Whether you've got a brand-new computer for gaming, work and/or play, you need to protect it (and yourself). Unfortunately, the internet is awash with cybercriminals trying to steal your sensitive information and use it against you, whether this is through financial fraud, identity theft or other cybercrimes.
At Tom's Guide, we've tested the best security software and we believe that a combination of a good VPN, an antivirus, and a password manager is a strong defense against those trying to track your IP or attempting to infect your new computer with malicious software like viruses, malware, or ransomware.
Now, there are hundreds of “security” solutions trying to lure you into buying them but in reality, they don't deliver on their promises. Our Tom's Guide experts have looked beyond their advertised claims, tested them hands-on, and filtered out the best ones for you in this guide.
The best VPN in 2024
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and gives you a new IP address, making it look like you’re in a different location than your actual, physical one, thereby keeping you protected from hackers, ISPs, and governments, and unblocking content restricted in your region.
We test dozens of providers daily, and these are the best VPNs on the market right now:
How to pick a VPN to secure your computer
When selecting a VPN, the first thing you should look for is a VPN provider with excellent security and privacy credentials. Not only should it offer a rock-solid kill switch, strong encryption, and leak protection, but it should also follow a strict no-logs policy—meaning it never stores or shares your personal data with any third parties.
The next most important thing when choosing a VPN is the number of locations on offer. Ideally, the provider you pick should have a massive fleet of servers spread nicely across the world. This way, you will be able to enjoy stable and fast connections from and to the countries of your choice, such as one that's home to your favorite content library.
The number of devices you want to protect is also an important consideration. Providers like Surfshark and Private Internet Access come with unlimited simultaneous connections, allowing you to share the VPN’s security with all your friends and family members.
Next, if you’re on a tight budget and cannot quite grab the best premium providers, we recommend picking one of the best cheap VPNs. Regardless of how much you’re paying, make sure the provider boasts robust customer support with quick response times and in-depth resources.
Using a VPN FAQs
Is it legal to use a VPN?
Whether you can legally use a VPN depends on where you are. While VPNs are legal in most countries around the world, some like North Korea, Turkmenistan, and Iraq have completely banned them.
Then others like China, Oman, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE either allow you to use only government-approved providers or block access to the websites/servers of VPN providers that don't follow its rules.
Are VPNs easy to use?
VPNs come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. While the majority of them are generally straightforward to use, some of them are designed to appeal to the tech-savvy, meaning they may be a little less beginner-friendly.
If you're new to VPNs and would like something simple yet fully functional, we recommend opting for ExpressVPN which boasts an excellent one-click connect function—plus its proprietary Lightway protocol very intuitively and accurately selects the best server and encryption for your needs.
The best antivirus in 2024
The best antivirus software is a must-have for your new computer, as it not only provides potent defense against malware, viruses, and ransomware but also keeps your device running smoothly.
Tom’s Guide experts review top antiviruses across core aspects like ease of use, performance, extras on offer, and value for money. These grabbed the top three spots:
How to pick an antivirus to secure your computer
The primary task of an antivirus is to identify and eliminate malware, so, needless to say, the malware-detection rate of the provider is a high priority. Bitdefender, Norton, and Trend Micro boast the best malware detection and at the same time, do not churn out a lot of false positives either.
Your new computer deserves the best upkeep, so pick an antivirus solution that’s light on system resources. If you’re not a techie, we highly recommend that you pick an easy-to-use antivirus that allows you to run scans from the home screen. However, if your memo includes deep customization, solutions like Avast that let you fine-tune settings will fit your bill better.
As is the case with any purchase, your budget is pivotal. Although free antivirus products such as Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free, and Bitdefender Antivirus Free all offer solid malware protection, if you can splurge a little, we recommend opting for higher-tier plans.
This is because premium products come packing tons of extra cybersecurity tools for all-round protection, including parental controls, dark web monitoring, password managers, backup software, identity protection, and online storage, as well as the ability to protect multiple devices simultaneously.
Using antivirus FAQs
Do I really need antivirus in 2024?
Ransomware is more efficient than ever and baddies are still after your info, so yes, you need an antivirus to keep malware, viruses, and other cyber threats at bay that are all getting smarter and more sophisticated.
A good antivirus solution will not only safeguard your personal information from being stolen but can also offer anti-phishing measures, dark web monitoring, and bundled VPN/password manager/parental controls for an added layer of protection for both you and your family members.
Is free antivirus enough?
Free antivirus solutions are more than capable of protecting you from basic threats but premium products come packing extra cybersecurity tools, such as parental controls, backup software, a password manager, and identity theft protection, all included in a single subscription—so you can save a few bucks as well.
The best password manager in 2024
A password manager is an essential part of your digital security toolkit, storing your passwords, passkeys, and other frequently used information from intruders while also cranking up your online accounts’ privacy through strong password generators, identity theft protection, anti-phishing features, and more.
Here are the three best password managers you can consider getting in 2024:
How to choose a password manager to secure your computer
The most important decision you have to make is whether you want a cloud-based password manager or one that stores data locally on your device. The former is more convenient and allows you to sync your passwords on all of your devices in real time, while the latter offers a security advantage—your data doesn’t reach the internet giving you full control over it.
It’s worth noting that almost every top password manager can store an unlimited number of passwords, so the extra features offered can help you decide which is the right one for you. Depending on your needs, you may look for a password manager that offers add-ons like data breach alerts, parental controls, or dark web monitoring and/or one that can also store other information such as your credit card details.
Unlike VPNs and antiviruses, the only trustworthy choice we’ve come across in our testing as far as free password managers are concerned is Bitwarden, as it offers premium-level features such as cross-platform synchronization and two-factor authentication without asking for a single penny.
Other important factors include solid customer support and the password manager’s compatibility with the device you wish to use it on. At the same time, all of its apps and browser extensions should be easy to navigate.
Password managers FAQs
What is the difference between free and paid for password managers?
Both free and paid password managers can store an unlimited number of passwords and passkeys and offer the same level of encryption and protection from hacks.
However, premium solutions come with more advanced features such as dark web monitoring, cross-platform synchronization, multi-device support, multi-factor authentication, increased storage, and even a bundled VPN, antivirus solution, and parental control app.
Should you use your browser password manager?
While using your browser password manager is a convenient and free option, you'll have a few limitations thrown at you. For example, Apple’s Keychain password manager cannot be synced with Chrome’s password manager.
The solution? Use dedicated password managers that offer compatible apps and browser extensions for various platforms.
How we test software
We get hands-on with every software we recommend, such as VPNs, antiviruses, password managers, and parental control apps. Our testing methodology equips us to look beyond the marketing blurb you can find on the provider’s website and find out whether it actually works as advertised.
For this, we sign up for the services, download their apps on every single compatible platform, and conduct multiple rounds of testing where we evaluate their features, ease of use, performance, and if they offer good value for their price. While we’re at it, we also draw conclusions on the platform’s design—does it feel premium or cheaply built?
We’re aware of the pain of picking the wrong software, which is why we ensure that we only recommend the best tools in the industry. We do not take payments for software reviews, our opinions are based on extensive testing, and if a product doesn’t live up to the hype, we’ll tell you why.
Also, we constantly update our buying guides, chopping and changing the order and even replacing a few tools if need be—all to make sure that our reviews are, at all times, accurate and relevant.
