We live in a digital world, and it is something most of us would not know how to do without at this point. It has been a part of our daily lives for years, making it easy to keep in touch with others, find answers we need quickly, and providing entertainment in the blink of an eye.
Unfortunately, it is also a threat to our personal security. Everyone from the government to creepy stalkers can access anything they want about us by clicking a few buttons. The sad part is that we have basically handed over that information by using the internet without protection. It is time that we stop handing it over and start protecting ourselves. Here are 10 great Android apps that can help you get started:
InBrowser
InBrowser is an app that comes with the use of the Tor network. It integrates with LastPass, meaning that it remembers your secure passwords for your later use. However, as soon as you leave the app, everything else you have done gets wiped away, leaving nothing to track. It prevents ads from popping up, and it allows you to browse the internet privately.
Ghostery Browser
Ghostery Browser can locate and inform you of the number of trackers that are present on any given site, allowing you to choose which, if any, trackers to allow while you are browsing. There are additional privacy options on the app that allow you to easily and quickly clear your cache and browsing history.
CM Browser
CM Browser, created by Cheetah Mobile, is all about simplicity. The home screen takes a minimalist approach, making it easy to use and navigate. It comes with a nifty preload feature that makes sites load more quickly than usual. It scans any downloaded files for malware, provides a “Do Not Track” setting, and protects you from malicious and fraudulent sites. Its private browsing allows you to browse without fear of download history, cookies tracking, data storage, or any other privacy intrusions. For all of its features, it takes up very little space on your phone.
Frost Incognito
Frost Incognito comes with an ad blocker, so you do not need to worry with pesky ads popping up while you are browsing. It is also constantly working in incognito mode, so you are browsing privately. You can bypass any blocked sites you wish to get to over WiFi, and it immediately destroys your web history as well as any cookies connected to it.
ProtonVPN
VPN for android should be used by everyone for protection. For those who get online only to pay bills or other small tasks out of your home, ProtonVPN might be a good choice for you. When in use, it connects you to a virtual network, which means that the real network does not have access to your actions- it cannot see what you are doing or where you are doing it from.
SurfShark VPN
For those looking for more protection, SurfShark VPN is a great choice. It, too, connects you to a virtual network, so you do not have to worry about people easily getting access to your browsing actions. In fact, it would take a good bit of work. It provides a CleanWeb feature, meaning you do not have to deal with trackers, ads, or malware. The KillSwitch feature means that if your VPN connection drops, you will automatically be disconnected from the internet, so you are constantly protected.
You can bypass blocked sites when in other countries. It is incredibly budget-friendly, even allowing you to connect unlimited devices for simultaneous connections. As it has over 1,000 servers in more than 60 countries to bounce your connection around on, you can rest assured that your browsing is as private as it can be. You might also consider their change DNS app if you are not looking for the full app.
Dolphin Zero Browser
Dolphin Zero Browser is an app that comes equipped with a “Do Not Track” feature that is enabled by default, and it comes with AdBlock to prevent frustrating popups, ads, and more. It does not store any private or identifiable information nor does it log any of your browsing history. You will not notice any requests for permission regarding cookies, either. It also takes very little space on your phone.
Orbot
Orbot is an app that works like a VPN. It allows your other Android apps to connect to the internet using the Tor network. It encrypts your data then bounces it off of several servers around the world, making it impossible for some- and incredibly hard for experts- to watch your actions and impede on your personal freedoms.
Bouncer
Bouncer is an incredibly useful app for dealing with permissions on websites. Sometimes, you might want to tag a location on social networking sites or something similar, but do not want your location to be public knowledge afterward- which is a good thing, in this world of digital stalkers. Bouncer allows you to set permissions on websites temporarily, automatically removing that permission when you are through with your task. You might choose to set a certain time limit on it, or you may choose to have Bouncer turn off the permission as soon you exit the app.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Browsing App
Browsing the internet is commonplace- just as the internet trying to track everything we do and the personal data connected to us. With the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser, you can actual search on it- it is a search engine- as you would Google. However, with DuckDuckGo, you can trust that your personal data will not be stored. In fact, it will go behind itself and scrub off any data that a website might have tracked. It also blocks ad networks and other malicious sites from hacking you.
Take control of your data and your privacy now! Pick one or more of these options to help secure your privacy today!