How to password protect any application on Android? How to disable pre-installed apps or services on Android without root access
Today, many people have a huge amount of very important information stored on their smartphones, which they greatly value. It's sad that some people only realize how important this information was when something happens to their smartphone. And a lot can happen: your smartphone can be lost, it can be stolen, or even some information can be extracted without your knowledge. All this happens due to non-compliance with the simplest safety rules. Today we will look at 5 Android applications that will help protect your smartphone from hacking or theft, and if something does happen, try to find it.
Android Device Manager
The first application that will help the disaster that has already happened is Android Device Manager. This functionality appeared in Android not so long ago and it consists of reflecting the morning Android device on the map, sounding a sound signal at maximum volume (more suitable for cases when the device is lost somewhere in the walls of the house or office), as well as the ability to block devices via the web interface or a complete reset of all settings and data, of course, also remotely. In order to use the service, you do not need to install anything on your phone. It is necessary that the phone or tablet be linked to a Google account, then you can manage it simply by going to. There is also an application for the devices themselves, this is useful if you have several Android devices, one of which is lost.
The following application will help prevent data theft, even if the device itself is stolen. AppLock allows you to set a password for any application on the device (most often banking applications, applications with passwords or simply some important data require protection), for almost any system setting, for Google Play and much more. Using the application, you can also hide any files or application shortcuts from the main menu. With AppLock you will have peace of mind about the safety of your data, even in everyday life. An interesting and useful feature is the ability to put a password on the application itself, hide it and prevent deletion without entering a password. The application is distributed completely free of charge and can be downloaded from.
Cerberus is essentially the same as Android Device Manager, but with much more functionality. In addition to the standard functions of tracking a stolen or lost device on a map, sending a signal and resetting data, there are a number of interesting functions. For example, using the program, you can remotely record sound from a microphone to obtain information about the situation around the phone, extract call logs, as well as some other information. Like the previous application, Cerberus can be completely hidden and protected with a password, making it appear completely absent from the device. This “anti-theft” device appeared much earlier than Android Device Manager and is very popular. If you lack the functionality of Android Devise Manager or want even more protection, we recommend installing Cerberus. You can download the application on Google Play, but after the trial period of one week, you will have to apply for a one-time license, which will cost about 140 rubles.
mSecure – Password Manager
If you care not only about the security of your smartphone, but also the data of all the services you use and create a separate complex password for each of them, then the mSecure – Password Manager application will be useful to you. Not everyone can or wants to remember all their passwords, if there are many of them, you may need to enter the password anywhere, and a notebook with a pen is clearly not the best option for storage. The application allows you to store all passwords in one place and, unlike a notepad, the data is securely encrypted, and to access the application you need to set a password. The application is not that cheap, but you have to pay for convenience and security. You can buy it for 315 rubles.
The latter app provides a slightly different type of security and is suitable for people who are worried that someone above them will be able to access their SMS communications. The application uses modern encryption methods. It is not a fact that federal security services will not be able to gain access to your correspondence, but it will still provide some protection. The application is of greater interest as a simply beautiful and unusual SMS application. It opens in a floating window on your desktop and can be accessed from any application. You can download Ninja SMS for free at .
The apps we've reviewed today can help you get out of a bad situation, maybe even avoid ending up in it, but in any case, you should always be vigilant and attentive. There is too much data in our lives that should not be accessed by intruders and ill-wishers. Be careful and don't rely entirely on apps, no matter how good they are.
Nowadays, smartphones contain a lot of sensitive data. Our banking apps, notes, gallery, photos, etc. must be protected from prying eyes. Additionally, when we give a device to a child, we may prevent them from accessing the apps on your phone.
Note. This list is not in order of preference. Readers are encouraged to choose whichever app they find best.
AppLock (from DoMobile Lab)
AppLock is a popular Android lock app that is preferred by many users. You can use it to password protect any specific app on your phone and prevent unauthorized access. This allows you to hide photos and videos from your gallery and store them in a private storage.
Once you install it to lock Android, you need to create a master pattern lock and use it every time you access the app. You can even hide the app icon from the list so that attackers can't easily access it.
Additionally, you can set different profiles to block different programs, add a fake cover image to blocked programs, enable fingerprint recognition, etc.
Norton is a big name in the field of antivirus software providers. However, the company also offers a free Android app. You can lock your programs using a PIN or pattern or a fingerprint scanner. Besides protecting your apps, you can also protect photos, prevent deletion, and capture images from intruders.
