The vast majority of mobile applications for Android require permission for network connections when installed. Many of them really need it for full-fledged work, while others use it only to download ads or for other, not always useful, purposes. By default, the Android operating system does not contain tools to help regulate the network activity of applications. However, this problem can be solved using third party application called NoRoot Firewall.

The operation of this utility is exactly as it is named and will not raise questions from anyone who has met with setting up any firewall in Windows. NoRoot Firewall notifies when applications try to access the Internet and allows you to allow or deny the corresponding connection. Thus, you create a set of rules according to which the programs installed on your device will receive network access.

In addition to the global rules, as you can see in the right screenshot, you can set more subtle specific instructions for each program. So, it is possible to specify a list of addresses to which access is allowed or denied, and even a connection method for each connection. NoRoot Firewall also saves connection logs, so you can see which application sent / received data and from where at any time. NoRoot Firewall works by creating a secure VPN connection and does not require superuser rights, unlike many competitors. It is distributed free of charge and is available for all devices running Android 4.0 and higher.
Download NoRoot Firewall for Android you can follow the link below.

Developer: Gray Shirts
Platform: Android 4.0 and above
Interface language: Russian (RUS)
Condition: Free
Root: Not needed

We're continuing our discussion of firewalls (or firewalls, if you prefer) for Android. In the last article, we talked about the program of the Gray Shirts studio, as well as its direct competitor - Mobiwol. It was the last application that became the leader in the direct comparison. The new material will find out if there is a worthy replacement for them.

advertising

First, let's introduce the test subjects. The first to come to our court will be AFWall + - a firewall that requires root rights and offers (presumably) more than others. It is favorably distinguished from its competitors by the ability to control local network traffic, import DroidWall rules, support for the task scheduler, and much more. It is clear that such a solution is designed for experienced and tricky users.

And the end of the review will be LostNet, which, among other things, offers a paid Pro version. But do we have to pay extra and what are the benefits we get? Perhaps you shouldn't fence a garden if there is a universal Mobiwol? This will become clear based on the results of the review.

The following equipment was used as test equipment:

• DEXP Ursus 8EV2 3G tablet (Android 4.4.2, MT8382 processor, 4 x Cortex-A7 1.3 GHz, Mali-400 MP2 video core, 1 GB RAM, 4000 mAh battery, 3G module, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n );
• Homtom HT3 Pro smartphone (Android 5.1 Lollipop, MT6735P processor, 4 x Cortex-A53 1.0 GHz, 64-bit, Mali-T720 video core, 2 GB RAM, 3000 mAh battery, 4G-module, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n).

In the century high tech and the massive use of the Internet in mobile devices and computers, one of the priority and important problems is the reliable protection of electronic devices from hacking from the outside. To prevent unauthorized access to the file system and other hardware of computing devices, a special software called a firewall, or firewall.

Such software is capable of detecting malicious applications that try to transmit important data without the user's consent. For mobile devices running the Android operating system, there are also firewalls.

Why is a firewall with Android OS used?

When surfing the Internet from a mobile device, the amount of traffic is less than when using a personal computer or laptop, but even with such restrictions, no user can be completely sure that malware will not penetrate his electronic device. They can damage the operating system, damage other applications, and file system and steal the user's personal data.

To prevent unpleasant consequences, you need to install a firewall for devices on "Android" any other OS. Since the Android operating system is the most popular and used by a huge number of users, we will consider using a firewall specifically for these devices.

Benefits of using a firewall

Firewall, or firewall, on android is software that allows you to protect electronic computing device from external network attacks. Firewall for android in the course of its work is constantly in RAM and monitors the transmitted traffic. In the event of a suspicious process trying to make an unauthorized transfer of data, the firewall for the android blocks them. At the moment, many different applications have been released, which may contain a complex combination of protective functionality.

By installing a firewall on a mobile device, the user receives the following benefits:

• blocks potentially dangerous processes and data packets;
• optimally and reliably protects your personal data;
• protects the device from being hacked from the outside.

If an antivirus application only monitors malicious code on its own electronic device, then the firewall allows you to identify processes that transmit data from the network or to the network without notifying the user about it. The simultaneous use of antivirus software with a firewall for android allows you to more reliably protect your mobile device.

Installation methods

It is difficult for an inexperienced user to monitor the safety of his gadget, but if desired, it is not so difficult. Especially for such cases, the developers have released a lot of different software. Some of these apps are paid, but there are many free. Unfortunately, you can work with some of these programs if you have root rights, which means that it is unsafe.

It often happens that the capabilities of the operating system itself are very limited, so you will need to install purely special applications. You can find the application you need on the Internet or in another convenient way.

There are times when installing a firewall for an android can be difficult. Then you have the following two options:

• installing a firewall on a rooted mobile phone;
• installation of applications that do not need high level access.

Firewall for non-root operation

Depending on the hardware of the mobile device and operating system, getting root privileges can be difficult. What to do in such a situation? You should use a firewall that does not require root rights - NoRoot Firewall.

