Getting a laptop for security professionals is not an easy task. It is very challenging when you are looking for the best laptops for cyber security students. It can be possible with penetration testing, but it is also very complicated and depends on hacking tools and other individuals’ needs. The type of hardware configuration is also very essential for Cyber Security. There is a competition between various types of MNC’s that are trying to protect personal data and professional data.
All the companies that are working with security have to deal with a lot of social networking sites and financial transactions, so their data is exposed to the risk of being hacked. For that matter, a few companies hire cybersecurity professionals and hackers to look at the loopholes in the system to secure the company’s data.
An important measure is the performance of most of the hacking applications and software by the IT security professionals. The best laptop for cyber security should be able to run various applications of password recovery, dual operation systems, run many VMs on the same system, as well as boot the Kali from the USB drive.
A lot of things should be considered before buying a laptop for cybersecurity. There are laptops that come with an i5, and i7 Intel core processor, a large display of FHD for coding, the longer performance of battery with the GPU and CPU, a minimum of 4GB RAM or Windows operating system or Mac OS X.
7 Best laptops for cyber security students
The best laptops for cyber security students are given below. They are installed with advanced technologies, and perform better, faster, and are secure for long-lasting use. As cyber-security students, you can benefit from the reviews of the best laptops for cybersecurity students.
In a hurry? Let’s have a look at the comparison table for a quick overview.
Image | Product | Feature | Price |
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Top Pick |
MSI GL62M 7REX
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Amazing graphic display. Advanced cooling MSI technology |
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Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition
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Elegant design. Fingerprint sensor. Various Connectivity options. |
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HP Pavilion Power 15
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Great display High Quality of the sound system Turbo boost with Performance |
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Razer Blade Stealth 13
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Multiple connectivity options Precise and large Touchpad Low Processing time |
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Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
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Lightweight construction. Amazing display and keyboard. Many ports and options of configuration. |
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ASUS Zenbook 14 Laptop
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Light and flat Great build quality Number pad with a Click Pad Amazing speakers |
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Dell XPS 13 9360 13.3″ Full HD Touchscreen Laptop
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Updated processors Webcam above display Great battery life New option of frost color |
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1. MSI GL62M 7REX Full HD Gaming Laptop
MSI has been making amazing technology products. One of their outstanding products is the MSI GL62M 7REX which is suitable for users who run codes and other types of hacking tools. Its keyboard and big screen allow cybersecurity students, professionals, and hackers to type a lot faster. The display is gigantic and is 15.6 inches in full HD screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution.
It will allow you to perform many tasks together by opening various windows with each other by custom minimization. This laptop’s graphics boast the graphic card foster speed, as well as graphics, increase the Performance by almost 15%.
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The essential thing for Cyber Security students and professionals is its keyboard. The keyboard will be used a lot by cybersecurity students and professionals to use for the codes. It has the RED backlight keyboard that includes the ghost key as well for good feedback and wrist use that is proportionate. The sound of this laptop is advanced and gives the users an enhanced 3D as well as surrounds the sound-reducing noise of the exterior during the time.
This laptop’s weight is almost 5.29 lbs, and the dimensions measure is 15.07 x 10.23 x 1.06 inches. The Windows 10 OS home runs easily and boosts performance. The connectivity options are a lot for all types of users. The connectivity options are very advanced such as a power jack, SD card slots, a display port, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port. This laptop has a lithium polymer battery that gives a good battery life of almost 4 to 6 hours on hectic and very intense use.
Also Reviewed: 8 Best Laptops for Computer Science Students
2. Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition
The Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro is a laptop with an amazing design. The design is elegant as compared to the other laptops. The name does indicate a little aggression when it comes to his laptop, but it is an elegant edition. It gives the look of the ultra-book, so if you take it along somewhere, it will look like it which is very popular nowadays. The display is 17.3 inches and full HD with a resolution of 1080p and comes with significant bezels. Its webcam is a Tobii eye-tracking IR camera.
Its keyboard has a RED backlight, and if you plan on using it for other purposes and are not gaming, then you can turn the light off. This laptop’s weight is 7 pounds, and its dimensions are 16.7 x 11.7 x 1.1 inches. What matters the most for cybersecurity students is the interior.
It comes with the i7 Intel Core 7th generation processor in association with turbo boost technology that shows amazing visual facts. Its processors are coupled with the RAM of 16 GB DDR which helps this laptop perform its functions smoothly and faster.
