Everyone has some friends who take your phone for a call and the minute you turn your back, they are snooping on you, reading your messages, looking at your gallery or sending random requests from your phone. To prevent such instances, companies have come up with app locks that protect your phone from snoop attacks or embarrassing moments. Ishaan Gera reviews some of the app locks, which are light on the phone, for that added security.
Norton App Lock
Let’s start with a brand that is trusted for security. Although Norton provides an anti-virus separately, it has unbundled its lock feature from the app. The app rarely hangs, works perfectly and does not have ads that pester you. It provides basic security features, like invisible pattern and the ability to click an intruder photo if someone tries to break into your phone more than three times. Although Norton has not included fingerprint lock, expect it to happen soon. So, if you are using a phone for business purpose and want a simple clean app lock without any bells and whistles, Norton is the app for you.
Perfect AppLock
Talking about bells and whistles, the first thing that comes to my mind is Perfect AppLock. The app comes loaded with so many features that you can end up spending a week to a fortnight just discovering what the app can or cannot do. There is fake password screen, auto-rotation lock, fake pop-up message, lock calls/Bluetooth/Wi-Fi and the list goes on. So much so, that even after a month, I am able to discover new features on the app. But the cost of such a complex app is a cluttered user interface. Perfect AppLock is not easy to understand although there is the added benefit of gesture lock—you just doodle on your screen to unlock apps—it is not as simple as Norton. Again, with no fingerprint security and pesky ads popping up (there is a ad-free paid version), Perfect lets you down. But if you want more than just an app lock, Perfect is what you need.
Hexlock
Let’s now look at those with fingerprint readers. The HexLock app is as simple as Norton, including a fingerprint scanner, which is a plus, and as versatile as Perfect AppLock. Though it does not have as many features as Perfect, the different modes its offers are a big plus. The app lets you screen through different modes—party, office, parental, etc. All you have to do is tap on the mode to switch it on and you can set locks for different apps under different modes. Given the utility of the modes, if you have a fingerprint enabled device, Hexlock is the app to have.
AppLock Fingerprint
If you are thinking about getting advanced security, then AppLock Fingerprint is just for that. While not as simple as Hexlock, it offers features like fingerprint detection, and trumps others in terms of pattern lock. While in other apps the best you can do is a 3×3 pattern, for this one you can go far beyond that, setting a 18×18 pattern, or if your mind allows, as complex a patten as you can. The app also offers screen on feature for reading mode, anti-rotation lock feature, along with the ability to lock Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and calls. It comes equipped with profiles, and lock convenience, where you can basically get a Bluetooth-based lock and WiFi lock—it will remain unlocked over a specific connection. More important, you can set multiple passwords on the app for different apps. I could not find many faults, besides a slightly difficult UI, making this one of the best security apps.