7 Best Anti-theft Apps to Protect Android Device

This guide reviews 7 best anti-theft apps to protect Android device and highlights the differences that matter in everyday use. Compare the options below before making a choice.

Google offers a built-in option called Find My Device to find lost phones, but there are also some great third-party options available. Let's learn about them through the following article.

Find My Device is Google's original anti-theft app and is an integral part of all Android phones. It allows you to remotely lock the phone, log out of the device and delete its contents. You can also see your phone location on the map and call it through the app that comes with it.

If you lock the phone remotely, you can write a notification on the lock screen, which your device displays permanently until you turn it off.

The Find My Device feature is turned on by default, but should also check if you accidentally turned it off. To check the status of the Find My Device feature, go to Settings> Google> Security and select Find My Device. Toggle the switch to the On position if this feature is not enabled.

There are two ways to access the Find My Device feature via the Find My Device web app or smartphone app.

Download: Find My Device (Free).

Cerberus is set up as a leading third-party anti-theft app for Android. It has a rich set of features that rivals have to work hard to keep up.

The three main ways that Cerberus protects your device are remote control via web port, remote control via text message and automatic alerts.

The app can locate and monitor your phone, lock the device, turn on the phone alarm, upload call logs and delete both internal and external memory.

Cerberus will also help make sure anyone who steals your phone is in trouble with the law. The app can secretly take photos and videos of anyone holding your device, then upload them to the cloud so you can see. You can even record audio from your phone mic.

This app also supports automatic actions. For example, you can lock your phone yourself if the SIM card is changed or immediately receive a photo if someone enters the wrong PIN code.

You can enjoy a free 7 day trial. After that, you need to register for the pro version for $ 5 / year (VND 115, 000).

Download: Cerberus (Free trial, registration required).

Anti-Theft Alarm is an app that is not too complicated. This is a measure to deter theft; But there are no protection features after the phone is stolen such as phone positioning and remote wipe.

As the name suggests, the app will emit loud alarm sounds in certain cases. For example, you can turn off your phone if someone unplugs your phone while charging, when someone moves your phone from where you place your phone, when you drop the phone or if someone changes the card SIM. You can also activate remote alarms if you realize someone has stolen it.

Alarms can be emitted even if your device is in silent mode. Once activated, the alarm will not stop without a password; Changing the battery or SIM will not work at all.

Download: Anti-Theft Alarm (Free).

Avast Mobile Security is one of the best security suites for Android. However, here the article is only interested in Avast Anti-Theft feature. It used to be a standalone app, but Avast has included it in a comprehensive security package. This app has a wide range of common alarm, map and remote features, but there are some special features to mention.

The first is listening from a distance. You can make the stolen device call you into another one and listen to the surroundings. Your phone screen will still be black so the thief doesn't know that there's an active call.

Second, you may receive a low battery notice. This message serves two purposes: It will give you a clue about someone charging and using your device. And it allows you to reduce the number of alarms and images you require, to save energy as long as possible.

While Avast for Android app is free, you will need to register to have access to all the anti-theft features.

Download: Avast Mobile Security (Free, subscription available).

Applock is another basic app. It allows you to password-protect any app on your phone. It won't help you get your phone back if someone steals it, but at least the app helps you be safe when making sure your data is secure, if the worst happens.

AppLock can also hide videos and photos, as well as restrict calls. That means a thief can't see your private life or get important information in your account. This app is supported ads.

Download: Applock (Free, subscription available).

Prey is a cross-platform solution that can monitor phones, laptops, tablets and all other devices.

There is a free version and a premium version. The free version allows you to place geographic barriers (and receive notifications when a perimeter limit is violated), view phone location via GPS, take pictures of thieves and activate the remote lock. This limits three devices per account.

The premium version costs $ 10 (230, 000VND), provides unlimited devices and adds data deletion and remote file access functions.

Review Prey in more detail through the article: Find smartphones and laptops that are lost accurately and effectively with Prey app.

Download: Prey (Premium version and free version).

Where's My Droid offers a free version with two paid packages. In the free version, you can locate the device, ring, set a password and send a warning when someone changes the SIM.

The Pro pack adds features like taking photos, locking and deleting devices, as well as hiding app icons. It has a one-time payment cost of $ 4 (VND 92, 000).

To finish, the Elite version ($ 1 / 23, 000 VND per month or $ 9 / 200, 000 VND per year) includes geolocation features, location history, device statistics, etc.

Download: Where's My Droid (Free, available registration version).

Most carriers offer an anti-theft app. In the US, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint all have their own versions.

The remarkable downside of apps coming from suppliers is the cost per month. You will see a small additional fee on your monthly bill. On the positive side, you will be able to call your service provider and force them to help you in case a thief steals your device.

Some manufacturers also offer an equivalent anti-theft app. They are usually integrated into the OEM interface; Both Samsung and HTC devices have this feature. Unlike the versions that come from the network, the manufacturer versions are free to use.

Anti-theft apps are only part of keeping your Android device safe.

To learn more about how to protect, see the article: How to protect privacy when browsing the web on mobile?