Security

Photos: 10 privacy apps that help mobile users feel safer

By · February 15, 2019, 11:58 AM PST · bviglia

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  • ​Privacy

    If you've ever worried about making purchases online, you're hardly alone--and it's a justifiable concern. All it takes is one security failure to leave your bank account or debit card information exposed to the web, and before long you find your bank account has been drained.

    Privacy, available for Android and iOS, wants to help you solve that problem by putting an extra layer between you and e-commerce sites. Privacy users can generate single-use burner or merchant-specific debit cards that are pre-loaded with a fixed amount of money.

    Virtual cards from Privacy are funded via a bank account or a real-world debit card and can be deleted, frozen, or refilled on demand. Best of all, it's completely free--Privacy makes its money by collecting interchange fees from the companies you use its cards with.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Pay With Privacy, Inc.

  • Blur

    Blur offers a variety of privacy features, all rolled into a single app. It can generate and autofill passwords, mask email addresses, block trackers, create masked credit card numbers (similar to Privacy), and set up masked phone numbers.

    Those last two features--creating masked credit card numbers and setting up masked phone numbers--are only available to premium subscribers, who will have to pay $39/year for those privileges. Premium also adds backup and sync functions to Blur so that you can use it on multiple devices.

    Despite its premium-only shortcomings, Blur is a solid app if for no other reason than its email masking; with the random addresses it creates, you can ensure your actual address doesn't end up being deluged with spam when a website sells your information.

    Blur is available for iOS and Android, as well as in other formats like browser add-ons and a web client.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Abine, Inc.

  • ​ExpressVPN

    If you want to anonymize your browsing using a VPN, it can be tough to find the right one. There are a million and one options on both the iOS and Android app stores, and browser extensions are plentiful as well.

    ExpressVPN is one of the simplest VPN apps available. It has a simple interface, clear instructions, and works well (in my testing).

    Like any good VPN, Express isn't free. Creating a new account does give you a seven-day free trial, but after that you'll have to pay $12.95/month to keep using Express' iOS or Android apps, or any of the multitude of other platforms it supports.

    SEE: Tips for choosing the best VPN for your needs (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

    Image: ExpressVPN

  • Hushed

    As a freelancer, I'm always worried about using my phone number for business--I like to keep my professional contacts separate from my personal ones, and I really don't want to pay for a second number.

    Hushed offers pay-as-you-go VoIP calling that's end-to-end encrypted. It also has built-in voicemail functions, messaging, and can handle multiple numbers at a time. What makes it different from other options is its ease of use compared to services like Google Voice, which can be a bit confusing for new users.

    If you're looking for a cheap way to get a second number, or just want to use one of its 3-day temporary numbers as a burner for buying something on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, Hushed has you covered. If you decide you want to keep your number you can buy a week, month, 90 days, or unlimited month-to-month service for as little as $1.99 for one week.

    Hushed is available on iOS and Android.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Affinityclick

  • Dashlane

    It's difficult to select a single password manager from the many available, and for this gallery I've opted for Dashlane.

    Dashlane offers features similar to other password managers: It can generate and autofill passwords, and it will store payment information, which it can also autofill. Dashlane offers an "identity dashboard" that gives you feedback on security alerts, password strength, and other personal security statistics.

    Premium Dashlane features make the app even more functional, adding dark web monitoring, a built-in VPN, and secure file storage starting at $4.99/month.

    You don't have to pay to use Dashlane, but some of its best features are locked behind its subscription. Regardless, it's a solid password manager that can help you prevent password reuse and add another layer of protection to your online accounts.

    Dashlane is available on iOS and Android, as well as for Windows and macOS.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Dashlane, Inc.

  • ​Lookout Personal

    Lookout offers enterprise mobile security software that's worth a look for any business with remote employees. For individual professionals looking for a mobile security solution, there's Lookout Personal.

    If you're concerned about the safety of your iOS or Android device and the security of the Wi-Fi networks you're accessing, and also want privacy advice and device checkups and anti-theft protection, Lookout Personal is worth a try.

