A smartphone is like a computer, it has programs that run in the background, that play in the background and use the internet connection even if we don't know it. Almost all applications of an Android phone require authorization to use the network and connect to the internet when they are installed, but if in some cases they do it to work (for example Whatsapp or Facebook), in other cases, however, it is a request unnecessary often used only to collect statistical data or to advertise the application. There are also applications that actively use the Internet without asking for and obtaining explicit consent, which in this case can also download our personal information.
To make everything more insecure, we must also put the fact that a smartphone connects to the internet using the most diverse networks, perhaps the wifi of a bar or restaurant, the airport wifi, that of friends at home and many others. Any network can have vulnerabilities, it can be monitored and it may also be that someone is listening and capturing data or that a hacker steals our data.
For all these reasons, those who care about complete and risk-free data security on their smartphone can install a firewall .
READ ALSO: Securing the data of an Android mobile phone in 10 ways
A firewall for Android, simply explained, is an app that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and that can be configured to allow or block apps from accessing the internet and transmitting data externally. These apps are therefore useful to protect yourself on wifi networks outside the home and to prevent apps from sharing personal data without authorization. Here, then, the best Firewalls for Android, which do not require the root permissions of the phone to work. It should be noted that the operation of a Noroot Firewall for Android is based on the use of a VPN.
Basically all internet traffic passes through the application (once installed and authorized) which must always remain running.
The application, however, does not create a "real" VPN connection, so you can be sure that no data is sent to remote servers or to the creators of the app itself. The connection is simply filtered and every attempt to connect by an app is signaled to the user who can choose whether to authorize or block it.
1) NOROOT Firewall, is a free and ad-free app, which is used to block internet access for individual apps. Notifications are displayed every time a new application tries to establish an internet connection. However, you can open the firewall to pre-authorize secure apps that need the internet to function like Google+, Facebook, Whatsapp, Chrome etc.
For each app you can also choose whether to authorize internet traffic passing through the cellular data connection and that passing through a Wifi.
Another interesting feature of NOROOT firewall is the global filters option, to allow or block connections to specific addresses on the Internet. The app can be used for a whole day to check which other applications connect to the internet and decide, if necessary, to uninstall the intrusive ones. If you like, you can keep it active all the time by choosing, in the application screen, to enable automatic start.
2) NetGuard is a firewall app for Android that allows you to block apps from connecting to the Internet, from data connection or Wi-Fi. Free to use and open source, this app is compatible with Android 5.0 and later and supports IPv6 plus TCP / UDP and IPv4. You can set up notifications to be notified if some apps are trying to access the internet.
3) Mobiwol is a firewall for Android with a minimal user interface and simple settings. Just install it, select all the apps to which you want to limit the use of the internet connection and that's it. You can then analyze the amount of data that an app can consume, set a connection usage limit for a specific app, time or traffic.
4) NetPatch Android Firewall allows you to block any app, hostname and IP on the network. A feature that distinguishes this Firewall for Android compared to others is the ability to customize each app, to connect to the Internet or not, when the screen is on or off.
5) Karma Firewall for Android is a simple app for those who want a light and uncomplicated tool, the best solution for those looking for a basic Android Firewall application capable of performing the main filtering activity and nothing else. Any app blocked with this app will not be able to connect to the internet either via data connection or via Wi-Fi.
A real smartphone firewall can only be installed if Android is unlocked with root.
AFwall + can be installed on smartphones unlocked with root, a real firewall that remains running in the background and allows you to decide whether to grant authorization to use the internet or not to each individual app.
Different from Firewalls, but still useful to protect the internet connection from infiltrations and espionage, is the CloudFlare app to change DNS on Android .
Alternatively, you can also use the VPN app for Android, to connect by covering your IP and origin.
To make everything more insecure, we must also put the fact that a smartphone connects to the internet using the most diverse networks, perhaps the wifi of a bar or restaurant, the airport wifi, that of friends at home and many others. Any network can have vulnerabilities, it can be monitored and it may also be that someone is listening and capturing data or that a hacker steals our data.
For all these reasons, those who care about complete and risk-free data security on their smartphone can install a firewall .
READ ALSO: Securing the data of an Android mobile phone in 10 ways
A firewall for Android, simply explained, is an app that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and that can be configured to allow or block apps from accessing the internet and transmitting data externally. These apps are therefore useful to protect yourself on wifi networks outside the home and to prevent apps from sharing personal data without authorization. Here, then, the best Firewalls for Android, which do not require the root permissions of the phone to work. It should be noted that the operation of a Noroot Firewall for Android is based on the use of a VPN.
Basically all internet traffic passes through the application (once installed and authorized) which must always remain running.
The application, however, does not create a "real" VPN connection, so you can be sure that no data is sent to remote servers or to the creators of the app itself. The connection is simply filtered and every attempt to connect by an app is signaled to the user who can choose whether to authorize or block it.
1) NOROOT Firewall, is a free and ad-free app, which is used to block internet access for individual apps. Notifications are displayed every time a new application tries to establish an internet connection. However, you can open the firewall to pre-authorize secure apps that need the internet to function like Google+, Facebook, Whatsapp, Chrome etc.
For each app you can also choose whether to authorize internet traffic passing through the cellular data connection and that passing through a Wifi.
Another interesting feature of NOROOT firewall is the global filters option, to allow or block connections to specific addresses on the Internet. The app can be used for a whole day to check which other applications connect to the internet and decide, if necessary, to uninstall the intrusive ones. If you like, you can keep it active all the time by choosing, in the application screen, to enable automatic start.
2) NetGuard is a firewall app for Android that allows you to block apps from connecting to the Internet, from data connection or Wi-Fi. Free to use and open source, this app is compatible with Android 5.0 and later and supports IPv6 plus TCP / UDP and IPv4. You can set up notifications to be notified if some apps are trying to access the internet.
3) Mobiwol is a firewall for Android with a minimal user interface and simple settings. Just install it, select all the apps to which you want to limit the use of the internet connection and that's it. You can then analyze the amount of data that an app can consume, set a connection usage limit for a specific app, time or traffic.
4) NetPatch Android Firewall allows you to block any app, hostname and IP on the network. A feature that distinguishes this Firewall for Android compared to others is the ability to customize each app, to connect to the Internet or not, when the screen is on or off.
5) Karma Firewall for Android is a simple app for those who want a light and uncomplicated tool, the best solution for those looking for a basic Android Firewall application capable of performing the main filtering activity and nothing else. Any app blocked with this app will not be able to connect to the internet either via data connection or via Wi-Fi.
A real smartphone firewall can only be installed if Android is unlocked with root.
AFwall + can be installed on smartphones unlocked with root, a real firewall that remains running in the background and allows you to decide whether to grant authorization to use the internet or not to each individual app.
Different from Firewalls, but still useful to protect the internet connection from infiltrations and espionage, is the CloudFlare app to change DNS on Android .
Alternatively, you can also use the VPN app for Android, to connect by covering your IP and origin.
