8 Security & Privacy Apps to Share With Family and Friends
Mobile apps to recommend to the people in your life who want to improve their online security and privacy.
As technology continues to permeate everyday life and data breaches make headlines, most people are growing aware and concerned about issues related to security and privacy.
Research shows data privacy matters to consumers: A story by the Ponemon Institute on behalf of ID Experts found that 68% of consumers have become more worried about the privacy and security of their personal information in recent years — a result of increased social media and mobile device use, along with more awareness of digital privacy threats.
Fifteen percent of consumers have left at least one online purchase process because of perceived security issues in the retail website, one report found last holiday season. Fourteen percent declined to purchase an item because of fears over how their data would be handled.
And adoption of good security habits is on the uptick: Duo Lab's "2020 State of the Auth" report found more than half (53%) of respondents had used two-factor authentication (2FA), an increase from 28% two year prior. While most (71.5%) had experienced 2FA via SMS, more than one-third (36%) had used an authenticator app.
We live in a time when most people spend hours a day on their mobile devices to do their jobs, keep in touch with friends and family, schedule appointments, handle their finances, and complete myriad other tasks. As smartphones handle more of our data, the need to secure them grows.
There are several kinds of mobile apps to boost personal security and privacy, from password managers, to secure messaging apps, to anti-theft apps, and more. As a security pro, you may have your device locked down — but your family and friends may not know which steps they should be taking.
Read on to learn our recommendations for security- and privacy-focused iOS and Android apps. If you have a favorite that we missed, please feel free to it add in the Comments section, below.
Both iPhone and Android devices come with built-in measures to track a lost or stolen phone. Prey Security aims to build on those capabilities with tools that make it easier to track and recover a lost smartphone, tablet, or laptop, as well as the data on it.
The app lets you configure "control zones," or specific areas on a map the device shouldn't leave. Each zone can be configured with security measures -- for example, a lock -- that activate when a device moves in or out of it. If a device is missing, you can lock the screen remotely, send an alert to contact the owner, or set off an alarm that will "ring like gangbusters," so you should hear it if the stolen phone is nearby.
When a device goes missing, Prey generates a report that includes GPS tracking coordinates, active nearby Wi-Fi locations, and hardware information about the device (IP, MAC address, and serial number) to confirm it's yours. When available, it'll also snap a picture of the perpetrator.
Pricing: A free plan lets you track up to three devices in a single control zone, take basic security actions, and receive evidence reports, though you don't receive data protection or reactive security. Prey also has a personal plan ($5/month, three devices), home plan ($15/month, 10 devices), and enterprise plans for corporate devices.
Find it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
We all know someone who uses their dog's name to log into their email, Amazon, and social media accounts (among others). If you haven't introduced your family and friends to a password manager, 1Password is a good place to start.
1Password keeps login data and private information stored in a "password vault." You can use the app to create strong and unique passwords for online accounts and enter usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and addresses into websites and supported apps.
1Password is for more than storing login data: The app lets you keep addresses, notes, bank accounts, driver's license information, and credit cards that can be organized into multiple vaults and tagged as needed. A Spotlight tool lets you search for information as needed, and 1Password sends an alert when a site you use has been compromised and the password has to be changed.
Pricing: $2.99/month for an individual account, $4.99/month per family of five. Free 14-day trail available at the time of writing.
If you'd like to explore different options, other popular password managers include LastPass and Dashlane. Google also now has a password manager, where you can save passwords in Android or Chrome.
Find it on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Avast is among the most popular antivirus tools for smartphones, computers, and tablets. It's a low-cost option to strengthen the security of devices and data.
On the privacy front, Avast offers the option to secure photos and apps using a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint password on Android, or a PIN, TouchID, or FaceID on iOS. The "ultimate" version of the app provides a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt Internet traffic over any network.
Avast does regular scans to detect threats and vulnerabilities and checks apps for malicious content before they're installed. It also aims to block malicious links on the Web and verify the security of Wi-Fi networks. A "remote control" option lets you track the device's location, lock a device, and wipe sensitive data. The pro version also lets you take photos of a potential thief.
The iOS version of Avast provides identity protection (one account with the free version; multiple accounts with premium) so you can check if your passwords are leaked and be alerted if an online account has been hacked. Its Android version helps free storage space by clearing out junk and extends the battery life by changing settings that consume a lot of power.
Pricing: A free version gives limited access to some features, including the vulnerability scanner, malicious website blocker, information on unsafe Wi-Fi networks, and protecting 40 photos. An upgrade to premium will cost $4.99/month with a seven-day trial, or $20/year with a 14-day trial.
Of course, Avast isn't the only mobile antivirus tool on the market. Other options include Kaspersky Mobile Antivirus, Bitdefender Mobile Security, Norton Mobile Security, Lookout Security & Antivirus, and McAfee Mobile Security, all of which have a range of free and paid versions of their software.
Find Avast on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
For those looking to better protect their privacy and security online, a VPN can help. A VPN, which creates an encrypted tunnel between a device and VPN server, hides your public IP address and encrypts Web traffic to prevent third parties from viewing your online activity.
Several mobile apps provide VPNs. ExpressVPN, a popular option for both iOS and Android, is recommended for its fast speeds over short and long distances. It secures VPN connections with AES-256 encryption and can be used on multiple devices at the same time, with unlimited bandwidth. ExpressVPN lets users connect to more than 3,000 VPN servers in 160 locations across 94 countries.
