The news is full of stories of millions of Internet devices being hacked or taken over. While a majority of the hacks are due to the hacker’s skills but there are other factors that are involved, like the lack of security tools. Fortunately, there are plenty of free antivirus programs to pick from that offer strong protection against the most prevalent threats.

Look for a free antivirus that has a reliable malware detection. The ability of a program to differentiate between malicious intruders like viruses, worms and ransomware from innocent programs is a key indicator of its efficacy. Find a program that can recognize all types of malware including rootkits, trojans and phishing attacks, and has perfect or nearly-perfect rate of detection for viruses.

Also be sure to look for programs that won’t slow your system excessively. During a scan or other functions that are intensive, certain programs can seriously impact your computing experience, making it difficult to stream video or play games. Select a lightweight antivirus that is simple best antivirus software for ipad to install, works quickly and requires few resources.

Extra features are also important. Certain antivirus programs come with cleaning tools that improve OS performance, accelerate time to start up, and also remove junk files. Others provide a virtual private networking (VPN) which allows you cover your online activities to shield yourself from being watched by prying eyes. The majority of paid antivirus programs offer 24/7 email or live chat support. However this isn’t always the case for free products.