Andy Walker / Android Authority
Our smartphones are digital binders that home profoundly private and demanding information. Must you ever misplace your cellphone or turn into the sufferer of a snatch-and-grab, you wish to be sure that this information isn’t simply accessible. To mitigate this, many individuals disguise their apps from their app grid or residence web page, and I do that to some extent. Nevertheless, there’s one other option to disguise Android apps.
Extra just lately, I’ve been experimenting with varied methods to camouflage these apps, hiding them in plain sight. I stumbled throughout a quite foolish however fairly good methodology. In the event you’re like me and don’t have entry to Samsung’s Safe Folder or Google’s Non-public House however wish to hold your apps from prying eyes and sticky fingers, observe my resolution beneath.
What’s your most popular methodology of securing your vital Android app?
5 votes
Conceal Android apps: What you want and the way to do it
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Subsequent, you’ll must obtain a third-party icon pack. There are many choices on the Google Play Retailer, each premium and free. There are different choices on F-Droid, too. I get pleasure from theming my system, so these packs are normally utilized by my launcher throughout any supported icons, however having an abundance of icon choices is crucial right here. On this instance, I’m utilizing the Black Magic pack.
Lastly, establish which apps you wish to conceal. This might be your banking or any private finance app, a picture gallery, your notes or to-do record app, or another. Bear in mind which apps you’ve picked as a result of should you don’t, you’ll disguise them from your self. Wouldn’t that be awkward?
So, how do I disguise Android apps?
Proper. Now that you just’re ready let’s overview the method intimately.
- Discover the app you wish to obfuscate. For this specific instance, I’m utilizing Fitbit.
- Lengthy-press it and look ahead to the dialog to look.
- Faucet the three-button menu button and choose Customise.
- Subsequent, fill within the Label area. You’ll wish to use the identify of a typical app that doesn’t arouse suspicion. One thing generic like “Climate” works properly.
- Subsequent, faucet the icon to edit it. I’ll choose an acceptable icon that matches the app’s new identify.
- Lastly, if you would like one other layer of safety, you may as well disguise the app within the conventional sense. Kvaesitso permits you to take away the app from the app grid, the search outcomes, or each. Nova and different third-party launchers can have comparable choices.
- And that’s it. Your app is now hiding in plain sight. Can you see it beneath?
Not like organising apps in Non-public House, this resolution is straightforward to revert. To do that, observe the steps above, however take away any customizations you’ve made. The app will return to its authentic id.
This isn’t a Non-public House different, however it’s no much less helpful
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
In fact, this methodology will not be a Non-public House or Safe Folder different. These options lock away your apps and information behind a secondary account or a software program vault, which requires authentication. This obfuscation methodology solely provides your apps a brand new identify and face — it’s inherently much less safe.
Nevertheless, I don’t wish to invoice it instead however quite a smokescreen. Altering the icon and renaming the app isn’t a mission-critical option to safeguard your information. This methodology buys you priceless time in case somebody beelines your banking app. In my nation, no less than, it’s extremely vital to make sure that these apps will not be readily accessible.
This methodology is not as safe as Non-public House or Safe Folder, however it’s going to purchase you priceless time while you want it.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out this methodology’s different drawbacks. It’s surprisingly simple to overlook what you’ve named your app and what icon you picked. I’ve discovered it useful to maintain these renamed apps below the same style, like climate, pets, and so forth. Moreover, anybody who is aware of that you just make use of this methodology in your cellphone will have the ability to determine it out. It’s a good suggestion to maintain these particulars to your self.
In case you are keen on fully securing your Android system, now we have a separate and intensive information on different strategies for hiding your Android information.
Have you ever tried hiding your apps on this method? If that’s the case, please tell us your experiences with it and another safety steps you implement in your system.
