A tablet for your child has become almost non-negotiable in today's day and age. They require it for school, to complete their homework, and of course, to chat and play online games with their friends, watch Netflix, and more. The concerning part, though, is the numerous cyber threats that they may unknowingly expose themselves to, such as a malicious stranger trying to befriend them online or hackers prying to steal their personal data or corrupt their devices with malware and viruses.
A sure-fire way to avoid any such hassle is to install the best VPN, the best antivirus, and the best password manager before you hand over a new tablet to your child. These three privacy solutions, together, will protect your child against all kinds of online threats – and I'd also recommend throwing the best parental control app in the mix so that you can monitor your child's online activities and whereabouts first-hand, blocking their access to questionable content and bad actors.
However, with so many options out there, finding the best security for your kid can be an uphill task. Our team of experts at Tom's Guide review and compare the leading security solutions on a daily basis, and to help you eliminate the noise, I've compiled this list of the top three solutions to get in each category.
The best VPN app in 2023
A VPN protects your online privacy by hiding your IP address and allowing you to browse the internet without being tracked by hackers, ISPs, or even the government. The best VPN services are even more value-for-money, as they can also give you access to geo-blocked content and events/sales.
Here are the top three recommendations:
How to pick a VPN to secure your child's tablet
Before anything else, look for a VPN provider that offers more than enough on the security front, including a rock-solid kill switch, a proven no-logs policy, support for secure encryption protocols, and other features like leak protection, multi-hop, and more.
Next, consider how many devices you wish to protect. Most VPN services dangle anywhere between the 6-10 mark when it comes to the number of devices you can cover at a time, but if you want more, I'd recommend providers like Surfshark or Private Internet Access that come with unlimited simultaneous connections.
Look for a vast network of servers around the world, as that will help you connect from and to anywhere. Also, make sure that the provider’s connection speeds are both fast and consistent, so you can go about bandwidth-intensive tasks like streaming and gaming without getting bogged down with lags/buffering.
Ease of use is another important consideration, especially if you're new to VPNs. While detailed setup guides for all of the compatible apps (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and more) are crucial, prompt and reliable support options including email, live chat, and phone support are just as important.
How we test VPNs
Our VPN testing begins at the provider’s website where we comb through its privacy policies, its claims, and if/when it activates any tracking cookies.
We try to anonymously sign up for the service so that the provider cannot skew our results. Once that's sorted, we try out the most popular apps i.e. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linus to see if they're easy to navigate and whether all of the features work as promised.
Next, we test the provider's connection speeds on a 1 Gbps line across different devices, encryption methods, server locations, and speed-testing tools, including the Ookla SpeedTest website and CLI, nPerf, Netflix's Fast, and others. Additionally, every month, we test the VPN’s unblocking capabilities by trying to access services like Netflix and Prime Video, among others.
It’s worth noting that the backbone of our VPN testing methodology is constant real-world testing carried out day in and day out by our in-house experts so that all of our analyses and conclusions are always accurate and relevant.
Using a VPN FAQs
What features should a VPN app have?
Look for a mobile VPN with a no-logs policy, a vast number of servers around the world, fast and consistent speeds, and great unblocking powers. Additionally, essential security features like a kill switch and leak protection should all be in place and working smoothly.
Can you use a free VPN app?
Free VPNs are great for those on a tight budget but they don’t offer the same features as paid VPN services, such as class-leading speeds, excellent unblocking capabilities, simultaneous connections, and security add-ons like dark web monitoring and bundled password managers/malware protection.
Plus, given that most quality VPN services cost just a few dollars per month and come with a month-long money-back guarantee, which means you get a risk-free trial run, there's no reason not to try them.
The best antivirus in 2023
Install an antivirus program on your child's table to keep them protected from malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats. The best antivirus software also come with extra security tools, like dark web monitoring, identity theft, and bundled VPN/parental controls for an added layer of safekeeping.
