The number of smartphone users is steadily growing. Currently, Android holds about 80% of the market share, making Android devices the top choice around the world.
With the majority of people relying on smartphones daily and storing their vital, sensitive information on them, there’s a growing concern for the safety and privacy of these devices.
Most people download antivirus/antimalware apps to their phones to keep their devices safe. However, these apps serve as reactive solutions to the existing problems and aren’t the only types of security apps.
Proactive apps on the other hand, like those for a VPN, message encryption, etc. can prove to be incredibly useful as well. So, let’s take a look at some of the best security apps for Android.
Managing App Permissions
Most apps ask permission for full network access or to view network connections. There are a few other permissions the majority apps would ask for so that they could function well.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all apps need constant permission to access specific information. This is where apps like Bouncer come in handy.
Bouncer helps users manage their permissions and allow temporary ones to certain apps. It also automatically removes them later.
Users can turn off 24/7 location pinging or access to a camera/microphone, and others. This can be useful because of location-based cyberattacks and spyware.
Tracking Device Location
Most people are concerned about losing their device and all the information it contains. With apps such as Find My Device by Google, users can easily locate their lost devices.
This app can play sounds to help with locating the device. It also has the option of remotely locking the phone to ensure data privacy.
If the device cannot be retrieved, the app has the feature of erasing all the data from it, thus ensuring information security.
Most device thieves and hackers try to unlock the device by guessing some of the most common passwords. Once they’ve gained entry, they have easy access to all the user’s vital information.
This is why the feature to erase all data is appreciated by many, which makes this app is so popular.
Browsing the Internet Privately
Incognito mode is a popular feature on most internet browsers. It’s available on both PCs and smartphones. However, it does require manual setup.
With a relatively new Android app Firefox Focus, all tabs opened are always in incognito mode. This browser allows for relative safety and privacy while browsing the internet.
The browser doesn’t log the user activity for long periods of time, and removes advertising and trackers.
Using a VPN
When it comes to privacy, it’s VPN apps that offer almost complete anonymity and security. The best VPN app currently on the market is NordVPN. It routes all the user’s internet traffic through remote servers. This means that it hides the user’s IP and their location and creates an encrypted connection to a network.
The connection is typically kept hidden, but even if hackers or outsiders notice it, the encryption prevents anyone else from accessing it.
There’s also an optional feature which checks a website’s DNS records in malware databases. This protects users from accessing risky sites.
Managing Passwords
Once an outsider knows a user’s password, they can easily access the device from anywhere. It’s recommended to have different passwords for each app/bank/social media/etc. account.
However, keeping track of all the passwords can sometimes be easier said than done. An app called LastPass solves this problem.
The app allows users to store all their passwords, PINs, or other sensitive information, and keep them secure under one master password.
Encrypting Messages
Lastly, while text messages and those exchanged on social media platforms are usually under a type of encryption, it’s often not strong enough.
Apps such as Wickr eliminate this problem. This specific app has a self-destruct feature for messages. Users can also limit who can see the messages and for how long.
Each message has a unique key and encryption, ensuring utmost privacy.
With the rise of cyber-attacks on Android devices, it’s more important than ever to ensure the safety and privacy of smartphones. Apps like the ones listed above can significantly mitigate the risks of cyber-attacks, keeping all Android devices secure.