Every day, more and more Android users are joining the Smartphone sphere, as the war to vouch for biggest chunk of market deepens.
Recent stats indicate towards a growing marketplace for Android, with approximately 1.5 billion users currently using this platform. Since the Android platform is touted as user friendly and open source, users find it incredibly convenient to their ease of use and productivity.
Commanding the largest user base when compared to other platforms, Android is bound to have vulnerabilities associated with its usage. These vulnerabilities pose a threat and may compromise security and privacy of its users.
Keeping in view this fact, there are some reliable applications available for the Android platform which can ensure complete protection from the looming threats associated with using this OS.
This article will cover the 5 best apps currently available for Android devices which will ensure security and privacy of its users:
1. PureVPN
When it comes to complete online privacy and security on an Android device, a VPN service is a must have, since it safeguards users from various threats, specifically those coming from hackers and cyber criminals. Claiming the title of World’s fastest VPN, PureVPN offers 256 bit encryption alongside protocols which include PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols.
This means that it provides complete protection from hackers, spammers, phishers, snoopers, and other cybercriminals who may be lurking around on a free WiFi network. It also  provides protection from spying agencies by making you anonymous through a dedicated IP.
PureVPN provides access to servers located in 140+ countries, enabling you to access geo restricted content on streaming services like Amazon, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HULU, Hotstar and ITV.
 2. Signal Private Messenger
Signal is a security app which is free and open source. This translates to high level of verifiability for security experts and tech geeks. The good thing is that it doesn’t require you to sign up for their service.
It also enables you to create secure and encrypted group chats with your friends and family.
3. Crypt4All Lite
Another app worth mentioning for Android is Crypt4All. It ensures complete privacy of your important files and protects them using 256 bit AES encryption. It allows you to deploy a password in Unicode ensuring maximum protection. Passwords can go as long as 100 characters, with a minimum limit of 6 characters.
This app offers multiple language support, making it user-friendly for everyone. According to their claims, the speed of the app subjects to how fast your SD card is.
4. App Ops
App Ops is for those who are concerned regarding third parties snooping onto their private information. It blocks permission to certain apps you feel are hounding for your private data. You can adjust the permissions yourself.
It is a trustworthy solution for people who love to use different Android  apps but are apprehensive about their privacy. The app requires rooting on some android versions.
5. LastPass Password Manager
LastPass stores all your important passwords safely into a vault which offers 256-bit AES encryption and also serves as a password manager. The only password you need to remember is the password to open this vault. Moreover, fingerprint activation can also be used to enhance security on supported devices.
Likewise, this app can also be used to check the strength of your passwords, and if needed, can be changed too.
This concludes the list of top 5 smartphone apps for your online privacy and security. Feel free to comment below and let us know what you think.