godaddy, Sedo, and so on.
Education: 360Learning, Akindi, Allego, and more.
Entertainment: Netflix, Spotify, Twitch, and more.
Feedback: AB Tasty, AidaForm, Canny, and more.
Finance: Expensify, PayPal, Stripe, and more.
Food: AllRecipes, BigOven, Cookbook, and so on.
Gaming: Armor, Valor, Brutal, and more.
Health/Fitness: 8fit, Active.com, DailyBurn, and more.
Legal: AccountEdge, Adobe Sign, App4Legal, and more.
Logistics: 71Lbs, Audit Shipment, Flexport, and more.
Marketing: Google Ads, MailChimp, Meta for Business, and more.
Management: Acunote, Autotask, Cascade Strategy, and so on.
Monitoring: Atatus, Better Uptime, Bugherd, and more.
Music: Duet, Fit Radio, Fl Studio, and so on.
Network: Digicert, domotz, egnyte, and more
News: Crunchbase, Dailymotion, Entrepreneur and so on.
Personal Development: datacamp, eduCBA, edX, and more.
Productivity: Lanes, Notion, Pitch, and more.
Projects: Asana, Jira, Trello, and more.
Real Estate: Brivity, Brokermint, Buildium
Sales: Freshsales, GetAccept, Highspot
Security: Dashlane, Duo, Encrypt.me, and more.
SEO: Frase, DataForSeo, ContentKing, and more.
Services: Fiverr, Guru, Freelancer, Escrow.com, and more.
Shopping: H&M, Lego, Harrods, and so on.
Social media: Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and so on.
Sports: Yahoo Sports, UEFA.com
Storage: Box, Dropbox, Wetransfer
Tech: Gizmodo, Engadget, DreamFactory
Travel: Ezus, Expedia, FareHarbor, and more.
Visual Tools: Fotor, Genially, Infogram, and more
Writing: Grammarly, Google Docs, juro, and more.
What is Desktop.com, and how does it help me organize my digital life?
Desktop.com provides a virtual workspace where you can access all your web applications in one place. It eliminates the need for multiple browser tabs and windows, keeping everything organized and easily accessible.
How does Desktop.com handle the security and privacy of my apps?
Desktop.com acts as a container, meaning it doesn’t store your actual application data. It simply provides a secure way to access your existing web apps through their official login processes.
Does Desktop.com offer any built-in organization features?
Yes! Desktop.com automatically categorizes your added apps, grouping them based on functionality (e.g., communication, creativity tools). You can also create custom folders for further organization based on your workflow.
Can I use Desktop.com with any web application?
Desktop.com works best with web applications that have a well-defined web interface. While it has a vast library of pre-integrated apps, there might be a chance some specific web apps may not function perfectly within Desktop.com.
Is Desktop.com free to use?
Desktop.com offers a free plan with limited features. Paid plans unlock additional capabilities like increased storage space and custom branding options for your workspace.
Are there any alternatives to Desktop.com for digital life organization?
Yes, several options exist depending on your needs. Some popular alternatives include:
Browser extensions for tab management: These can help organize your browser tabs but don’t offer a unified workspace like Desktop.com.
Cloud storage services: These can help store and organize your files but not necessarily manage your web applications.
Project management tools: These can be helpful for task management and collaboration but might not be ideal for centralized access to all your web apps.
Wrapping Up…
Now, you should be able to organize your digital life with Desktop.com.
In conclusion, Desktop.com remains the ultimate solution for remote work organization, management, and collaboration. It provides a smarter way of managing your personal and remote work life, as well as managing data safety and security through the use of features like MF, SSO, Password Manager, etc.
Hence, Desktop.com is a much-needed digital life organizer for boosting your productivity and income while saving time and cutting out stress.
In this post, I will show you what to expect from the newly updated ISO 27001: 2022.
ISO 27001:2013 is a globally recognized standard of information security that allows businesses to protect their information using a clear and universally accepted framework.
However, data privacy and information protection laws have changed over time, resulting in the need for an update. ISO 27001:2022 is that update, and it is expected to be released later this year.
The new update will provide some vital amendments and updates to the current standard. Here’s what to expect:
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What’s Changing With The ISO 27001: 2022?