Here are the top three antivirus solutions that are worth your time and money:
How to pick an antivirus to secure your child's tablet
First and foremost, look for an antivirus solution with a high malware detection rate – anything over the 95 percent mark is considered excellent. While you're at it, make sure that the provider doesn't churn out a lot of false positives, as that can be really annoying in your day-to-day.
Considering that you'd want something simple for your child, pick a program that's easy to use with a simple settings menu. This would mean that even your child can initiate scans and take proactive measures to keep their tablet safe.
The level of security you want is another important consideration – is basic protection from malware, viruses, and ransomware going to be enough for you, or do you also fancy extra cybersecurity tools, such as parental controls, identity protection, online storage, and more?
If you're leaning towards the latter, a full-fledged internet security suite will suit your needs. While entry-level plans can only cover a handful of devices, these multi-device plans will allow you to protect all of the phones/tablets/computers in your house.
However, while all-round protection is certainly very value-packed, it may not be cheap. If you're cash-strapped, free antivirus products such as Avast Free Antivirus, AVG AntiVirus Free, and Bitdefender Antivirus Free will save the day for you.
How we test antivirus software
To test an antivirus solution’s performance and impact on the system, we take a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 with a 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage containing 43.3GB of files.
Next, we record the time it takes to sort through a database of 20,000 names and addresses on our custom-made Excel test. We repeat this test five times and take the average as the device’s baseline performance.
Then we install the top antivirus and run the Excel test again – and once more when the program is running a device-wide scan. The wider the gap between the laptop’s baseline performance and the time it takes to complete the above-mentioned tests, the heavier the antivirus’s impact.
For malware detection, we combine our hands-on testing where we throw various malware files and deliberately attempt to access dangerous websites with the test results from three independent testing labs: AV-Comparatives in Austria, AV-TEST in Germany, and SE Labs in England.
For more information, check out our how we test antivirus software and apps guide as well as our more general how we test page for Tom's Guide.
Using antivirus FAQs
What does antivirus do?
All top antivirus software offer real-time protection against malware, viruses, and ransomware attacks by scanning files as/when they enter your system. They also employ heuristic technology to identify and eliminate threats well before they can pose any danger to your system. In addition to this automated protection, you can run manual virus scans whenever you wish.
Is free antivirus enough?
While free antivirus software use the same high-quality antivirus engine as their paid counterparts to ward off all kinds of threats, they lack extra safekeeping and features, such as identity theft protection, parental controls, dark web monitoring, and even bundled VPNs and password managers so you can enjoy all-round protection without breaking the bank.
The best password manager in 2023
The best password managers store more than just your passwords and passkeys. They can also store your credit card details and any other frequently used information to be able to fill out online forms quickly. And for all-round protection, they come with the ability to detect weak passwords and generate strong alternatives, data breach alerts, and various nifty cybersecurity tools.
The following are the best password managers, according to our experts:
How to choose a password manager to secure your child's tablet
One of the most important considerations is the type of storage you'd be comfortable with – cloud vs local. Most modern password managers are cloud-based, meaning they store your passwords and other personal information on their cloud servers, allowing you to access and sync your data across multiple devices.
While that’s certainly more practical in today's world, password managers that store your passwords locally on the device itself are a delight for privacy purists. That’s because they leave little to no room for any data theft, as your information is never on the internet.
However, cloud password managers can be just as secure – all of the recommendations on our list of the best password managers have never been hacked.
Another important consideration is the additional perks you'd like. Depending on your needs, you may look for a password manager plan that can also store your credit card details and other frequently used information, offers data breach alerts, and comes with an added layer of protection in the form of biometric login, two-factor authentication (2FA), or weak password/website detection.
If you do not wish to pay, Bitwarden doesn’t lock essential features, such as cross-platform synchronization and unlimited storage, behind a paywall.
How we test password managers
As per our testing methodology, we thoroughly review the top 30 password managers every few months to stay on top of any updates, shifts in performance, or any other changes.