    Lookout's free version is a bit limited in what it can do--it only offers a system advisor and anti-theft protection--but its premium options make Lookout a full-featured security suite that even offers identity theft insurance at the $9.99/month premium plus level.

    If you're looking for a total security app and willing to pay for a subscription, Lookout Personal should be on your list of apps to try.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Lookout, Inc.

  • Telegram

    End-to-end encrypted messaging apps are popular, and with good reason: You never know who could be snooping on your connection or end up with physical access to your phone.

    Telegram positioned itself as a cloud-based alternative to Facebook-owned WhatsApp and has fast become a popular alternative for those concerned with Facebook's data privacy practices.

    Telegram is free, syncs across devices, and offers self-destructing messages that will automatically delete after a specified time. It has a lot of additional features that are sure to interest secure messaging fans.

    Telegram is available for iOS and Android, as well as a desktop or web-based app.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Telegram

  • ProtonMail

    If you need an encrypted email account, check out ProtonMail--it's available for iOS and Android, as well as a web client, and it doesn't cost a thing.

    ProtonMail requires signing up for an @protonmail.com address, and once you have it, you can send end-to-end encrypted messages to anyone else with a ProtonMail account. If you want to send encrypted messages to non-ProtonMail users, don't worry--you can send encrypted emails to any address that the recipient has to decrypt using a passphrase that the sender provides.

    ProtonMail encrypts messages in such a way that its team isn't able to read them, which means you don't need to worry about anyone snooping on your emails.

    Its premium features do make ProtonMail a bit more practical to use as your regular email address (free users are restricted to 500 MB of storage and 150 emails/day). A single-user premium price is $5.72 USD (€5.00) , and enterprise plans are available as well.

    SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

    Image: Proton Technologies AG

  • ​Brave web browser

    Mobile malware is so widespread it could easily be called an epidemic, and one important way to stay safe is to make sure your browser isn't putting you in danger.

    Brave, an open-source security-focused web browser for iOS and Android, comes with a long list of security features: Ad blocking, popup blocking, HTTPS everywhere, script blocking, cookie blocking, tracker prevention, and more. There's also the option to require a fingerprint or passcode whenever Brave is opened, adding another layer of protection to your mobile browsing.

    Brave claims that all of its security features reduce data usage, save battery life, and improve browsing speeds. If its security features and promises seem intriguing, give it a try--Brave is free and doesn't have any features locked behind in-app purchases.

    SEE: Brave's privacy-focused ads to spread beyond startup's own browser (CNET)

  • ​Exodus Privacy

    One of the biggest concerns for mobile device users is what apps are doing in the background. Plenty of apps have hidden trackers that could compromise your privacy and security, but how are device owners to know which apps are safe?

    Exodus Privacy, available only for Android, can help clear up the confusion. Once installed, it checks Android devices for installed apps and compares them to Exodus' database of app scans.

    The Exodus Privacy app isn't a scanner itself, but it is still a great tool for privacy-conscious Android users. If an app you have installed doesn't present information, you can send it to Exodus for analysis on its website.

    Also see

    Image: Exodus Privacy

​Privacy

If you've ever worried about making purchases online, you're hardly alone--and it's a justifiable concern. All it takes is one security failure to leave your bank account or debit card information exposed to the web, and before long you find your bank account has been drained.

Privacy, available for Android and iOS, wants to help you solve that problem by putting an extra layer between you and e-commerce sites. Privacy users can generate single-use burner or merchant-specific debit cards that are pre-loaded with a fixed amount of money.

Virtual cards from Privacy are funded via a bank account or a real-world debit card and can be deleted, frozen, or refilled on demand. Best of all, it's completely free--Privacy makes its money by collecting interchange fees from the companies you use its cards with.

SEE: More must-read security coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)

Image: Pay With Privacy, Inc.

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By Brandon Vigliarolo

Brandon writes about apps and software for TechRepublic. He's an award-winning feature writer who previously worked as an IT professional and served as an MP in the US Army.

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