One of the essential things to note is that while you can earn certification in ISO 27001:2013, you cannot do the same in ISO 27001: 2022.
ISO 27001:2013 will remain the primary standard, and ISO 27001: 2022 will become a supporting control and provide guidance on how to best to utilize the main standard.
What Will Be Different Once The Update Is Released?
The new standard itself is significantly longer than the previous version, with many changes to the controls. A number of them have been reordered, updated, merged, and some removed.
ISO 27001:2022 lists 93 controls rather than the previous 114, but these have been updated to reflect the standard best.
The controls are grouped into 4 ‘themes’ rather than 14 clauses. These are:
People (8 controls)
Organizational (37 controls)
Technological (34 controls)
Physical (14 controls)
Controls that didn’t previously exist are:
Threat intelligence
Information security for the use of cloud services
ICT readiness for business continuity
Physical security monitoring
Configuration management
Information deletion
Data masking
Data leakage prevention
Monitoring activities
Web filtering
Secure coding
The new controls have been given five ‘attributes’ to make them easier to categorize:
Security domains (governance and ecosystem, protection, defence, resilience)
Other changes include the removal of terms such as ‘Control Objectives’ and ‘Code of Practice.’
When Will The New Changes Happen?
ISO 27001:2022 was released on February 15th, 2022, and the updates to ISO 27001:2013 are expected to be published in October, though this could be subject to change.
Companies currently in the process of implementing ISO 27001:2013 are advised to continue to do so and then wait for the update later this year.
Your organization will still have to align with the current ISO 27001:2013 standards, so if certification is not urgent for your business, you should wait until the update is released and then commence the certification requirements.
What Does This Mean For Certification?
As mentioned, ISO 27001:2013 is a standard that companies are certified against, while ISO 27001:2022 is a reference guiding the implementation and use of the new update.
Accreditation bodies will give companies sufficient time to implement the new update, engage with ISO 27001 consultants where necessary, and make relevant changes in their practice. The expected transition time is around 12 months, so there will be ample time to introduce the new update and apply for accreditation.
It is suspected that there may be a cut-off for issuing ISO 27001:2013 by the end of 2023. Therefore, businesses are still trying to achieve this accreditation, and they are recommended to do so as early as possible.
What Are The Benefits Of Achieving ISO 20071 Accreditation?
Achieving accreditation is recommended due to ISO 27001 being the globally recognized standard. Having this certification gives you the confidence that your business is protected securely with recognized controls.
Other benefits include lowered IT expenses, improved business coherence, and competitiveness over other organizations. Having these benefits will help you gain your customers’ confidence and promote relationships with other businesses.
ISO 27001:2022 is the latest version of the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). Here are some key questions answered:
What is ISO 27001:2022?
ISO 27001:2022 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an ISMS. An ISMS is a framework that helps organizations manage information security risks.
What’s new in ISO 27001:2022 compared to the previous version?
The 2022 update focuses on a more risk-based approach, streamlining the structure, and aligning with the latest management system standards. Some key changes include:
Emphasis on understanding the context of the organization and its information security needs.
Stronger focus on threat intelligence and vulnerability management.
Updated terminology for better clarity.
Consolidation of controls in Annex A (the recommended security controls).
Is ISO 27001 certification mandatory?
No, ISO 27001 certification is not mandatory for most organizations. However, it demonstrates your commitment to information security and can be a valuable differentiator when competing for business or attracting investors.
What are the benefits of implementing ISO 27001:2022?
Implementing ISO 27001 offers several benefits:
Reduced risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
Improved information security posture.
Enhanced customer trust and confidence.
Stronger compliance with data protection regulations.
Systematic approach to managing information security.
How do I get started with ISO 27001:2022?
Here are some steps to get started:
Familiarize yourself with the standard’s requirements.
Conduct a gap analysis to identify areas where your organization needs improvement.
Develop an implementation plan.
Implement the necessary controls and procedures.
Seek certification from an accredited certification body (optional).
What are Annex A controls in ISO 27001:2022?
Annex A provides a list of recommended security controls categorized into four areas: organizational, people, physical, and technological. Organizations can select and implement the controls relevant to their specific information security risks.