This software is slightly more limited in functionality than similar software with a higher priority access level. However, it still has the necessary arsenal of features and settings that help protect your mobile device.

The program has the ability to create lists of IP addresses for which it is necessary to block data transmission, as well as the usual necessary thing for such programs, such as notification of processes trying to transfer data of which the user is not notified. This is very convenient, since the transfer processes are not controlled by programs written by someone, but by the user himself.

As for the general settings, if you are not particularly versed in such software, you do not need to change anything at the beginning of the launch. When you start the program for the first time, press the "Start" button, and also check the autorun item with a checkbox. After that, we allow access to the VPN connection and its settings, and that's it. Now you can use all the available functions. The program takes into account the types of connection, namely Wi-Fi protocol and GSM.

You can find many other similar applications on the Internet, but before downloading and installing a firewall for android, it will not hurt to read the technical documentation and make sure that you need to have root rights.

How to prevent Android cell phone / smartphone from being spied on?

Recently, one sweet girl wrote to us in the Vkontakte group. Politely introduced herself and asked us to help her. The problem was this. The girl found out that her ex was following her. She, of course, knows little about computers and the word "" brings the same fear and misunderstanding to her as the terrible word "Scrub" does to me.

• Background
• Briefly what is Firewall
• Installing the Firewall app without Root
• Configuring the Firewall application without Root
• Using the Firewall app without Root

I helped her with the computer remotely via TeamViewer, the old version was installed on the computer. But it turned out that she was also being followed using her phone. The most interesting thing is that the Anti-Virus for Android installed on her did not find anything suspicious. Then I decided to do something differently, not to search remotely for a needle in a haystack, but to install a firewall / firewall for it and cut everything suspicious that tried to knock on the network.

Z Protecting your Android phone remotely is difficult. Rooting the phone was quite problematic, and not safe when it comes to ordinary users, we already talked about the implications of Root in terms of security in the article "".

Therefore, my choice fell on a free firewall, which does not require root rights to work. By the way, a couple of years ago there was no firewall for Android that did not require root rights.

Firewall for Android without Root

A few words about the terms used in this article. Human language about what a Firewall / Firewall is. Firewall is a program that allows you to filter all outgoing and incoming traffic. And traffic is data that passes through networks from a computer or smartphone to a site, or between them.

Firewall without Root: Installation

First, let's download the app. You can download Firewall without Root for free via a direct link from Google Play.

Click on the "Install" button.

Download Firewall without Root

It is good news that the application does not require special permissions, and this is a very good omen for friends.

Click on the "Accept" button.

After the application has downloaded and installed, click on the "Open" button

The application is installed. You can start the application by clicking on the "Open" button, but it is better to close all windows and reboot the device.

Firewall without Root: Configuration

After the reboot, we will see such a window. In which we are offered to launch the application. Before starting, I recommend ticking the box "Automatically turn on ..."

After starting, a system warning window will appear. We read and boldly click on "OK". I will explain later what this means.

The second after the tab " Home", In which we launched the application, there is a tab" Pending Access". On this tab, you can see all applications that are trying to connect somewhere from your device. Why somewhere? Because each application connects and sends information to different servers.

Every time when some new or installed application for which there is no previously created rule in our application will try to send information or try to connect to remote servers, you will see an alert on this tab.

Now it's up to you if, for example, it will work Chrome browser or not. What you consider to be trusted - allow, what is not - forbid. Anything that should not, in your opinion, have access to the Internet should be turned off. For example, you are not using a camera, then feel free to turn it off. Or, for example, an album of photos, a music player, all these applications have nothing to look for in the internet, so feel free to prohibit it.

For example, recently I needed to write phone conversation... As you know, there is no preinstalled application in Android, I had to search in Google Market. I installed a dictaphone, but from the very first minute it started trying to send something somewhere. Turning on the logic, I decided that he had nothing to do on the internet, this is a local application, this is not Skype or Viber and he just needs to record the conversation mobile communications, and ended up turning it off. At the moment, the application works fine without network access. And there will be a need to update it, I will do it through Google Play, which, by the way, I allow access only in cases of need to update installed applications.

On the tab “ Programs”, You can see all installed applications and rules for them. There are two empty boxes (squares) next to each application.

• The first is access to the network via WiFi.
• The second square is access via the mobile network.

By clicking on each of them, the user can set the settings. Enable or disable network access. You can block an application selectively. To save traffic, you can, for example, block YouTube or another gluttonous application by checking the ban only for the Wi-Fi field. This can be a very useful feature in terms of bandwidth savings.

Tab “ Global rules»Offers to manually block this or that resource by IP or by name. It can be some kind of site or some kind of left-wing Chinese server, on which Chinese non-name smartphones and tablets so often knock (leak information).

