Day 13
Set Up Privacy Conscious Smartphone Apps
DAY 13: Set Up Privacy Conscious Smartphone Apps
In today’s challenge, we’re diving into something simple yet impactful: privacy-conscious smartphone apps.
Apps are where we spend a ton of time, and surprisingly, they can be major security threats if you’re not careful. Luckily, there are tons of options that put your privacy first - you just need to know which ones to pick!
What’s up, S’mores! I’m Shannon Morse - welcome to Day 13 of the 30-Day Security Challenge! We’re almost halfway done!!
Why It Matters
We’re all on our phones constantly, probably too much - chatting with friends, browsing the web, shopping, working, doom scrolling, looking at really stupid videos about sponge monkeys. The more we use our devices, the more we’re exposed to tracking, surveillance, and potential data leaks.
Luckily, many third-party apps are designed with privacy in mind - and 2025 tech has made it easier to stay safe on your phone, all while still being productive and connected.
So today, let’s take a look at three essential categories of apps that can seriously boost your privacy and security.
I’m also going to recommend that you check out my earlier video in this series that discusses Permissions. While that video was aimed at smarthome, you can use those same tips for every other app on your phone - that episode was Day 6 in my updated 30 day security challenge series.
Step 1: Secure Messaging Apps
First up, let’s talk about messaging apps. These days, texting isn't just texting anymore. It’s how we communicate everything, from work details to personal info. That means if someone gets into your messages, they’re getting a lot of sensitive data.
My all-time favorite for secure texting is Signal.
Signal uses end-to-end encryption, meaning not even the company can read your messages. It’s open-source, free, and it lets you send texts, attachments, and encrypted calls. You can even set disappearing messages that automatically self-destruct after a set time (1 minute, 1 hour, whatever works).
Here’s what you need to do:
Install Signal (it’s available on both Android and iOS)
Set up an app passphrase (so if someone gets your phone, they can’t just open the app)
Enable privacy settings (disabling screenshots and enabling disappearing messages)
Other options:
WhatsApp (also encrypted, but owned by Facebook, so proceed with caution)
Telegram (supports encrypted chats too, but check your settings to make sure everything’s locked down)
But no matter what, always double-check your settings. Some apps don’t enable encryption by default — and we don’t want to assume our texts are safe when they might not be!
These require both sender and receiver to use the app in order to maintain encryption and privacy. If you’re anything like me - it’s impossible to get everyone in your life to use the same app.
Luckily, Google and Apple are now introducing RCS to cross platform messaging - from Google Messages to iMessage and vice versa. This DOES encrypt your messages, but it requires both parties to also be using updated applications. This can save you the headache of trying to get friends or family to switch to another app, but these don’t offer the more robust privacy features you’ll find in a third party app like Signal. Also, they’re owned by Google and Apple, so there’s that.
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Step 2: Privacy-Focused Browser Apps
Next, let’s move on to browsers. We all know the internet is a little sketchy sometimes - tracking cookies, ads, and invasive data collection are all too common. To fight back, you don’t have to stick with whatever was installed on your phone when you bought it - like Safari or Chrome. You can install a third party browser. I use Brave Browser on my main Android device.
Why Brave?
Built-in ad blocking — so no more annoying pop-ups or slow-loading sites
Tracker blocking — keeps your data from being sold to marketers
HTTPS Everywhere — ensures encrypted connections, even if a site doesn’t support it
Private search — you can search the web without being tracked
I’ve set Brave as my default browser so it automatically opens links for me. It’s seamless, it’s fast, and it’s way more private than Chrome.
Other options:
Firefox Focus (lightweight, privacy-focused version of Firefox)
Ghostery Privacy Browser (blocks trackers, and it’s also super fast)
Orbot/Tor (if you want maximum anonymity, Orbot connects your phone to the Tor network for private browsing)
Find the one that works best for you and make the switch — you'll notice faster load times and fewer ads.
Pro Tip: Switch your search engine. When you start up Chrome, it pulls up Google.com which is the search engine. This search engine is not only bad at privacy, but it also is using Generative AI in the search responses, and these can oftentimes be incorrect or full of misinformation.
When isntalling that new browser, also set a new search engine as your default. I know they’ve had affiliations with Microsoft trackers, but I still like DuckDuckGo. Another option is Startpage.com, which gives you all the same results at a Google search, but without the anti-privacy problems.
Step 3: VPN - Protect Your Traffic
Let’s talk about VPNs - or Virtual Private Networks. A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, protecting you from hackers, man-in-the-middle attacks, and tracking while you browse on public Wi-Fi.
Now, setting up your own VPN on your own server can be a headache if you're not familiar with the tech side of things. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with consumer-friendly VPN options.
I personally use ProtonVPN because it’s got a solid reputation, low cost, and a ton of customizable settings. It’s also got connections in tons of different countries so I can bypass local blocks, like when I’m trying to buy stuff from Japanese websites for my Sailor Moon collection.
I’ve got a link below to my favs.
Quick tip for self-hosted VPNs:
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can easily set up your own VPN with OpenVPN Connect. Simply download your .ovpn profile, and you’re good to go. If you’re using a commercial provider, it’s even easier - just install the app and connect.
Remember, a VPN only works if you trust the provider, so be cautious about free VPNs — they often log your data or sell it to third parties (not the privacy move we’re going for).
In 2025, VPN apps now support WireGuard - a newer, faster, and more secure VPN protocol. If your provider supports WireGuard, use it! It’s much more efficient than older protocols, so it’ll give you faster speeds without compromising security.
Also, make sure your VPN is not leaking your traffic. You can check this with tools like DNSLeakTest. If your VPN isn’t working properly, you could still be exposed.
That’s Day 13 all wrapped up! You now have the tools to protect your texts, surf the web privately, and browse securely with a VPN.
Tomorrow for Day 14, we’re covering multi-factor authentication (MFA) and passkeys - two of the most powerful tools you can use to secure your online accounts. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!
If you enjoyed today’s video, give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and hit that bell so you’re ready for tomorrow’s security challenge. You can grab the free checklist at ShannonRMorse.com. Bye yall!