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Daniel Morgan
April 12, 2026
The phishing email you receive today probably wasn't written by a human. It was likely crafted by an AI, personalised using data scraped from your social media, and formatted to mimic a company you genuinely use. That's not speculation, over 82% of phishing emails now use AI, and one study reported a 400% rise in successful phishing scams attributed to AI tools in 2025. In the UK specifically, fraud hit a record 444,000 cases in 2025 representing the highest annual total ever logged in the National Fraud Database.
The threat isn't new, but the scale and sophistication are. AI-generated voice clones, deepfake video calls, and automated credential stuffing attacks have turned what used to be clumsy, obvious fraud attempts into something far harder to spot. A majority of consumers say it's become more difficult to identify scams in the past year and they're right.
This guide is for individuals who want practical, affordable protection. Not enterprise-grade security stacks or technical deep-dives just the essential tools that create real, layered defence against the most common threats in 2026. We'll cover what each tool does, which products stand out, who each one suits, and what to avoid overpaying for.
The instinct for many people is to install one antivirus app and consider the job done. In 2026, that's no longer enough on its own, not because antivirus is useless, but because modern threats attack from multiple angles simultaneously.
The three-tool foundation that security professionals consistently recommend for individuals is: an antivirus suite, a VPN for network privacy, and a password manager. Each addresses a different attack vector. Antivirus catches malware and ransomware on your devices. A VPN encrypts your connection and hides your traffic from surveillance and interception. A password manager stops the single most common entry point for account takeovers, weak, reused, or stolen passwords.
Beyond the core three, there are optional but genuinely useful additions: dark web monitoring, two-factor authentication apps, and email alias services. We'll cover all of them.
Note: No security tool is infallible. The recommendations below reduce your risk significantly, but staying safe also requires sensible habits, being sceptical of unexpected messages, keeping software updated, and not clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts.
A good antivirus suite provides real-time scanning, ransomware protection, web filtering (blocking known malicious sites before you load them), and increasingly AI-powered threat detection that catches zero-day attacks that haven't been catalogued yet. Modern suites also include firewalls, phishing detection, and in many cases a bundled VPN.
Norton has consistently topped independent lab tests for malware detection, offering one of the strongest cybersecurity packages available, complete protection from all malicious threats, and extras like an unlimited-data VPN, password manager, and cloud backup. Its 360 Deluxe plan covers five devices across all major platforms for around £35–£45 in the first year (prices vary by region and promotion).
What sets Norton apart in 2026 is its AI-powered scam protection. Norton 360 includes deepfake detection that can help identify AI-generated video content, a growing tool used in sophisticated financial scams, a genuinely useful feature given the rise in AI voice and video fraud. Its Safe Web feature analyses websites before you visit them, flagging phishing sites and fake e-commerce stores in real time.
The 60-day money-back guarantee is notably generous and gives you time to properly test whether it suits your devices before committing.
Best for: People who want one subscription that covers antivirus, VPN, password manager, and dark web monitoring without managing multiple apps. Particularly good for households with several devices.
Worth knowing: Renewal prices are higher than first-year promotional prices. Check what you'll pay year two before committing.
Bitdefender uses tight integration across antivirus, VPN, and identity protection that can all be managed from a single dashboard. It's consistently rated among the best for detection accuracy, and critically it's one of the lightest on system resources of any major suite. If you run an older or slower machine and worry about security software dragging things down, Bitdefender is worth prioritising over Norton.
Bitdefender Total Security covers five devices and includes parental controls, a webcam protection feature, and multi-layered ransomware defence. The built-in VPN is limited to 200MB per day on this plan, genuinely useful for light use on public Wi-Fi, but not for sustained browsing. You'd need to upgrade to Bitdefender Premium Security for unlimited VPN data.
Best for: Users who want class-leading malware detection with minimal impact on device performance. Also a strong choice for Windows-primary households.
Where it falls short: The bundled VPN is data-capped on the standard plan. If you need a full VPN, either upgrade or use a standalone service.
| Norton 360 Deluxe | Bitdefender Total Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices covered | 5 | 5 |
| VPN included | Unlimited | 200MB/day |
| Password manager | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark web monitoring | ✓ | Partial |
| Deepfake/scam detection | ✓ | Partial |
| Approx. first-year UK price | ~£35-£45 | ~£35-£50 |
| System performance impact | Moderate | Very low |
Tip: Both Norton and Bitdefender run regular promotions that can cut first-year prices significantly. It's worth checking their sites directly and comparing current deals before purchasing.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet connection and routes it through a server in a location of your choice. This prevents your internet service provider, public Wi-Fi network operators, and anyone monitoring your connection from seeing what you're doing online. It also masks your IP address.