AppLock-Fingerprint Unlock from Cheetah Mobile
AppLock-Fingerprint Unlock by Cheetah Mobile is a lightweight app locker for Android that allows you to use your fingerprint sensor to lock access. You can also use a pattern or create a digital PIN to lock your phone app. Apart from standard locks, you can also use it to lock Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, incoming calls and phone settings.
Privacy Knight - Privacy Applock, Vault, Hide apps
Privacy Knight is one of the best Android apps that comes with some great features to protect your programs. It is ad-free and does not contain any in-app purchases. It provides you with various locking methods.
You can use PIN/pattern, fingerprint scanner, face tracking or disguise cover, for example, to blast, shake or use emergency message to unlock. You can hide private photos and videos, prevent apps from being uninstalled, hide notification previews from apps, and more.
It can also display a picture of anyone who enters the wrong password. Although it is not as popular as other Android app locks, it has almost all the basic features.
AppLock - Fingerprint
AppLock - Fingerprint is a decent Android locking app that comes with a user-friendly interface. You can protect your programs with a PIN, pattern or fingerprint scanner. There are options for screen lock and rotation where you can add apps to lock the screen backlight and rotate the screen.
You can create different passwords for each blocked application, and also add a fake icon to blocked programs.
Android smartphones are widely used not only as a means of communication, but also for accessing the Internet, as a GPS navigator and for various entertainment. Smartphone owners can also use them to hide and store personal data. To protect your smartphone from unauthorized access, set a password or block certain information, for example, applications. A variety of blockers are used for this. Let's look at a few of the popular ones.
To protect information, you can use both built-in tools and external utilities. The former can completely block the device, the latter can protect individual data.
A powerful and simple tool for protecting applications on Android. AppLock will help you block access to any of them and protect it with a password. You can protect individual files, for example, pictures from the Gallery. It will block outgoing and incoming data, automatically block any data for a certain period of time, protect against deletion, and activate strong self-defense.
SmartAppProtector
Also a reliable tool for blocking files on Android. Has different tools for monitoring protection. For example, there is a surveillance mode that monitors attempts to remove the lock. Graphic and text passwords, blocking for a certain period of time, backup and recovery are used.
Helps block access to pictures and other information. Its main features: protection against unauthorized connection via USB, data blocking, sending notifications about a phone number change, launching protection via SMS, restoring settings, and the ability to create backup copies.
VisidonAppLock
For the password, she uses an image of the smartphone owner’s face. The downside is that it has poorly developed facial recognition technology. According to reviews, it is not the most reliable, as failures have been recorded. The protection is unreliable, since it may not recognize the owner and at the same time allow an outsider to pass through.
PerfectAppProtector
It is one of the best products for protecting Android devices; it helps block access to various information and settings. With it you can block screen rotation, protect against connection via USB port, use a graphic password and block SMS sending.
Lock Master
A good program that will allow you to lock files on Android using password protection in the form of numbers or symbols. This way you can block messages, settings, contacts and other data from other people. The blocking wizard does not interfere with the usual blocking and removal of programs in the standard way using the system “Options”.
With one click, you can lock any application without having to re-enter passwords when you return.
An excellent program for blocking and protecting against interference from others. It can be used to block various data, programs and pictures, and set passwords on them. LOCKit has many advantages:
- Protect pictures and video files using passwords;
- Blocking any programs on your smartphone with one click, you can quickly block and just as quickly unlock any application on Android;
- To remove the blocking, you can use a password pattern or enter a PIN code;
- There are many free themes;
- Notification cleaner;
- User-friendly interface;
- A special energy saving mode, with which you can save up to 50% of the battery charge;
- Hide and encrypt any photos and videos.
Lockdown
Using it you can password protect pictures, SMS, emails and other information. The program will help limit access to files using different keys. They can be blocked in various ways: classic, using a graphic key, or a calculator.
Intuitive and convenient application with a Russified interface. Locking and unlocking is done using the main screen. You can also set a password for SMS, Whatsapp, SnapChat, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Line, Viber, Vkontakte, etc. Lockdown has the following features: support for multi-password and several individual passwords, blocking by SMS, no advertising, temporary PIN code, Russian version, recovery from a list to Google drive or SD card, creation of backup copies, surveillance function, automatic blocking by geolocation.
