There are an abundance of different laptops out there for you to choose from. However, depending on what you need a laptop for, one might be more suited to you than another.
This is especially true if you’re looking for a laptop for cyber security. The laptop you choose must have enough power to support your activities, and something that supports Kali Linux straight out of the box is a massive plus too.
So if you’re looking for a laptop for IT security and hacking, which model would be the best? Well, let’s look at some of the available laptops out there so that you can make your own decision.
Best Laptops for Cyber Security
| Product | Image | Screen Size | Specs | Get More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware m15 R2 |  | 15.6 Inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Dell XPS 13 |  | 13.3 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon |  | 14 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| ASUS ZenBook UM431DA |  | 14 inch | 16GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
| Lenovo Thinkpad T480s |  | 14 inch | 8GB RAM | Check Price at Amazon |
Alienware m15 R2
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 15.6 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 13 hours
Whilst it isn’t a necessity to have a gaming laptop for this kind of work, it can be a good idea. This is because they’re not only made to the highest quality, but they’re also very easy to upgrade too. So this laptop might last for many years with 16GB of RAM. And in the future if you need to, you can easily upgrade it to 24 or 32GB of RAM to increase its power.
It’s not just the power that’s impressive about the Alienware m15 R2. It has pretty much everything you could need from a laptop, including a Intel Core i7-9750H processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads. It also uses a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, which is one of the best graphics card on the market at the moment.
Also impressive about this laptop is its display, which is obviously designed for gaming. It comes with a 144Hz refresh rate, and it has very thin bezels at its edges to make the most of the screen space. It’s also quite thin for a gaming laptop too, being around 18mm in thickness.
Whilst some will say that this laptop is overkill for cyber security, it will be good for this purpose for more than 5+ years into the future. So if you want to invest in a long term laptop, then the m15 R2 isn’t a bad choice.
Dell XPS 13
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 13.3 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 10.5 hours
Another one of the most popular laptop choices amongst cyber security professionals and student is the Dell XPS 13. You can also opt for the XPS 15, which is very similar to this model, but with a 15.6 inch screen instead.
It’s one of the most commonly recommended devices for IT professionals. In fact, they even released a Developers version of the device specifically for those that need a device for programming. It has enough power for all your needs, and a good strong battery life too.
The reason that the XPS 13 is so popular is mainly because of it’s design and build quality. It has one of the best displays out of any laptop on the market, with a full HD screen that produces some beautiful visuals.
It’s not just the display that’s impressive, but the entire layout of the laptop – the keyboard is super responsive, and the touchpad is great too. I should also mention the chassis, which is of a really high standard. Even though the laptop has a large display, the chassis itself is actually even smaller than previous releases of the XPS.
Overall, this laptop is another popular model amongst security and IT professionals worldwide, and it deserves its place as one of the best options.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 14 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 12 hours
The Thinkpad X1 Carbon is more than just a business laptop. Its reliability and efficient design make it one of the best choices for cyber security, too.
One of the areas that is important for cyber security is a good battery life, as the work you’ll be doing can be quite battery intensive. Fortunately the Thinkpad X1 Carbon has an excellent battery life, so this is another good part about this laptop.
You can typically pick the Thinkpad up with an Intel Core 15 Processor, or in some cases you can upgrade to an Intel i7 processor if you need too. Aside from this, it also has good connectivity options too, with various different ports that you can connect to.
Overall, I’ve seen many people over the years recommending a Thinkpad as the best choice for those interested in cyber security. So, you can’t really go wrong with this model, as it’s amongst the best of the Thinkpad range.
ASUS ZenBook UM431DA
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 14 Inch | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD | Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 | Average Battery Life: 10 hours
The most important factor in finding a good laptop for cyber security is the RAM that the laptop has. Whilst you can get by with 8GB of RAM, ideally you’d use a laptop with 16GB of RAM, especially if you want something that will still be usable in 3 or 4 years time.
Premium laptops with 16GB of RAM can be expensive. However, this ASUS UM431DA provides a much cheaper alternative, and it comes with the perfect amount of power for your needs. It has a AMD Ryzen 7 3700U, which is a quad-core processor that’s definitely competent enough. It also has 512GB os storage, which is a good amount as well.
The biggest concern with cheaper brands like ASUS is that they’re going to be lacking in quality. And whilst the display of this model isn’t the same level as the Dell XPS, it’s still pretty good. And yes, whilst the overall build quality isn’t as good as the Thinkpad, it’s 40 or 50% cheaper and it’s still perfectly usable.
So, in my opinion the RAM that your laptop has is more important than the brand – they all run Windows OS, and can easily boot and run Kali too. This makes it the top choice for those looking for something affordable.
Lenovo Thinkpad T480s
Operating System: Windows OS | Screen size: 14 Inch | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Processor: Intel i7 | Average Battery Life: 10 hours
Whilst many people think that Macbook’s would be the best choice for cyber security this isn’t actually the case. Macbook’s are great for programming, but they’re not so good for cyber security. No, for cyber security I genuinely think that one of the most reliable options out there is the Lenovo Thinkpad series – pretty much any of them.
Well, there are two reasons why I’d recommend that you check out a Thinkpad. Firstly, they’re Windows laptops, which is important as you’ll probably running a lot of virtual machines. But also, Thinkpads are one of the best options for running Linux too, which is another reason to opt for a Thinkpad.
This T480s has ample power and enough storage space for anything that you really need to do, as well as being lightweight and portable too. Another good thing is that they have a lot of ports and connectivity, which definitely comes in handy.
So overall, if you’re on a tight budget then opt for a different Thinkpad – the T480s is great but still quite expensive. You could even look at getting a refurbished one if you want to save some cash!
Common Questions about Cyber Security
What kind of computer do I need for cyber security?
When you’re looking for a laptop specifically for cyber security, you should make sure that it has all the same qualities as any decent laptop. This means that you’re looking for at least 8GB of RAM, combined with an i5 or an i7 processor (or their AMD equivalent). You’ll also want to ensure that you have a lot of disk space, especially if you’re a cyber security student, as you’ll have tons of stuff to store.
Is MacBook good for cyber security?
Many people wonder whether a Macbook and the Mac OS is going to be good for cyber security. If you’re looking to take a cyber security course or you’re a student, then I’d advise that you actually opt for a Windows laptop instead. This is because in most cases, the instructions and lessons you get will be in Windows format. Whilst you can translate all of this to a Macbook, it will take time to do this.
What kind of laptop do hackers use?
Generally, more advanced hackers tend to opt for the more powerful laptops out there. Some of the most highly recommended laptops for hackers are Alienware laptops, as well as other premium models like the Lenovo Thinkpad. But, the specs of the laptop is far more important than the brand in this case.
What is the most secure laptop?
The truth is that all laptops are vulnerable to security attacks, but Macbooks are generally safer than Windows laptops. Not only because they’re harder to hack, but the majority of viruses are created for Windows devices. But with any laptop, there are security measures you can take to protect your laptop and it’s data.
What do hackers study?
Most hackers tend to study something around computing, programming or cyber security. Obviously, there’s no specific qualification out there for hackers, so they usually have a formal education in one of the above, if any at all. It is possible to have a successful career within the industry without necessarily being a cyber security student.
Conclusion
All in all, this list of the best laptops for cyber security should help you find the right laptop. It can be difficult to know which one would be right for your needs, so take some time to look through the market to find what you need.
The most important thing is that you get a laptop with enough power to do what you need to, so if you can afford a laptop with 16GB+ of RAM, then it’s a good idea to invest. This way, you can be sure that your laptop is going to last you for a long time.
