Sunday 29 June 2014

The 100 Best Android Apps of 2014


By on 10:11

Security
The freedom of Android also gives bad guys the freedom to attack you. Stay safe with these handy apps.


avast! Mobile Security & Antivirus (for Android)
avast! Mobile Security 

 

Free 
This completely free app packs in a ton of security features, like remote wipe, remote lock, app management, safe Web browsing, a battery manager, and as an added bonus, an anti-virus engine that received top marks from independent testing labs. It's incredibly lightweight, but it lacks a backup feature—fortunately, we have other apps that help you with backup.


Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus

 

Free, $9.95 per year
Bitdefender has all the features you'd expect in a top-tier Android security app, and now it adds a new app-locking feature for additional security on your device. I'm looking forward to testing this particular feature soon. However, the additional feature hasn't changed Bitdefender's laser-focus on security, eschewing time-consuming scans and using a super-fast, cloud-based method. While the annual fee may be off-putting, it's a third of what other big name companies charge.


Lookout Security & Antivirus Premium


Free, $3 per month
Lookout has been a mainstay of Android security for years, providing protection against malicious applications and, more recently, against aggressive mobile advertisers. The app now sports improved anti-theft tools that (in some cases) might notice that your phone is stolen before you do. We'll be reviewing those new features soon.


LastPass Password Mgr Premium

 

Free, $1 per month
A major overhaul to this powerful password manager finally looks as good as it performs. With LastPass, you can access your saved passwords, secure notes, and filled forms from your Android, and you can also create new ones that will sync to all your devices. The new version of the app ingeniously melds the password manager with a built-in browser, putting the app's auto-login features at the forefront. Staying safe has never been easier.


Mr. Number-Block calls, texts

 

Free
Sometimes you just don't want people to bother you, and that's where Mr. Number comes in. With this app, you can block calls and SMS messages from specific people, code prefixes, and whole area codes. It can also help you fight back against intrusive calls and texts with an easy spam-reporting system.


Orbot: Proxy with Tor

Free 
Tor is probably more famous for providing access to the so-called "Dark Web," but it's also a useful way to connect to the Internet while keeping your movements private. Working with a special browser, Orbot connects you to Tor within seconds. However, I did find that it sometimes takes a few attempts to get online.


Hotspot Shield VPN for Android

Free 
The desktop version of this VPN service won an Editors' Choice award for VPN, and it also works great on Android. With just a few taps, your traffic is encrypted and routed through the developer's secure servers keeping your activities safe from snoopers. If you need to check your bank account or any other sensitive information over a public Wi-Fi network, this is the way to go.—Next: Health and Fitness »

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