How to put passwords to your Android applications

How to put passwords to your applications

Putting a password on your applications is almost a necessity prevailing for many. It is all because our mobiles, at some point, can be used by another. And as many are very curious, what better than to put a password to that app with sensitive information to prevent them from looking in case it hits them there.

We can block access in apps like WhatsApp where we have all our chats or those other apps where we have sensitive information, such as Dropbox or the same notes app where we have different keys. Luckily, on Android we have a wide variety of options and alternatives to ensure that no one takes a look at our stuff.

Whatsapp
Related article:
How to lock WhatsApp with password

How to protect your apps with passwords

protect apps

The passwords they are the lowest layer of security on an Android phone. Although in the end, if we use a very strong password, it can be even more secure than those devices that have a fingerprint sensor; especially those non-ultrasonic sensors that are based on taking a photograph of your fingerprint and then comparing it each time you use it to unlock your mobile or one of your applications.

Therefore, we always advise use a password that has some difficulty. And whenever possible, put a sign such as an underscore or some capital letter than another. This way we always ensure that it is somewhat more difficult to "guess" and that a program unlocks it by trying thousands of combinations.

Also, if you can delegate to other layers of security, such as the fingerprint sensor or the face sensor, always have a password as a base. That it is very easy to unlock the phone with our fingerprint, but perhaps because of the rush, and always use this method, the password, and that it will always be present as a way to unlock the mobile or the app, you always need a strong password.

The Samsung Galaxy with Secure Folder

Secure Folder

All The Galaxy Note and S of the last three years have the Secure Folder. It is one of the best features of these phones in the software as it allows you to have the "face" of your mobile phone visible to everyone on the one hand, while in the Secure Folder you can have files, apps or games.

Secure Folder is a private and encrypted space of a Samsung Galaxy phone and which is based on the defense-level Samsung Knox security platform. That is, all files and applications that you transfer to the Secure Folder are stored safely and separately on your mobile. It is as if we had another operating system inside another.

Secure Folder

By default, the Secure Folder always forces us to use a password or pattern. In this case we always recommend the password as it implies, and as we have said, more security.

  • From Settings on the Galaxy Note 10 itself, we can write Secure Folder in the search engine and the option to start it will appear.
  • It will ask us for a way to protect it and we select the password.
  • We define one and if we want, we can also use the fingerprint or face scanner.
  • In this case we will always go through the footprint; and especially that of the Galaxy Note 10, since it is by ultrasound.

We can configure already within the Secure Folder that every time the screen turns off we have to use the password again, or, for example, that after X minutes the Secure Folder is locked again and ask us for the password again.

Already inside the Secure Folder we can add all the applications we want and we have installed in the system, apart from the fact that you can install new ones from this same space when entering Google Play; although you will have to use your Google account again or your own for the Folder and thus separate the apps, files, documents and everything you have in this private space.

Huawei Private Space

Huawei Private Space

It works in the same way as the Secure Folder of the Samsung Galaxy and you can find it on this route:

  • Settings> Security and Privacy> Private Space

Once activated, we will have to set a strong password and if we want, also associate a fingerprint. We can now start a user in Private Space as if we were with a different mobile, and like the Samsung alternative.

In this way you can protect the apps you want and have a private layer in that private space, while in the "visible" you could have the professional one or vice versa. The modus operandis is the same as Samsung's, so if you know one or the other, you will find yourself at home.

The truth is a very good and very safe system to protect all those apps with a password and thus prevent peepers from taking a look at your chats, photos, videos or sensitive documents with that information that we want no one to have at hand.

Alternatives to Huawei and Samsung in other brands

OnePlus 7

En Xiaomi we have an option to protect apps with a password:

  • Let's go to Privacy> Privacy Options and we activate Block individual applications.

We will only have to select all those that we want to protect and thus keep them safe from the eyes of others.

With OnePlus we are in the same case and it is practically identical to the alternative that Xiaomi has:

  • Directly we go to the System Settings> Security and Fingerprint> Block Applications> Select all the apps that we want to block.

It has no more mystery than thisSo if you have a phone from these brands, don't delay in using a feature that will allow your children to take your mobile without finding photos that we do not want them to see or access information that remains private in their eyes.

Best apps to protect with password

Next we are going to show you some of the best apps to protect your apps with password. If you don't have some of the Samsung and Huawei brand phones, these apps can at least give you part of the password protection experience.

Norton App Lock

Norton

Endorsed by its antivirus, Norton App Lock allows you to set a PIN, password or pattern. You can block one or more apps with the same password and choose which ones to protect. That is, we can protect all or just one in particular.

As well It has the fingerprint sensor to use it in combination with the password. And in itself it is an app of great value as it is free. An interesting alternative and that being from Norton we can trust it well.

Norton App Lock
Norton App Lock
Developer: Norton Labs
Price: Free

App Lock

Applock

Lock allows us to lock our apps with a password. And it even allows it to be done with other applications as a gallery so that even selected images from the gallery disappear. In other words, we are talking about having a "closed drawer" of photos and even video.

Like Samsung Secure Folder, you also have the option to use automatic locking after a certain time or in a location. Nor is it bad that you can hide AppLock and so that curious colleague does not even know that you have an app of this style; be careful that they are very ready.

Una very complete app and that has been with us for a long time on Android.

Schutzen Sperren - AppLock
Schutzen Sperren - AppLock
Developer: IVYMOBILE
Price: Free

Lock Applock

Lock

This app visually catches the user's eye more and generates an experience not as raw as the previous one. Apart from blocking apps with a password, it also allows you to do the same with photos, videos and other private data.

It is a free app and like the previous two it has hundreds of thousands of downloads with an overall satisfaction rate more than high. Another different alternative, at least visually, and that may please others who are looking for a more modern and minimalist Material Design experience (the design language that Google has integrated into Android since version 5.0)

The app was not found in the store. 🙁

WhatsApp with fingerprint sensor unlock

Protect WhatsApp with fingerprint

Finally We leave you with a new feature that is very relevant to unblock one of the apps in which we can have those chats that we don't want anyone to see, and they belong to our own personal life.

Recently WhatsApp allows the unlocking of the app with the fingerprint sensor. It still does not allow it through a password, but it is true that with the sensor it is a layer of security that does not hurt at all.

This option can be found from Settings> Privacy> Fingerprint lock. Once activated, you should always use your fingerprint to open WhatsApp. This means that even audio calls are protected by fingerprint.

Nailserie of alternatives to protect our apps with a password and thus avoid having to look for excuses, justifications or that we are left with a very red face when someone discovers something we do not want. Not only for this reason, but because our personal life is personal and no one has to get into it.


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