The graphic card of 6 GB enhances this laptop’s power. SATA aerial ATA’s storage capacity is 1 TB, solid-state that allows it to store more files and keeps this laptop portable and slim. Acer gives you many connectivity options in this model that include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 2 USB 2.0 ports and 3 USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, an HDMI port, a thunderbolt, and the Gigabit Ethernet port.
There are three Lithium-ion batteries. It gives users almost 6 hours of battery life while they are surfing on the internet, streaming videos online and offline. If you travel and cannot connect the charger with Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro, even then, you can use your laptop. As far as security is concerned, the data stored in this laptop will be secured as Acer has a fingerprint lock that is located on the left side of its Touchpad.
3. HP Pavilion Power 15 Power Gaming Notebook
People who use the laptop for Cyber Security are on the lookout for a strong interior, and a nice keyboard quality that the laptop has, and the HP Pavilion Power 15 is a strong performer in this area. The design is simple and very elegant which is good, and you can take it to your office and the library. The display is great for people who use it for running codes every day. The display is f 15.6 inches and full HD with a refreshing rate of 144 Hz which gives the users a bright experience.
The Touchpad and keyboard are the two things that are very important for users who will use the laptop for cybersecurity purposes. These are usually referred to as secondary tools. The keyboard is of full-size and allows you to type faster and give a tangible response. The laptop has a great OS run and a built-in interior.
This laptop’s interior is an Intel Quad-Core i7-7700HQ processor, having a clock speed of 2.8GHz to 3.8GHz. Because it is coupled with the RAM of 32GB DDR4 that boosts the laptop’s power in dealing with multi-tasking and heavy software.
The CUK HP Pavilion graphics are strong NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050 4GB GDDR5 technology that supports the fast response of this laptop. The laptop’s storage capacity is 256GB SSD, and the Hard Drive is 1TB which is the mechanical Hard Drive. There are various connectivity options in this laptop by HP, which includes RJ-45 in case you need to be wired internet, a combination of microphone and headphones, an HDMI port, a port of USB Type-C, two USB Gen 1, a port wireless connection, and a Bluetooth port.
There is an audio speaker at the front of this ultra-book, HP audio boost, and B & O PLAY tuning that fosters the bass as well as good quality of sound. The operating system of this laptop is Windows 10 Home 64-bit. A battery of Lithium polymer provides you with a battery life of approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes. This is good for average battery life as many laptops come with a battery life of less than 8 hours.
Also Reviewed: 9 Best Laptops For Engineering Students
4. Razer Blade Stealth 13 Ultrabook Laptop
Razer Blade Stealth 13 blade is suitable for Cyber Security students, and professionals will be affectionate as they use this laptop. The display is the first thing to consider when buying a laptop for cybersecurity.
This laptop’s display screen is 13.3 inches and is capable of QHD and LED touch which is not available in all laptops and has a 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution with great color saturation. The image is clear with the 178 degrees wide angle. The laptop has the A8 Processor 4.6 Hz Cortex coupled with a RAM of 16 GB LPDDR3 that will enhance the image quality and make the processing faster as compared to other laptops.
The portable and sleek design allows you to easily carry it with you and gives a good impression to people about your personality because it is very elegant and simple. Single and large blocks of aluminum are used, which makes this laptop very durable and stylish. This model’s keyboard is anti-ghosting Razer Chroma with different functions and allows you to have a fast and smooth experience with many cybersecurity students’ functions.
Its Touchpad is precise and responsive. The battery life is not very long, if you are using it intensely, it will only last for almost 3 to 4 hours maximum. There are many connectivity option types like the SD card reader, thunderbolt port, Bluetooth, PCI Express, headphone port, HDMI port, and display port. You will be able to connect everything that you want with your laptop.
Read Also: How To Track Laptop With Serial Number?
5. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14″ Laptop
The Thinkpad X1 Carbon is not just made for business but offers a lot more. The efficient design and reliability make this one of the best laptops for cybersecurity students. The important thing to consider before buying a laptop for cube security is battery life. This model has a good battery life for all the work you have to do as a cybersecurity student.
The excellent battery of Thinkpad X1 Carbon is one of the most prominent features. You can get the laptop with the 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor. Besides this, the connectivity options are good with many different ports, so you will be able to connect it to anything. It is considered one of the best for cybersecurity.
6. ASUS Zenbook 14 Laptop
One of the most important things to consider while finding a laptop that is good for cybersecurity is the laptop’s RAM. You will be good to go with the DDR4 RAM of 8GB, and you can also use the laptop having a RAM of 16 GB, especially while considering the longer-term use for almost more than four years. The Premium laptops with a RAM of 16 GB are expensive.