In this Tor over VPN Guide, we will show you how to combine the Tor Browser with a VPN. Also, we will show you the best VPN for the Tor browser network.
Using the Tor Browser with an excellent VPN service is a complete privacy, security, and anonymity package. Using Tor ensures privacy; a VPN ensures anonymity, and a mix of the two should not be a bad idea.
When a connection is made over the internet, it is almost sure that there is a third-party spy. Hackers and even the government may get information about pages visited, location, and IP address.
To hide this information, the combination of the Tor browser and a VPN is the ultimate solution.
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Short On Time, Here Are The Best VPNs For Tor Browser
Tor Browser is a free software project that enables users to anonymize their online experience. The Tor Browser is suitable for hiding the details of its users. This feature makes it a sturdy and well-downloaded app.
Tor is used daily by human rights activists, journalists, and government critics. Once a connection is made using the Tor Browser, the internet connection is encrypted and routed among multiple Tor servers around the world. Unless the entire Tor network is being monitored (including the servers), third-party websites can’t see the user’s IP addresses.
The Tor Browser can also connect to onion sites or the Deepweb. Onion sites are only available on the Tor network, as Tor itself is otherwise known as the Onion Browser.
A VPN, also known as a virtual private network, is an encrypted route between the user’s device and the internet. When web traffic is routed through a VPN server, it encrypts virtually everything about the connection.
Firstly, the user’s IP address is masked, and then all sent and received data over the connection are also protected.
Before a VPN is used, it is essential to verify the authenticity of the VPN provider’s claims. While many VPN providers claim security, anonymity, etc., it is deplorable that they later go on to steal their user’s information, selling it away.
Every time a connection request is made over the Tor network, the traffic is encrypted and routed through several nodes known as the Tor network, which makes it highly secure.
When a new connection request is made, the traffic is routed through completely different nodes, which makes it impossible to be traced. The process is purely random and not controlled by any authority, so trust is not needed.
Using the Tor network may offer some degree of anonymity. Still, users must note that the entry and exit nodes are documented, and anyone could have access to them with permission.
Some countries block access to Tor Browser nodes, while others are well-censored. In high crime rates countries, using Tor could mark you as a criminal.
Using a VPN blocks anyone from discovering how the information is being made, as a VPN encrypts the data before or after it gets to Tor nodes.
The VPN market is flooded with several VPN providers, and it becomes confusing to choose a VPN service provider. The following questions and suggestions will help you make the right choice of VPN service.
Ask yourself why you need a VPN. Do you need a VPN for privacy, security, speed, streaming, or torrenting? Will I be sharing my connection with my family?
Does the VPN provider have the features you desire in a VPN?
Are your devices compatible with the VPN?
Does the VPN have a simple user interface?
Does it have servers spread in locations you desire?
Can it bypass geo-blocks?
Does it have affordable plans?
Does it have excellent customer service and a money-back policy?
How Do You Know Which VPN Is Best For Tor?
A VPN that is best for Tor must have servers optimized for Tor. In addition, it must use modern VPN protocols that balance speed with security, e.g., WireGuard VPN protocol, and must also support obfuscation technology. Other features you should watch out for include server coverage, kill switch, and split tunneling.
Above all else, it must have strict privacy policies that do not support retaining users’ data. Having zero-trust RAM-based servers is an added advantage.
5 Best VPNs for Tor Browser
Tor browsers give users a higher degree of anonymity, and it is the gateway to accessing the dark web. However, combining a VPN with a Tor browser lets you enjoy benefits not accessible to Tor-only users; you can enjoy services not available to Tor users and also enjoy protection from some of Tor’s compromised exit nodes known as spoilt onions.
In essence, the Tor Browser slows down internet connections because it routes it via multiple nodes. A VPN does a similar job. Combining a slow VPN with Tor results in an unbearable online experience
To avoid this, a fast VPN with high security and a good no-logs policy should be used to connect to the Tor network.
Not all VPNs are ideal for use with Tor’s browser; hence, I have carefully selected some VPNs optimized for use with Tor.
Surfshark is a merged VPN service headquartered in the Netherlands. It is an affordable, high-speed VPN service optimized for torrenting, streaming, bypassing China’s Great Wall, and other use cases. Surfshark has more than 3200 VPN servers Spread in 60 countries worldwide.