A common misconception: a VPN makes you harder to track, not invisible. It's most valuable on public Wi-Fi (coffee shops, airports, hotels), when accessing sensitive accounts remotely, and for anyone who values keeping their browsing habits away from their ISP or advertisers.
NordVPN is consistently recommended as one of the most reliable consumer VPNs available. It operates an extensive server network across over 100 countries, offers strong encryption protocols, and has a well-tested no-logs policy, meaning it doesn't store records of your browsing activity. The kill switch feature cuts your internet connection if the VPN drops, preventing accidental exposure.
Its Threat Protection feature also blocks known malicious domains and trackers, adding a layer that sits somewhere between a VPN and a basic antivirus for web browsing, without installing additional software.
Annual pricing typically comes in around £3-£5 per month when billed annually (promotional pricing varies). If you're already using Norton 360 Deluxe, its unlimited VPN may make a standalone subscription unnecessary.
Best for: Anyone who regularly uses public Wi-Fi, travels frequently, or wants to add network-level privacy without complexity.
Proton Pass (and by extension, Proton's wider product ecosystem) is built in Switzerland, collects minimal data, and encrypts even metadata, a meaningful distinction from VPN providers based in the US or UK, where data retention laws differ. Proton VPN has a genuinely unlimited free tier (with reduced server options), making it an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to test VPN use without spending anything.
The paid tier unlocks full server access, higher speeds, and the ability to bundle with Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass (the password manager) under a single Proton Unlimited subscription, a compelling stack for privacy-focused users.
Best for: Privacy-conscious individuals who distrust US-based services, or anyone who wants a free VPN that doesn't monetise their data.
Where it falls short: Free tier speeds and server access are limited. The interface is less polished than NordVPN for newcomers.
Account takeover fraud — where criminals gain unauthorised control of existing accounts, accounted for over 78,000 cases in the UK in 2025, a 6% rise year-on-year. The primary mechanism in most cases isn't sophisticated hacking, it's stolen or reused passwords. If you use the same password across multiple sites and one of those sites suffers a data breach, every account with that password is compromised.
A password manager generates unique, strong passwords for every account you hold, stores them with end-to-end encryption, and fills them in automatically. You only need to remember one master password.
Bitwarden is the best free password manager available in 2026, offering unlimited passwords, cross-device sync, browser extensions, and mobile apps, all encrypted with AES-256 and zero-knowledge architecture. It's also fully open-source, meaning its code is publicly auditable, a higher standard of transparency than many paid alternatives.
The premium plan, at around £8 ($10) per year, adds 1GB of encrypted file storage and advanced two-factor authentication options, making it extraordinary value even for users who want the full feature set. The interface has improved considerably and is accessible to non-technical users.
Best for: Anyone who wants maximum security for minimum cost. Also a strong choice for technically confident users who want self-hosting capability.
Where it falls short: Interface is functional rather than beautiful. Autofill occasionally requires manual intervention on some sites.
Proton Pass uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption, built-in two-factor authentication for extra security, and advanced tools including Proton Sentinel, passkeys, and dark web monitoring. Its standout feature is built-in email aliasing, you can generate a unique, disposable email address for every account you create. If that address starts receiving spam or ends up in a breach, you disable it without touching your real email.
Proton Pass's free plan includes unlimited passwords, multi-device sync, and even 10 email aliases, a genuinely rare inclusion at no cost. The paid Plus plan runs around £24/year.
For users who already use Proton Mail or Proton VPN, or who want to reduce reliance on Google services entirely, Proton Pass integrates cleanly into the wider ecosystem under a single Proton Unlimited subscription.
Best for: Privacy-focused users who want email aliasing built in, or anyone already in the Proton ecosystem.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires a second proof of identity usually a time-limited code from an app or a physical hardware key, in addition to your password. Multi-factor authentication can block over 99% of automated attacks, including credential theft via phishing. It's one of the highest-impact things you can do for your security, and for most accounts, it's free.
