Security for mobile users has been a hot topic in the last few years, ever since the app market exploded. There are millions of apps out there and many of them are designed with a sole purpose of acquiring and selling your personal data, jeopardizing your privacy. Some are even more sinister, aiming at stealing your info in order to steal your identity. This can potentially cause you very expensive damage and it is something most users worry about. Here is our pick of 10 apps that will dramatically increase your safety and protect your privacy while online.

Privacy

Platform: Android and iOS

Privacy works by adding another layer of protection between you and the sites you are buying from. The app can create burner or single-use debit cards that will delete themselves after use. You can also make cards that work only with a specific e-commerce site and can’t be used anywhere else.

Source:anadea.info

Blur

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows (browser add-on and a web client)

Apart from standard features, like masking emails and autofill passwords, Blur also offers masked credit card numbers and masked phone numbers. The last two will cost you $39 per year, but they can come in very handy.

ExpressVPN

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows

One of the simplest VPNs on the market, ExpressVPN is very easy to set up and use. It isn’t free, as most good ones aren’t, but for $12.95 a month, you get complete anonymity on the Internet.

Source:expressvpn.couponcode168.com

Hushed

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows

If you need a second phone number in order to keep your main one hidden from scammers, Hushed is a great solution. It is a pay-as-you-go service, offering end-to-end encryption, with voice mail and messaging services rolled into one app. You can also create burner phone numbers that will expire after three days.

Dashlane

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows

Password managers are dime a dozen these days, but we feel that Dashlane stands above its competitors. Its identity dashboard feature will instantly inform you on password strength, security alerts and other aspects of personal security on the Internet. A premium version, for $4.99 a month, adds more features, like VPN, secure file storage and a dark web monitoring.

Lookout Personal

Platform: Android, iOS

Lookout Personal is an app that provides you with security while connected on a Wi-Fi network. It also offers anti-theft measures, as well as privacy advice. The free version has limited functionality, but a paid one, at $9.99 a month, offers a full security solution with identity theft protection. Lookout Personal is one of the most comprehensive apps on the market today.

Telegram

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows

If you are worried about Facebook and WhatsApp stealing your personal data, Telegram may be a solution for you. It offers end-to-end encryption for your messages, together with a self-deleting messages option. It is a free app that can be synced on all of your devices.

Source:news.softpedia.com

ProtonMail

Platform: Android, iOS, Windows

A free solution for encrypted emails, ProtonMail offers a secure email service to its user. In order to work, both the sender and recipient have to have a @protonmail.com address. If you want to send emails to another provider, you have to send a passphrase to the recipient, so he can decode the message. Makers of ProtonMail claim that not even they can read emails encrypted with their service. The free version is limited to 150 emails per day and 500 MB of storage space, while premium cost $5.72.

Brave web browser

Platform: Android, iOS

Designed to offer mobile users a secure browser, Brave has numerous security features built in. script blocking, ad blocking, tracker prevention, cookies, and popup blocking are just some of them. It also has an option of requiring a fingerprint or password every time you use it, to prevent unauthorized use of your phone. Brave Software Inc also claim that their browser reduced data usage and increases battery life. Since it is free, it doesn’t cost you anything to give it a try.

Exodus Privacy

Platform: Android, iOS

Source:exodus-privacy.eu.org

Exodus Privacy deals with one of the most annoying aspects of mobile security, apps that work in the background and can severely compromise your privacy. Exodus Privacy keeps track of all active apps and compares them to its database of malicious software, which is regularly updated with new threats. You can even send suspicious apps for analysis to their site.