Features that make it one of the best VPNs for the Tor browser include:
GPS spoofing for Android (this feature masks physical locations for Android device users)
Modern, fast, and secure VPN protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2)
RAM-only servers
Obfuscation technology (prevents ISPs, organizations, etc. from detecting VPN traffic)
AES-256-bit encryption protocol
2FA
Double VPN (MultiHop)
Split tunneling
Adware and malware blocker
IP rotator (makes it harder for you to be tracked)
Unlimited device connectivity
Strict Privacy protocols and a no-logs policy
Multi-platformMulti-platform support
Very affordable (price starting from $2.49 per month)
CyberGhost VPN is one of the best VPN service providers. It was established in 2011 by Robert Knapp, a German tech expert, but was sold to an Israeli technology company, Kape Technologies, formerly Crossrider.
CyberGhost has the highest number of servers and subscribers, with over 14 million subscribers.
Some of its key features include:
More than 7,800 servers in 94 countries worldwide
Over 3,500 servers spread in 94 countries worldwide
Supports routers
Encryption protocols: 4096-bit CA, and AES-256- CBC, and TLSv1.2 encryption protocols
ExpressVPN is a top VPN service founded in 2009 and acquired by Kape Technologies in 2021. the VPN has more than 3 million subscribers.
ExpressVPN has advanced and proprietary features that make it stand out as a VPN of choice for Tor and other purposes. It is one of the VPNs with the widest location coverage worldwide.
Other features that make ExpressVPN stands out include:
Over 3,500 servers spread in 94 countries worldwide
Supports routers
Encryption protocols: 4096-bit CA, and AES-256- CBC, and TLSv1.2 encryption protocols
VPN protocols: Lightway (based on WireGuard), OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), SSTP, L2TP/IPSec, and PPTP
RAM-only server
Private DNS (prevents leaks)
Adware and Malware blocker
Five simultaneous device connectivity
Supports browser extensions
Multi-platform support
Built-in ping tester (connects to the fastest network)
ProtonVPN was established by Proton Technologies AG, owners of ProtonMail. It is one of the most secure VPN services with robust privacy and security features. It is headquartered in Switzerland, a country with people-friendly data policies.
In addition, ProtonVPN is an open-source community project built with users in mind, making it one of the most user-friendly VPNs optimized for privacy, torrenting, streaming, Tor, etc.
Its Tor-optimized features include:
1,761 servers spread in 63 countries
Servers optimized for speed, Tor, torrenting, and streaming
Built-in Tor support
Encryption: AES-256-bit military-grade encryption with 4096-bit RSA, HMAC with SHA384 (message authenticator)
VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
Sever disk encryption to protect servers from DDoS attacks
Perfect Forward Secrecy (protects against compromised keys)
Kill switch and Always-on VPN (protects your data traffic round the clock)
This is the most common way to use the Tor Browser with a Virtual Private Network. It involves connecting to a VPN client and encrypting the connection data before the data packets are connected to the Tor network.
This system is advantageous in many ways, as it hides the fact that the connection was made over Tor, and it prevents Tor from accessing the user’s IP address. It also unblocks Tor, even where it is blocked. If the Tor Browser were to encounter a security flaw, a user accessing Tor over a VPN would be protected.
Another Tor advantage over VPN is its ease. To set it up, the users connect to their favorite VPN and launch the Tor Browser.
Can I Route the VPN Over Tor?
It is also possible to route the connection through Tor at first and subsequently connect it to a VPN. This is, however, more difficult and not worth doing.
While the exit node does not have access to your connection data, the VPN service becomes empowered to view your connection details, which is riskier if the VPN provider is untrustworthy.
A trusted VPN can be trusted with this setup, but virtually all trusted VPNs, including the above-listed ones, can support VPN over Tor.
What Is The Difference Between Tor And A VPN?
Tor is a free, open-source browser that routes data traffic from your device through multiple layers of nodes (servers); hence, the name The Onion Router. A VPN, on the other hand, is a Virtual Private Network of servers spread worldwide.
Both Tor and VPN conceal users’ privacy and identity while online; however, Tor users do not get to choose what node or server to channel their data traffic to, unlike VPN, where the users choose the server to connect to, along with a range of customizable privacy features.