Recommended authenticator apps:
Tip: Enable 2FA on your email account first, it's the master key to almost everything else. If someone resets your password via email, 2FA stops them even if they access your inbox.
Data breaches happen constantly, and stolen credentials often end up for sale on dark web marketplaces before the affected company even notifies users. Dark web monitoring services scan these sources and alert you when your email address, passwords, or personal data appear.
Both Norton 360 and Bitdefender include dark web monitoring in their suites. If you'd prefer a standalone free option, HaveIBeenPwned (haveibeenpwned.com) is a well-regarded, free service that lets you check whether your email address has appeared in any known data breaches. You can also set up notifications so you're alerted when new breaches are detected.
The security software market is full of upsells, and not all of them are worth paying for. A few things to be sceptical of:
| Budget | Recommended stack |
|---|---|
| Free | Bitdefender Free Antivirus + Proton VPN (free tier) + Bitwarden (free) + 2FA app |
| ~£30–£40/year | Norton 360 Deluxe (covers antivirus + VPN + password manager) + 2FA app |
| Privacy-focused | Bitdefender Total Security + Proton Unlimited (VPN + Pass + Mail) + hardware security key |
| Family | Norton 360 Premium (up to 10 devices) or Bitdefender Family Pack + Bitwarden Families (£32/year for 6 accounts) |
For most individuals, Norton 360 Deluxe at around £35–£45 in the first year is the simplest and most comprehensive entry point. It handles antivirus, VPN, password management, and dark web monitoring in one subscription. If cost is the priority, the entirely free stack (Bitwarden + Proton VPN free + a 2FA app) provides solid protection at zero ongoing cost.
Use this as your starting point:
Q: Is Windows Defender enough in 2026, or do I need paid antivirus?
Windows Defender has improved considerably and provides a baseline of protection. For light users who are careful online and keep Windows updated, it's adequate. However, it doesn't include a VPN, password manager, dark web monitoring, or the advanced phishing detection found in paid suites and its AI threat detection lags behind dedicated providers. For most people, the additional coverage from a paid suite justifies the cost.
Q: Are free VPNs safe to use?
Some are, most aren't. Free VPNs from unknown providers frequently monetise your data selling browsing information to advertisers, which is exactly what you're trying to prevent. Proton VPN is a reputable exception with a genuinely unlimited, trustworthy free tier. Avoid any free VPN that doesn't publish a clear, audited privacy policy.
Q: How do I know if my passwords have already been stolen?
Visit haveibeenpwned.com and enter your email address. It will show whether your credentials have appeared in any known data breaches. If they have, change the affected passwords immediately and enable 2FA on those accounts.
Q: Do I need a separate password manager if I use the one built into Chrome or Safari?
Browser-based managers are better than nothing, but they have real weaknesses. They're tied to your Google or Apple account, if that account is compromised, so are all your stored passwords. Dedicated password managers use stronger, separate encryption, work across all browsers and devices, and don't pass through a big-tech ecosystem. For serious protection, a standalone manager is worth the switch.
Q: Is it safe to use the same security suite on multiple devices?
Yes, most plans are designed to cover multiple devices (usually 3, 5 or 10). A single Norton 360 Deluxe or Bitdefender Total Security subscription can cover a Windows laptop, Android phone, and iPad simultaneously. Managing everything from one account also makes it easier to stay on top of updates and alerts.
AI-powered fraud has shifted the threat landscape for ordinary individuals in ways that basic caution alone can't keep up with. The good news is that the tools to defend yourself are affordable, accessible, and don't require technical expertise.
A practical, layered approach combines three foundations: a reputable antivirus suite (Norton 360 Deluxe or Bitdefender Total Security), a password manager (Bitwarden for value, Proton Pass for privacy), and a VPN for network-level protection. Add a 2FA authenticator app and regular dark web monitoring checks, and you've meaningfully reduced your exposure to the most common threats.
The worst outcome isn't spending money on the wrong tool, it's spending nothing and remaining exposed. The free options covered here are genuinely capable, and even a partial stack is far better than no protection at all.
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Written by
Daniel Morgan
April 12, 2026
Daniel Morgan is a content writer focused on personal finance and digital tools, helping readers make practical, informed decisions. He specialises in simplifying complex topics into clear, easy-to-understand guides.
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