5 Of The Best Apps To Actually Improve The Security On Your Phone

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When you think of apps that improve your phone's security, antivirus software often comes to mind, but Android phones don't really need it anymore. They have excellent built-in protection as long as you download apps from the Google Play Store and keep the operating system updated. The same goes for iPhone users, because all third-party apps run inside a sandbox (think of it as an isolated container). This makes it virtually impossible for malware-infected apps to spread malicious code on their own, or for antivirus software to scan them and the system. 

However, you do need apps that can protect you from phishing and other social engineering attacks. Luckily, there are plenty of apps to choose from if you want to make your phone more secure. You have password managers, VPNs, network scanners, authenticator apps, and even browsers. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that even with all these apps downloaded and set up properly, your phone usage habits matter even more. For instance, you shouldn't download apps from unverified sources (a major problem with Android users) or do things you shouldn't on public Wi-Fi. These apps complement your good habits, not replace them.

Passwords remain one of the biggest weaknesses in the security chain, but they aren't going anywhere. Their biggest problem is that they rely heavily on memorization and personal behavior, both of which are highly susceptible to human error. This includes reusing passwords and falling victim to social engineering tactics like phishing. A password manager like Bitwarden can protect you from both.

With Bitwarden, you can sign up for a free basic plan. This includes a free password generator and the ability to sync passwords with your other devices. You can also create and store passkeys, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, and security keys. These allow for passwordless authentication across various websites and apps. This is the biggest benefit of using a stand-alone password manager instead of the one built into a mobile browser like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Bitwarden stores all data it collects in an encrypted vault. Furthermore, Bitwarden also uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning that while your data is stored on Bitwarden's servers for syncing between devices, it's encrypted on your device before it's sent to the servers. To decrypt it, you will need your master password or passkey. Should you run into limitations on the free plan, you can sign up for the paid plan, starting from $1.65 per month. This includes additional features like an integrated authenticator, expanded storage, encrypted file attachments, a personal vault, and health reports.

A virtual private network (VPN) like ExpressVPN protects your phone by encrypting the data it sends over the internet and then sending it through a secure tunnel to a VPN server. The server receives the encrypted data, decrypts it, and then sends it to the destination website. When the website sends the data back to the VPN server, the reverse happens.

While it's in the secure tunnel, it's practically invisible to hackers and even your internet service provider. If someone intercepts the data, it will be unreadable because only the VPN server can decrypt it. If you set the VPN server to a different country than the one you're from, it can allow you to unlock geo-restricted content. For example, if you set a server in the UK and you log in to Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, it will show you content from that region.

ExpressVPN has no free plan or free trial, so you will have to pay for the premium plan from the get-go. The Basic plan costs $14.99 per month and includes 113 servers worldwide, with peak speeds up to 1,177 Mbps. It can also be used on up to 10 devices on the Basic plan, and it uses bank-level AES encryption to secure your data as it travels between your phone and the VPN server.

Fing is a network scanner and device-blocking app. Scanning your network can give you a good idea of the devices that are connected to it. Unknown devices could be something harmless, like your neighbor stealing your Wi-Fi. Sometimes, they can be a real danger, like a hacker trying to steal your sensitive information through man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks. With a MitM attack, a hacker can access your network through a weak password (especially if you're still using the default password) and unpatched exploits from an outdated router. Once they're in, they can eavesdrop on communication between you and the websites you visit. Fing can help you find them so you can kick them out of the network.

You can use Fing for free, but for advanced features like unlimited scans a day, continuous monitoring, alerts, and advanced network health checks, you'll need a paid plan starting at $7.99. Network health checks are especially important for keeping your entire network secure. For example, Fing can conduct a vulnerability check. In addition to identifying unconfirmed devices, it can detect whether your router uses Universal Plug and Play, or UPnP (disabling UPnP can make your router more secure). It also scans for hidden cameras.

Even though Chrome is the world's most popular browser, not everyone is a fan. However, it does one thing well: it helps keep your phone's web browsing experience as secure as possible. Today, a browser is an essential tool that gives us access to the World Wide Web, and choosing the right one can improve your security while browsing. And Chrome shines when it comes to its Safe Browsing features that protect you from phishing.

The Safe Browsing feature of interest is called Enhanced Protection. When enabled, it protects users in real time from dangerous sites, downloads, and extensions. However, it uses AI, which makes it highly efficient but also sends your browsing data to Google.

There's also a Safety Check, where Chrome ensures you've set it up to be as secure as possible. You get alerts about pending updates, reused and compromised passwords, and unsafe settings. If sites have been unused for too long, it will reset their permissions. Plus, Chrome has a fully featured password manager. You can use it to generate and manage passwords without leaving your browser.

Don't believe the myth that two-factor authentication (2FA) is useless with a strong password. It's much harder to trick you into giving up a 2FA code. For instance, if you get a notification from a website requesting a 2FA code when you didn't log in, it can alert you that your password is compromised. This can put you on high alert and give you time to change your passwords.

Google Authenticator is one of the best authenticator apps around. Once added to websites' 2FA methods, it will generate fresh codes every 30 seconds. It also syncs with your Google account, so you can use it across devices. To prevent unwanted access, you can secure the app with your phone's biometric authentication, such as fingerprint scanning on Android or Face ID on iPhone.

The common way to get 2FA codes is through SMS. But SIM swapping lets fraudsters trick your mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a SIM card they control. This puts the code directly in their hands. But if you use Google Authenticator, where codes are generated locally, SIM swapping or even methods that intercept the code as it's being sent to you won't work.