Protects personal photos and videos from prying eyes. To hide content, password-protect it. To protect photos, you can mark selected pictures - they will become invisible in the general view and will not be in the gallery. The program has a number of features:
- Quickly and effectively hides any videos and photos;
- Suitable for phones and tablets;
- Allows you to create your own personal albums and pictures directly through the application;
- There is quick access via a PIN code;
- Personal viewing of hidden photos and videos on full screen;
- Enlarging and rotating files;
- Availability of slide shows;
- Adding pictures via Facebook;
- Using the secure send feature.
Photo safe
Helps reliably hide any photos. It is used to hide pictures and photos using a secret PIN code. Special encryption will help massively hide personal photos and prevent an attacker from seeing them. Perfectly optimized for tablets and mobile devices. Hidden photos can be viewed as a slide show, rotated and enlarged.
Video safe
It will help you hide any video from your gallery using a password that is easy to set. You will need to indicate your email and the required code will be sent to it. The program is easy to use and will allow you to quickly and securely hide any video files. Helps you encrypt video files using 128-bit AES encryption. It has convenient and simple controls, helps you easily hide any videos. Video files can be divided into convenient categories. If you lose your PIN code, you can easily restore it. Developed in Russian.
LEO PrivacyGuard – AppLock
It will block access to secret and personal data, maintain confidentiality and reliably protect files. Capable of automatically reading the location and turning on a suitable blocking scheme. You can set and unblock with one click. It will hide personal data, videos and photos well. You can create groups with different access. Data is easy to copy, delete and manage. LEO PrivacyGuard consumes minimal RAM.
HidePictures&Videos - Vaulty
It will help block access to pictures that you do not want to show to others. You can create a personal gallery, create backups, protect data using a text password, filter pictures and videos, create and watch slideshows, sort photos by date, name, type or size.
LockerMaster
It has many themes for design, all of them are divided into categories. Lockscreen has ample capabilities and a convenient mechanism for unlocking the screen. You can create your own unique themes and share them with other users, or view others. The program is popular and the number of its users is constantly growing. This blocker has the following features: a functional editor with which you can create themes for the screen, support for high-resolution images, a large selection of unlocking methods, stylish design, animations and decorations, display of incoming calls and calls, design of the database every day.
There are many programs for blocking various data that the user wants to hide. You can use a universal blocker or try or select one with specific functionality to work with specific types of information.
Many users have problems with pre-installed apps, such as them eating up too much battery power. Some people just want to remove or at least put the junk pre-installed by the manufacturer out of sight. Basically, this requires root access, obtaining which will void the warranty on the device. However, there are other ways to remove/disable pre-installed apps. An excellent program from the XDA forum will help us with this.
The main task of the Debloater utility is to remove or disable pre-installed junk. To turn off programs you don’t need it, but to completely remove pre-installed junk you will need it. You can download the Debloater application itself directly from Trashbox.
Debloater basic requirements:
- Computer with Windows operating system.
- Drivers installed on it for your smartphone or tablet.
- Enabled USB Debugging mode on your device.
- Android version no lower than 4.4 KitKat, or root access.
Yes, Debloater only supports Android versions no lower than 4.4 KitKat. To remove pre-installed applications on older versions, root access is required. In addition, root rights allow you to completely remove applications from the device, of course, while maintaining a backup copy.
Full functionality of Debloater:
- Block/turn off applications.
- Unlock/enable applications.
- Ability to unlock/enable all applications in one go.
- Filter by package name, search.
- Export lists of blocked/disabled applications by pressing the “Read Phone Packages” button again.
- Ability to completely remove applications from the device (create a backup copy).
First you need to install the drivers for your smartphone or tablet on your computer and activate the USB Debugging mode, as well as install Debloater itself. Once you are sure that all preparations are completed, you can launch the Debloater application (important, the application first), and then connect the device to the computer.
If the connection is successful, the “Phone Connected” and “Synced” indicators will be green. The serial number and model of your device will also appear below.
Next, you need to click the “Read Phone Packages” button, after which Debloater reads all installed packages on your device. If your Android does not have root access, the program will display a corresponding message stating that it can only disable/hide pre-installed packages. If root rights are present, Debloater will display a dialog box asking you to activate the uninstall mode.
Now you can choose which package you would like to disable or remove. Pre-installed applications do not have a checkbox next to their names. By checking the box there, you mean that you want to remove this program. After checking the box, the “Synced” indicator will turn red, and the value in the “Changed” column will change. If you then click the “Apply” button, the program will disable / hide the package. The “Cancel” button, accordingly, cancels the selection.