Data traffic entering the Tor network is channelled through multiple server layers, which are run voluntarily by Tor users, while data traffic entering the VPN goes through a centralized server in the users’ location.
Lastly, a Tor browser can access the dark web, i.e., all websites ending with .onion, whereas you cannot access .onion websites on the dark web using a VPN.
What Is The Difference Between Tor Over VPN And VPN Over Tor?
Tor Over VPN means you’re connecting to a VPN server first before entering a Tor network. This prevents your ISP from knowing that you’re connecting to a Tor network and protects you from compromised Tor servers.
Using a virtual private network over Tor means you’re first connecting to the Tor network before connecting to a VPN service.
In essence, VPN over Tor lets you access websites that block data traffic from the Tor browser. It also prevents Tor’s exit node from decrypting and knowing the destination of your data traffic.
However, using a virtual private network over Tor does not hide the fact that you’re using a Tor browser from your ISP, and it also exposes your data to Tor’s entry server.
What Is Onion Over VPN, And How Does It Work?
Onion over VPN is a VPN feature that lets you connect to the Tor network without using the Tor browser. Onion Over VPN works by channelling your data traffic through several server layers (or nodes) (Onion), similar to the Tor network, adding extra security and encryption layers to your data traffic.
The only way to use this feature is by subscribing to a service with Onion over VPN features. Examples of such VPNs include NordVPN, ProtonVPN, etc.
Should I Use A VPN With The Tor Browser?
Depending on your privacy needs, you should use a VPN with the Tor browser to add an extra security layer to your data traffic before entering the Tor network.
This gives you the advantage of using Tor in countries where the use of Tor is restricted, and it also protects your data traffic should the Tor network be compromised.
To use a VPN with Tor, you should first connect to a VPN server before launching the Tor browser.
What Is Tor, And How Does It Work?
The Onion Network (Tor) is an open-source browser project that makes you an anonymous internet user by encrypting and channelling your data traffic through several nodes (server) layers (hence the name onion) operated by voluntary contributors.
Tor works by encrypting your data traffic and bouncing it through a circuit of nodes (also known as relays), encrypting your data traffic at each node.
However, your data traffic gets decrypted at the exit node before reaching its destination server. Hence, there is a need for an additional security layer at Tor’s exit node (Tor over VPN).
What About A VPN Over Tor?
VPN over Tor means that you’re first connecting to a Tor network before connecting to a VPN server. This is ideal in Tor-friendly locations for accessing websites and services restricted to Tor users.
A VPN over Tor encrypts your data traffic as it leaves Tor’s exit node into the VPN hop, channelling it through a military-grade encryption tunnel to its destination server.
How Does Tor Work Without A VPN?
Tor works without a VPN by encrypting and channelling your data traffic through several node layers. This masks your IP address and location in a similar way that a VPN does.
Unlike a VPN, Tor routes your data traffic through several server layers (at least three nodes) but leaves your data traffic exposed at Tor’s exit node.
However, using Tor is much slower since your data traffic has to be bounced through several nodes before getting to the destination server, hence making it less suitable for everyday use.
Tor Over VPN: Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Be Tracked When Using Tor With VPN?
No, you cannot be tracked on Tor with a virtual private network. Using Tor with VPN adds an extra security layer over your activities by protecting you if the Tor network is compromised.
Connecting with Tor over VPN means that the server will shield your data traffic from your ISP and also prevent the Tor entry node from knowing the origin of your data. Hence, there’s no way your data traffic can be traced back to you when using Tor over VPN.
Can You Be Tracked When Using A VPN Over Tor?
Yes, you can be tracked when you use a VPN over Tor. This means that your ISP knows that you’re connected to a Tor network, and Tor’s entry node knows the origin of your data traffic; hence, a tracker can track your data traffic if the tracker can find your Tor’s entry node.
On the other hand, your data traffic destination cannot be tracked because your data traffic at the exit node is channelled to your chosen VPN server before connecting to your destination web server.
Does The Tor Network Function The Same As A VPN?
No, the Tor network does not function the same as a VPN. Although both Tor and VPN encrypt your data traffic and channel it through a server, Tor offers you more anonymity by channelling your data traffic through several server layers (remember, it’s the onion router!).