ASUS Zenbook 14 Laptop is a cheaper alternative that comes with enough power that may be needed by you. This laptop has the AMD Ryzen 5 4500U which is a quad-core processor, which is very competent. The storage is 256 GB SSD which is enough. When you go for cheaper options, you may think that you will have to compromise on the Quality, but this laptop’s display is very good for its price.
The overall build quality of the Asus ZenBook is perfect. And you can carry it with you around different places that you go to because it is lightweight. It runs on the Windows OS RAM and will be able to run Kali as well. A few connectivity options on this laptop will allow you to connect other things with your laptop. It can be a great choice for people looking for an option that is affordable.
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7. Dell XPS 13 9360 13.3″ Full HD Anti-Glare InfinityEdge Touchscreen Laptop
Dell XPS 13 13.3 tells you why all Dell machines are worthy of waiting for and the hype. Before this model, the XPS 13 was one of the best laptops in the market, and this latest model has been an improvement on the legacy and keeps it the same that it has been.
There has been tough competition in the amazing ultra-book market, and the Dell XPS 13 has many important upgrades and preserves all the things in this line before this. It had taken advantage of the models before and came with amazing upgrades.
The webcam with four arrays of digital microphones has come to the place that it belonged, and there are a few other features and improvements, such as the important boost that is given to the battery life. The screen of this laptop is 13.3 inches and ultra HD and has a resolution of 3840 x 2160. It also has a touch display of Ultrasharp Infinity Edge.
This model’s display is 11.9 x 7.8 x 0.3-0.46 inches, and the weight is almost 2.6 lbs. The Performance and the amazing design of his model are not like any other. If you are looking for a Windows laptop apart from the Mac laptop or Chromebook, this Dell XPS 13 is a great choice.
The connectivity ports are a lot including one USB-C port 3.1, two ports of Thunderbolt 3 USB-C, a headphone jack of 3.5 mm, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a micro SD card slot. It is a good thing as another selection is notably better as compared to other competing laptops as some of these stick to only USB-C 3.1 without the Thunderbolt 3 standard. It has an sRGB color reproduction of 100% with Dell’s tools of Cinema color that is gorgeous and has been better with more techniques of popping HDR as well as 400 nits of brightness.
Also Reviewed: 8 Best Laptops For Note-Taking
Points To Consider Before Making a Final Purchase – The Buyer’s Guide
Buying a laptop is not a difficult task anymore. All you have to try and then do is get enough information about the laptop you want to buy. If you see that you know all the important things that should be considered before buying the best laptop as a student, then you can easily choose the one that is the best for you.
While considering the best laptops for cyber security students, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Given below is the buyer guide to help you choose the best laptop for yourself. Make sure you go through all of these before making a final decision. They are as follows:
1. Budget
The first thing that should be considered by everyone in the budget. If you are a cybersecurity student, ask yourself what your budget is and how much would you like to spend on the laptop. You should make a wise decision by setting a target budget first and then exploring the various products within your set budget.
If you are a cybersecurity student, you may have a little lower range than the cybersecurity professionals, so set the range for yourself, and after that, start looking for the laptops. It is advised to keep your budget under $1200 and then start exploring the very effective options in the provided budget.
A good understanding is necessary to know how to use this guide when you are searching for a laptop that is suitable for you as searching for the best product will decrease a lot of tension that is involved in buying the laptop and also save a lot of time, in turn, providing you satisfaction.
2. Processor
The processor or the CPU is the Central Processing Unit of a laptop or the PC. The processor is the device’s heart. It is responsible for the regulation and checking of the full system. We know this for the fact that the center of the body has to be powerful so that it can control every other thing related to it easily and with perfection. If you have a weak processor, it will have a weak system and be accountable for poor Performance by the device.
Poor Performance refers to the lagging and hanging of the system. Cyber-security students have to manage a lot of databases, so the plan selected by you should be able to take the load. Therefore, it is essential to make a wise decision. Cyber-security students have to work with documentation work and also use the laptops for study purposes. They have less exposure to using heavy software for editing and gaming. The 16GB RAM is adequate to run everything that you will be running on the laptop.
3. Hard Disk Drive
This factor is of great importance. The laptop has a hard disc drive that is a memory device. To select the storage capacity for the laptop, the purpose of use should be kept in mind. As a Cybersecurity professional, you will have a lot of information such as research work, study-related material, previous cases, some books associated with Cybersecurity, some case studies, as well as other personal things.