After clicking the “Apply” button, the application will begin to block / disable the package. If everything went well, a message in the style of “Finished applying application changes to phone” will be displayed. After completion, you need to click the “Read Phone Packages” button again. All blocked programs are marked with a checkmark. Disabled packages can be brought back in the same way. It is worth noting that deleting/disabling packages occurs in real time - the disappearance of icons from the main menu can be observed on the connected device.
Debloater also has a good function for searching by packages and sorting them. The search is called up by the “Filter” button, and you can sort the list of packages using the buttons in the header - “APK File” and “Package”.
Please remember that deleting/disabling a system-critical package may result in device malfunctions. You do all actions with your device at your own peril and risk. It is worth noting that backup copies of all completely removed applications are stored on the computer, in the “C:\Program Files (x86)\Debloater\Debloater\Backup” directory. You can restore them inside the Debloater program.
Do you share your smartphone with someone or pass it on to your child? If so, you can block the installation of new applications on Android so that no one but you can install new games or programs. Here's how to do it.
Blocking the installation of new applications is useful when we give the phone to a child to play with. It happens that in our case, the child installs unwanted applications from the Play Store or - even worse - buy paid games. This can be blocked using a special application.
We recently showed you how to block app installation and uninstallation on iPhone and iPad. On Apple devices, this is easy because the feature is built into the restrictions options. Android unfortunately doesn't have this option, but you can use another method to block new app installations.
Step 1: Download the Smart AppLock app.
On Android smartphones, you can install applications in two ways - using the Play Store and also manually using the APK file with the installer of the selected game or application. Both of these methods can be easily password locked using the Smart AppLock app.
Download Smart AppLock from Play Store
Smart AppLock is a tool that allows us to enter different types of locks into your phone's password. The main function is to block access to selected applications without requiring any PIN. Without a PIN, you will not be able to launch an application, which is useful, for example, to provide social applications such as Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
However, we will use Smart AppLock to lock the services needed to install new apps, so that no one who doesn't know the PIN can install anything on our phone.
Step 2: Set up an app lock in the Smart Lock app
After the first activation, we will be asked to create a PIN code that we want to block access to various functions of the phone. Create a PIN by entering it twice and confirming with the bird in the bottom right corner.
30 30 30 wouldyyyy all would wouldyy all all 30 all all all would all 30 all all all all all 30 would ally 30y all 30 all "Application block". Click the plus button at the bottom of the screen to display the additional services and applications screen in the block list.
In the list you will find all your applications on your phone. To block the ability to install new applications, select the following:
- Package installer(responsible for manual installation of applications from APK files)
- Play Store
Also worth noting is the application settings that no one in our absence should try to bypass the blockade or change settings, although this is not required.
Selecting these two options to do so without a PIN will not be able to access the Play Store (so you cannot install apps), and you cannot install the app's APK file (you will be prompted to enter a PIN).
That's not all. In case someone misses any blocking (for example, by installing an application remotely via a computer), it is worth activating the ability to automatically block newly installed applications. To do this, go to the Smart AppLock tab "Settings", and then select the option "Additional locks".
A new window will appear in which you can activate alternative options for blocking various functions on your phone. In the list you will find an option named "New automatic app blocking"(the full name of the part is not suitable) with the Play Store icon. Check this setting.
From now on, additional locking is enabled, which means that even if someone overrides the security and installs something on our phone, such an application will be automatically blocked by the PIN code and it will not be able to be activated.
Step 3: Make sure Smart AppLock is not blocked by battery saving features on your smartphone
In the comments to the Smart AppLock application, you can often find negative reviews in which users claim that the lock only works for 15 seconds and then turns off. Most often they are owners of Huawei smartphones and tablets. This is quite logical, and it follows that Huawei devices have an aggressive battery saving feature by killing applications running in the background. In short, after a while, the system simply disables the Smart AppLock application and therefore any locks on it to save battery life.
To protect yourself from this, mark the Smart AppLock app as important, which should not be covered by power-saving features. On Huawei smartphones, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Battery Manager > Protected Apps.
A list of applications will appear in which you must find the AppLock application and mark it for protection. Thanks to this, it will be able to work after the screen goes dark and continues to lock. A similar thing should be done on new Samsung smartphones, which also have aggressive battery saving options and disable apps running in the background.
