When you Google Search the term security apps, you get a ton of antivirus and anti-malware app listings. Unfortunately, that’s a very narrow view of what’s out there. There are tons of apps that can boost your security. Most of them are fairly easy to use and don’t use a ton of resources. Here are the best security apps currently available on Android.
Here are some more security apps for you!
DuckDuckGo Search has made positive waves among the security and privacy crowd. It's a search engine similar to Google, Bing, or Yahoo. However, its claim to fame is that it doesn't track your search history. That means you don't have to worry about a company looking at what you search for. The app works well enough. It has some ads, but they're not bad. It'll also compile some news for you if you'd like. It doesn't get grouped in with security apps very often. However, it's great for those who want to search in privacy.
Find My Device by Google used to be Android Device Manager. The name changed. However, the app still does the same thing. It tracks the location of your phone. The app can also play sounds for easier finding. It can erase your device, show a message, and remotely lock your phone as well. There are other find my phone apps with more features. However, this one is entirely free with no advertising and no in-app purchases. That makes it a good option for security apps.
Firefox Focus is a privacy browser. It's essentially an Android browser that is always in incognito mode. It doesn't log your activities for long periods of time. You can delete them at a moment's notice whenever you want. It can also remove trackers and advertising. That way websites can't see you there. It's one of the newer security apps. It also won't block every single thing. The app is completely free with no in-app purchases. It's definitely more private than most browsers.
GlassWire is one of the newer security apps. It lets you see what apps are consuming your data. You get a live graph that shows how much data your apps are consuming. Additionally, you'll get alerts to let you know when a new app is sucking down some data. This is a great way to see how much data each of your apps is using. It's also a great way to see any strange activity that may be happening in the background. Its main use is to make sure you don't hit your data cap. Still, seeing a random app you don't know about grabbing something from the web can be extremely telling.
Haven is one of the newer security apps for Android. It lets you turn a second device into a security device. It works by alerting you whenever the security device is disturbed. So, for instance, if you leave it in your luggage and someone moves your luggage, the app will let you know. It can also record sounds with the microphone, detect changes in light (say someone opened your luggage), and detect power loss if the device is plugged in. The app is totally free right now. It's also in beta. Thus, expect bugs. Otherwise, it's actually a pretty nice little app.
You're halfway done! Here are some more app lists to consider!
LastPass is one of the best password manager apps out there. It lets you store site passwords, PINs, and other sensitive info for quick recall. It's all hidden behind a master password of your choosing. It's infinitely safer than just putting that info almost anywhere else. You can also pick up LastPass Authenticator for additional security. It's powerful and it's cross-platform. The free version should give you most features. The pro version adds some features, some syncing options, and more. It's one of the must-try security apps out there. If LastPass isn't doing it for you, we have our list of the best password manager apps list linked at the top of the page!
ProtonVPN is one of the newer VPNs on the market. We really like this one. It is entirely free as of the time of this article's publish date. Additionally, they have a strict no logging policy, a no sharing policy, and network encryption. That basically makes this app a unicorn. You won't get the absolute best performance. After all, free can only go so far. However, those concerned with security probably don't mind waiting an extra second or two for a page to load if it's secure and free. There are premium VPNs with no logging policies, no sharing policies, and encryption as well. We have a list of VPNs linked at the bottom of this article.
Resilio Sync lets you create your own cloud storage. The computer version turns your regular, everyday computer into a cloud storage server. The app then helps you sync files between your PC and phone or tablet. Think of it like Google Drive or Dropbox, except you know exactly where your files are at all times. This is great for more sensitive data. It's also great for those who don't trust online cloud storage, but still want the versatility of having it. The app is easy, even for beginners. It's also entirely free. It's one of the most underrated security apps.
Android has a surprisingly good number of options for private messaging. Signal Private Messenger, Telegram, and WhatsApp are all excellent choices. Each service has end-to-end encrypted messaging, video calls, group messaging, and file sharing. From there, they differ in their feature sets. It's really just a matter of finding the one that works for you. The challenge will be to get all of your friends and family on to one of these services. However, they're all free so at least you won't have to worry about that. Encrypted messaging apps like these make for excellent security apps as well.
The Tor Project is probably one of the more obvious choices for security and privacy on almost any platform. Unfortunately, their Android apps aren’t as robust as their computer offerings, but they’re slowly getting there. For now, you have access to Orfox which is the Tor browser on Android (still in beta!) and Orbot which is a proxy app that helps other apps use Tor’s technology to remain anonymous. The browser is still under construction and anonymity can’t be guaranteed, but Orbot is definitely a solid app worth grabbing. The project also recently released Ooniprobe, an app that lets you see if your Internet is blocking your connection to some sites. These are all excellent security apps for those who are a little more advanced.
Authenticator apps are a relatively newer thing in Android. However, they provide tons of security. It's a two-step authentication style. You enter your password and then enter an authorization code from one of these apps. There are several for you to choose from. That includes Google Authenticator (linked), Microsoft Authenticator, Authy 2-Factor, FreeOTP Authenticator, LastPass Authenticator and others. This is vastly easier than getting a text message or an email. They should work with most sites as well. The apps take time to setup, however.
15 best Android VPN apps
If we missed any of the best security apps for Android, tell us about them in the comments!
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