Also, Tor slows down your speed considerably, making it unsuitable for everyday use cases, while VPN balances between speed and security.
In addition, VPNs have extra privacy features, including a Kill switch, several servers to choose from, tunnelling, etc., while Tor does not let you choose your server; rather, it sends your data traffic through a circuit of nodes not known to you.
Each node in the circuit operates a zero-trust by preventing each node from seeing the whole circuit of nodes.
Should I Use A VPN On Tor With Tails?
Yes, you should use a virtual private network on Tor with Tails to get the best of both worlds. Using a VPN on Tor with Tails, add a VPN connection at Tor’s exit node, preventing accidental data exposure.
It also enables you to access websites, services, and features that are not available when you use Tor with tails only. However, your identity can be compromised should the Tor network be compromised.
Should I Use A VPN To Connect To Tor Or Use Tor To Connect To A VPN?
Depending on your needs, you should use a VPN to connect to Tor. Using a virtual private network to connect to Tor means connecting to a VPN first before connecting to a Tor network.
Connecting to a virtual private network first masks your internet traffic, preventing your ISP from detecting that you’re using the Tor network, and also adds an extra encryption layer to your data traffic.
Using the onion router to connect to a virtual private network gives you access to services not accessible to the Tor network and also encrypts your data traffic at Tor’s exit node, preventing accidental data exposure.
Should I Use Tor Bridges Instead Of A VPN?
No! Rather, you should use a VPN instead of Tor Bridges. Tor bridges are also Tor nodes but are not made public because they are not included in Tor’s directory of nodes.
Setting up a tor bridge is far more complex than setting up a virtual private network, and not all bridges can work for your situation.
If, after setting up a Tor bridge, it does not work, you will have to go through the pains of searching and setting up a new Tor bridge. Hence, it is advisable to use a Virtual Private Network instead of a Tor bridge.
How To Connect To Onion Over VPN?
To connect to Onion over a VPN server, you should change your VPN protocol to OpenVPN (TCP) and select an Onion over a VPN server listed under the speciality server for NordVPN users. The process is relatively more straightforward for Proton VPN: search for ‘Tor’ using Proton VPN’s search bar and select a Tor-optimized server to connect to.
Does using Tor over a VPN make me completely anonymous?
No, it doesn’t guarantee complete anonymity. Here’s why:
Increased Complexity: The setup can be complex, and misconfiguration might expose your identity.
Potential Performance Impact: Running Tor over a VPN can significantly slow down your internet connection due to double encryption and routing.
VPN Exit Node Visibility: While the VPN encrypts traffic entering the network, your activity at the VPN’s exit node might still be visible.
Why would I use Tor over a VPN?
There are a few scenarios where this setup might be beneficial:
Highly Censored Networks: If you’re on a network that heavily restricts access to certain websites, Tor can help bypass those restrictions, and the VPN adds an extra layer of obfuscation.
Increased Anonymity: For some users with a high threat profile, the combination might offer a theoretical advantage. However, it’s important to weigh the complexity and performance impact.
Are there any risks involved?
Yes, there are a few potential risks:
Misconfiguration Issues: If not set up correctly, you might expose your identity or even compromise your security.
Legal Concerns: In some regions, using Tor itself might raise suspicion. Make sure you understand the local laws regarding Tor usage.
Slower Speeds: As mentioned earlier, expect a significant slowdown in your internet connection.
What are some alternatives to consider?
Just Tor: If your primary goal is anonymity and you’re comfortable with the technical aspects, using Tor alone might be sufficient.
Just a VPN: For basic privacy and location masking, a reputable VPN can be a good option.
Conclusion
Tor is an invaluable tool for online privacy. If anonymity is desired, the importance of the Tor Browser cannot be overemphasized. Using the Tor Browser with a credible VPN service makes an unbreakable security firewall.
![Tor Over VPN Guide: How To Combine Tor Browser With VPN [+5 Best VPNs]](https://secureblitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tor-Over-VPN-Guide-How-To-Combine-Tor-Browser-With-VPN-768x402.png "Tor Over VPN Guide: How To Combine Tor Browser With VPN [+5 Best VPNs]")