Pricing: The only downside of ExpressVPN is it's pricier than other options, with plans ranging from $12.95 for one month, $9.99/month for six months, or $99.95 per year. A seven-day free trial is available at the time of writing.
If you're looking for other options, other popular VPNs include NordVPN, Windscribe (a free VPN for iPhone), ProtonVPN (a free iPhone VPN with no data cap), IPVanish VPN (a VPN for Android), and CyberGhost VPN (for Android).
Find ExpressVPN on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Signal and Telegram are among a small but expanding group of messaging apps built with some level of encryption, and are growing in popularity as more people become security-conscious.
Signal, by default, provides free end-to-end encryption for messages, voice calls, and video chats, either one-on-one or with a group. It's an independent nonprofit, and its software is open source and works across platforms. You can use your existing phone number and address book to start chatting with friends on Signal.
Pricing: Signal is free.
Signal is among the strongest messaging apps for encrypted communications. If you'd like to explore other messaging apps with built-in encryption, you can also check out Telegram, though end-to-end encryption isn't enabled by default -- you'll have to switch to Secret Chat mode. Other options include Wire, Wickr Me, and Viber.
Download Signal on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
DuckDuckGo is a private search engine that doesn't collect or share any personal information. Its Privacy Browser mobile app and Privacy Essentials desktop extension both come with a tracker blocker and enforce encryption so you can search and browse privately.
On desktop, DuckDuckGo is available as a browser extension for Firefox and Chrome. It's also a mobile app in iOS and Android; the mobile app itself is a browser with privacy features and normal browser functionality built in. A "fire" button lets you erase history and tabs in a tap.
Mozilla also has a privacy-focused browser called Firefox Focus, which lets you easily erase browser history, passwords, bookmarks, and cookies, and prevent unwanted ads. Firefox Focus blocks a range of common Web trackers by default without changing any settings, though you can customize settings within the app.
Pricing: Both DuckDuckGo and Firefox Focus are free.
Find DuckDuckGo on the Apple App Store and Google Play, and find Firefox Focus on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Network scanner Fing aims to help you learn which devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network, troubleshoot problems with the network and devices, and run Internet speed tests.
Fing's Wi-Fi and LAN network scanner discovers connected devices as well as the IP address, MAC address, device name, model, and vendor for each. Wi-Fi and cellular speed tests let you analyze download speed, upload speed, and latency. Network security and device alerts may be sent via phone or email.
Pricing: There is no charge to download Fing; however, for less than $50 you can add its network security device, Fingbox, which unlocks more features, including the ability to block unknown devices before they join your network, automate network speed tests, and analyze bandwidth usage by individual device.
Find Fing on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Most people in your life may already know to use two-factor authentication to log into their accounts but lean toward giving services their phone number or email address to receive a security code. While better than no 2FA at all, these options have security gaps.
Authenticator apps, which generate a code to log into an account, provide stronger security without the added privacy concern of giving out a phone number. What's more, an attacker would need to physically access the phone to get the code, making a breach less likely.
Some accounts request you use a specific authenticator app, while others let you choose. Popular options include Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator, both of which support a number of accounts, and Authy, which also supports a range of accounts and offers secure cloud backups. LastPass also has a built-in authenticator.
Pricing: All of these are available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for free.
Most people in your life may already know to use two-factor authentication to log into their accounts but lean toward giving services their phone number or email address to receive a security code. While better than no 2FA at all, these options have security gaps.
Authenticator apps, which generate a code to log into an account, provide stronger security without the added privacy concern of giving out a phone number. What's more, an attacker would need to physically access the phone to get the code, making a breach less likely.
Some accounts request you use a specific authenticator app, while others let you choose. Popular options include Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator, both of which support a number of accounts, and Authy, which also supports a range of accounts and offers secure cloud backups. LastPass also has a built-in authenticator.
Pricing: All of these are available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for free.
As technology continues to permeate everyday life and data breaches make headlines, most people are growing aware and concerned about issues related to security and privacy.
Research shows data privacy matters to consumers: A story by the Ponemon Institute on behalf of ID Experts found that 68% of consumers have become more worried about the privacy and security of their personal information in recent years — a result of increased social media and mobile device use, along with more awareness of digital privacy threats.
Fifteen percent of consumers have left at least one online purchase process because of perceived security issues in the retail website, one report found last holiday season. Fourteen percent declined to purchase an item because of fears over how their data would be handled.
And adoption of good security habits is on the uptick: Duo Lab's "2020 State of the Auth" report found more than half (53%) of respondents had used two-factor authentication (2FA), an increase from 28% two year prior. While most (71.5%) had experienced 2FA via SMS, more than one-third (36%) had used an authenticator app.
We live in a time when most people spend hours a day on their mobile devices to do their jobs, keep in touch with friends and family, schedule appointments, handle their finances, and complete myriad other tasks. As smartphones handle more of our data, the need to secure them grows.
There are several kinds of mobile apps to boost personal security and privacy, from password managers, to secure messaging apps, to anti-theft apps, and more. As a security pro, you may have your device locked down — but your family and friends may not know which steps they should be taking.
Read on to learn our recommendations for security- and privacy-focused iOS and Android apps. If you have a favorite that we missed, please feel free to it add in the Comments section, below.
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