There may be some films, pictures, and music that take almost 100 GB very easily, especially if you download movies and seasons on the laptop. So, the selected memory device should be capable of fulfilling all your requirements. So, keep this factor in mind as well. It is advised to go for a laptop with a memory device of 256 GB or more than that.
4. Battery Life
The battery life is very important. During your life as a student and professional cybersecurity, you will have to suggest improvements as well as do your work outdoors.
There are many individuals who have to be affected, such as common men, judges, clients, businessmen, the people attached to the clients, etc. You will also be spending time with the families during tours, so it is important to purchase a laptop that will work for almost 8 to 12 hours with a totally charged battery. If you will be busy outdoors and doing some sensitive work, you should have a laptop that will not disappoint you with the battery timings and will run all the activities very smoothly.
You should consider this as it is very important when you are choosing a laptop. If the battery life is poor, then it will hinder the work and will be a tension for you. This problem should be eradicated before you buy a laptop. So, it is a lot more important than many other factors.
5. Design
The laptop design is dependent on the user. Some people like to go for a look that is impressive and sleek. Someone may go for the screen that is a little twisted at the 180-degree angle. Someone may want a screen that is not attached so that he can use it as a tablet per convenience. All these things rely on desire and budget.
So, give special attention to the keyboard of your selected laptop. It should be soft with a keyboard backlight. It should have thin bezels, and the laptop should be light and thin. Another thing that is important and comes under design is the availability of various ports on the laptop. There should be at least 4 ports of USB. An HDMI port and a display port are additional and are important. The hotkeys that are required will be chosen on the basis of your needs. You can have a perfect laptop that has all the worth.
6. Portability
We know that the work is not limited to one place only. If you are a Cybersecurity student, you will have to carry your laptop to your college and also use it at home. The laptop will be used in almost all places such as home, within the university, in the operation area, in the offices, etc., so you have to decide on a laptop, that will not be heavy and should be portable.
This will allow you to carry it in your car and while you are doing an outdoor activity, so it is important to consider the weight of the laptop. You will be able to hold it in the bag very easily, and it will not be a burden for you. The ideal weight of the laptop should be under 6 kilograms or even less than it.
7. Screen Size
The screen size is one of those few things that cannot be upgraded later, such as the ROM or RAM. So, the screen size should be chosen wisely. The screen sizes often range from 11.5 inches and go up to 17.5-18 inches. As a cyber-security student, you will be dealing with work-related programming, so select the screen that will suit you.
8. Brand
The laptop brand also matters when you are selecting the laptop. Brands pay attention to the needs of the users and provide attention to the needs of the users. Never go for a brand that you don’t know of. The brand should provide a warranty and must try to help its customers.
Do consider how they are getting back to the complaints and issues about their product and if they are welcoming towards you and resolving the issues. A few top brands include Dell, Apple, HP, ASUS, Lenovo, and Microsoft.
9. Graphics
Cyber-security students’ focus will be on working and studying, so this factor is not as important as others. But if you are looking for a system that is an all-rounder, then you should surely consider the graphics processor and choose it attentively.
Conclusion
You will need a laptop every day as a cyber-security student. The best laptop for cyber security students has been given in this guide. It is up to you to choose the one that suits your preferences and budget.
Make the decisions wisely as you will be using it for studies and work for the coming few years. Make sure you consider the factors that are given so that you can make an informed decision.
We will suggest the MSI GL62M 7REX as it is the best of the best and will check off all the factors on your list.
FAQs
What kind of computer do I need for cyber security?
You need a good laptop for cyber security that should have advanced technology and be faster as well as secure for long-term use.
What laptops do hackers use?
Hackers use the same laptops as cyber security students and professionals. They use both Mac and PC. A few of the laptops used by hackers are:
1. Acer Aspire V 17 Nitro Black Edition
2. MSI GL62M 7REX
3. HP Pavilion 15
How much RAM do I need for cyber security?
In most cases, you will need a minimum of 4GB RAM which will be enough. However, if you want a smooth and comfortable experience, then you should go for 8GB to 16 GB RAM as it will suit you. It is recommended to look for an option in the 8GB to 16GB RAM with an SSD of 256GB.
Which laptop has the best security?
There are a few laptops that have the best security, and they include:
1. MSI GL62M 7REX
2. Lenovo Thinkpad
3. Dell XPS 13
4. Razer Blade Stealth 13