We test every aspect of the password manager, including auto-fill, multi-factor authentication, and ease of use of its apps. For this, we install it on various desktop and mobile devices i.e. a Samsung Note 20 smartphone, a ThinkPad T470 running Windows 10, and an iPad Pro – plus we also try out its browser extensions for the most popular browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
Next, we try out any add-ons on offer, such as multi-factor authentication, bundled VPN/parental controls/antivirus, or cross-platform synchronization. Last but not least, we throw all kinds of curveballs at the support agents (via all available channels like email, live chat, and phone), and then we evaluate the speed and accuracy of their responses.
Password managers FAQs
Do password managers work with apps?
The best password managers offer compatible apps for Android and iOS tablets and smartphones that deploy security tech like biometrics, passcodes, and/or face ID login for an added layer of protection, which is often missing in their PC or laptop variants.
Can password managers be hacked?
Password managers are akin to any other computer system, so they can indeed be hacked. There have been a couple of instances in the recent past (Passwordstate and LastPass) where hackers managed to steal confidential user information stored in the vaults of these password managers.
Our experts test password managers regularly, so on our list of the best password managers, you will only find providers that are extremely safe and employ industry-standard encryption and zero-knowledge architecture.
The best parental control app in 2023
A parental control app is a good option to install on your child's tablet, as it allows you to limit their screentime as well as the sites they can access and helps you keep an eye on what they're getting up to. Additionally, it can prevent them from accessing unsafe content or being in contact with harmful individuals.
Below are our top tips for parental control apps:
How to choose a parental control app to secure your child’s new tablet
Depending on the degree of control you desire, you may look for a parental control app that offers location tracking, a website filter, an app blocker, or screen-time limits. It's worth noting that none of the best parental control apps will let you listen in on your child's calls, as that's a hard privacy breach, and quite simply put, illegal.
However, what you can look for is the ability to block inappropriate websites, especially if your child is under the age of 12. On the other hand, if you have a teenager, you can perhaps do without app blocking. However, you might still want to be aware of what your child is looking at online, who they're chatting with, and where they are, especially when it's late in the day.
Ease of use cannot be overlooked, either, especially if you're not tech-savvy. Prioritize apps that offer a simple interface on both your computer and your smartphone so that you can easily and quickly dig out the information you need at any given moment.
Next, consider the number of devices you want to monitor. If you wish to protect your child's Windows/Mac devices in addition to their smartphone, I'd recommend that you choose premium plans that can monitor multiple devices simultaneously.
How we test parental control apps
We test the top parental control apps by installing, configuring, and then uninstalling them on every supported device, at least twice. This gives us a great feel of how easy to use the platform is and what its compatibility is like.
For testing purposes, we use a Lenovo Yoga C940 running Windows 10, a Google Pixel 4XL running Android 11, and an iPhone 12 running iOS 14.2.
Android parental control apps are admittedly more comprehensive than their iOS counterparts. However, we've found in our testing that OurPact’s iOS app is almost as good as its Android app.
Next, we try out the features that are on offer one by one, evaluating the level of control they offer, the kind of filtering tools you're getting, their effectiveness, and how value for money the service is, which also depends on how many children/devices you can protect on a single plan.
At the same time, we also put the screen-time limits and location tracking features under the scanner where we find out whether the app comes with geofencing and if it logs your child's previous locations.
Parental control apps FAQs
What are the best practices to keep your children safe online?
Talk to your children and teach them about how to be responsible and cautious while browsing the internet. As a parent, you also need to know and be interested in your child's online habits, who they're chatting with on the internet, and how much time they're spending online.
Another robust way to secure your children from cyber attacks is to install parental control software on their device and then to continually monitor and review the data it collects, plus changing its settings regularly to always stay a step ahead of your child who may try to circumvent surveillance.
What features should I look for in a parental control app?
First and foremost, look for the ability to limit screen time, meaning your child's device will automatically shut down once the predefined time limit is breached. Other important features to look for include the ability to manage multiple devices from one account and block apps/websites/games that you may deem inappropriate for your child.
