Cybersecurity Geniuses

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Security keys, backups and books worth buying

A few physical things that genuinely raise your security: hardware security keys, an offline backup drive and a privacy screen, plus readable books on how attackers think. Links open an Amazon search.

1 min read · Updated November 2026

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Hardware

  • FIDO2 security keys (buy two). A hardware key stops most phishing because it only signs in on the real site. Register two keys so the second one is your backup, and check the connector (USB-A, USB-C, NFC) matches your devices. Search Amazon
  • An external drive for offline backups. Ransomware cannot encrypt a backup that is unplugged. Follow the 3-2-1 idea: three copies, two kinds of storage, one kept offline or off-site. Search Amazon
  • A laptop privacy screen. Stops people beside you on a train or in a cafe reading your screen. Measure your screen diagonally before ordering. Search Amazon

Read

  • Ghost in the Wires by Kevin Mitnick. A famous hacker's memoir, and a lesson in how social engineering really works. Search Amazon
  • The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick. Practical privacy habits for everyday life online. Search Amazon
  • A current CompTIA Security+ study guide. If you are heading for a security career, Security+ is a common first certification. Make sure the guide matches the current exam code. Search Amazon

How we pick

We list simple, widely sold product types and well-known books that fit what we cover. No brand paid to be here, we do not publish ratings or reviews we have not done, and prices change, so always check the seller's page before you buy.

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