4 Free Mobile Apps That Increase Data Security

Mobile phones have revolutionized communication in the past few decades, and smartphones enable people to do handle more of their personal and business tasks without being tied to a landline or personal computer. Estimates show that a growing number of Americans have even completely given up their landline in favor of using their mobile phone as their sole phone.

With so much data stored in devices that are inherently at higher risk of being lost or stolen, security is obviously pretty important. Modern phones are equipped with stock security features out of the box, but depending on your usage this may not be enough. The following free mobile applications can be installed to augment standard security features and give you peace of mind should anything happen to your phone.

1. Red Phone – Security for Phone Calls

If you frequently find yourself making phone calls in which sensitive information is shared back and forth, or you just desire more privacy, call encryption may prove extremely valuable. Developed by Open Whisper Systems, Red Phone works by encrypting calls placed from your regular phone application, but the actual transmission is over Wi-Fi or cellular data and does not affect your carrier-allotted minutes. The main advantage of this is that your cellular provider does not have access to any data associated with the phone calls you make. Calls that you make will not appear on your monthly statement, so prying eyes cannot see who you have been in contact with. The Red Phone app, which is offered as a free download, is currently available only for Android devices.

2. Enlocked – An Added Layer of Privacy for Email

If you fall within the category of smartphone users that need a bit more privacy when using email, Enlocked is an application that makes the experience infinitely more secure. Data breaches occur via email at an alarming rate and unfortunately stock smartphone email applications simply cannot guarantee that this won’t happen to you.

Enlocked works in conjunction with the most popular email applications such as Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Gmail, as well as Exchange email accounts that are often used for corporate email communications. Rated “excellent” by PC Mag and recipient of their Editor’s Choice award, Enlocked has consistently receives solid reviews from its users. Available for both Apple and Android devices, Enlocked can be downloaded for free for the App Store and Google Play, respectively.

3. Wickr – Secure Text Messaging

Times have changed, and people are using text messaging at astonishing rates. Carriers for the most part have adopted unlimited text messaging as part of their cellular service plans. People not only use texting for their personal use, but also as a way to communicate business and other sensitive information.

The San Francisco-based software company Wickr has created an application that boasts “military grade encryption” for text messaging. Not only are text messages encrypted, all messages routed through the Wickr app have an expiration date ranging from a few hours to several days depending on individual user settings within the app. This is great for people who are sending sensitive data and don’t want to run the risk of data being compromised or referenced at a later time. Wickr’s Shredder feature allows you to remove pictures, texts and videos from your device and destroys any traces that they were ever on your device. Wickr is available for both Apple and Android smartphones and is also available as a desktop application for Windows, Mac and Linux computers.

4. CoverMe – Multipurpose Security

While most smartphones include a feature that allows you to lock your device in order to keep intruders out, there are limited options to secure individual applications. Once your phone is unlocked, photos, videos, contacts and text messages are vulnerable and can be accessed by anyone. CoverMe addresses this problem by providing application-level security in the event that your phone’s standard security features are bypassed somehow.

For phone calls, CoverMe gives users multiple options for masking their information when placing calls. Much like Wickr, CoverMe offers military grade call encryption, and you can also conceal call logs, contact information, and text messages from prying eyes. While CoverMe is a free download for both Apple and Android devices, prices for premium features start at $4.99.

Smartphones are powerful computers and often contain data that could be potentially harmful to our personal or professional lives. As smartphone technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, security is increasingly becoming more of a necessity and less of an afterthought. No matter how you use your phone, if you require a higher level of privacy for personal or business use, try some of these apps to see if they’re right for you.