Well last tab « The event log". Here you can see everything that is happening at the moment on the network. All applications that interact with the network in real time. Looking here, you will be surprised when you see that your phone is constantly sending something somewhere.

The program marks all allowed applications in green, and blocked applications in red. It also provides information about the remote IP and the exact time of the event.

Firewall without Root: Usage

My friends, the Firewall without Root described in this article is an application that must be installed on your Android device, smartphone and tablet. Also s Android phone protection can be improved by another similar application like DroidWall, but it requires Root.

From now on, it's up to you to decide what is on your phone, where and when it connects, what it downloads and what it downloads. The method described in the article does not give a 100% guarantee, but it greatly improves the protection of the phone.

That's all. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank everyone who likes our articles on social networks. Without your likes, it is difficult for us to understand what you like and what we should write about in our subsequent publications. Thanks again!

App Assessment Firewall without Root

Our rating

No Root Firewall is a good smartphone security program that will correct setting can protect against surveillance.

User rating: 4.29 (130 ratings)

October 6, 2016 by

These days a lot of hacking groups are active and our personal data is at stake. Thankfully, Android comes with some of the best security features there are. If that is not enough, you can easily download and install one of the best firewall apps for Android to keep your device safe from external, malicious interference. The best firewall apps for Android are not as robust as the ones found for PCs, but they do their jobs well.

I would like to point out that a firewall is not an antivirus. Sure, it can indirectly safeguard your smartphone or tablet from getting a virus but it is technically not an antivirus. Think of the firewall apps as an actual wall of fire made around your phone, it will burn anything harmful coming your way. The are more like the police, though, they find and arrest nefarious bugs.

Note: The 5 Best Firewall apps for Android were tested on a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone. The apps worked fine and didn’t drain almost any system resources. If you have root access to your device, some of the apps will work a lot better.

* Only in paid version. ** Only available in Trial version. *** Only available via in-app purchase.

1. NetGuard

   NetGuard is simple, yet effective way to block Internet access on your device. The best part is, you don’t even need access to block off malicious websites from the device. Addresses and even applications can be individually configured for access on the Android device.

   There were a lot of features available that allow you to customize the experience you have with this firewall app for Android. For example, you can easily block when roaming.

   You can also block system applications from accessing the Internet, this allows them to stay as it is and won’t receive any updates. I really liked the feature which allows you to record network usage per application so that you can track the ones using all your mobile data.

2. NoRoot Data Firewall

   Just as the name implies, NoRoot Data Firewall is a great way to control how your device uses the Internet. The app allows you to easily manage all the apps and how they use your Internet. Even if you’re using mobile data or Wi-Fi, it will be quite easy to regulate the Internet usage of your device.

   One great thing about this app is its ability to block background data usage and only let foreground data run freely. You’ll be able to analyze, record and start the data usage for each app and truly gain useful details about them. You can also set temporary permissions for one hour as well; this comes in handy when someone else is going to use your Android device.

3. Mobiwol: NoRoot Firewall

   Mobiwol firewall app can be used to not only reduce data usage but also save battery life in addition to securing your privacy. You’ll be able to directly take control of the apps installed on your Android device with this app. With this app on your side, you can easily allow or block app connectivity.

   If one of the apps has gone rogue and used a lot of background data, you can simply restrict its usage. You can also get when a new app tries to access the internet. The app may not be as effective as dedicated, but it works well in combination with them.

4. AFWall + (Android Firewall +)

   If you have a rooted Android device and want to get one of the best firewall apps for Android, AFWall + is the best one you can get. The app has a very pleasant interface and works great on almost any device. The app is a front end application and comes with powerful iptables Linux firewall.

   As it requires root access, the app is able to provide you with more options than the apps listed above. For example, you will be able to hide lock screen notifications with ease here. The app works faster and is a lot more reliable than the rest, a solid benefit for the rooted devices.

5. DroidWall - Android Firewall

   DroidWall is perhaps the oldest and most popular Android firewall app available on the Google Play Store. The interface is barebones and resembles the old school Gingerbread interfaces, but that doesn’t mean the app is out of commission. It is still one of the best firewalls for Android in the market.

   This app also requires root access, so naturally, it comes with a slew of advanced features. I only recommend this app to advanced users who know what they are doing. The app allows you to manually define custom iptables rules giving you a lot of power over your device. The app is almost the same as the one above in terms of features, though.

Conclusion

This ends the best firewall apps for Android list. I hope you found an app that suits your needs on the list.

Comments (2)

Will Harrison Jr. on

Billa, Kinda new to this Android OS on my new RCA 11 Maven Pro Tablet w / detachable keyboard. How familiar are you with majicJack and their “app?” for use on an android os? Also, i am told that the Tablet is merely a larger version of an i-phone, like Samsung, etc. I have had neither and now I have this tablet. What about anti-v, firewall, etc. for it? And of course, the manual has almost nothing to say about these matters. Can I use it to make and receive phone calls, texting, skype, etc. How easy are these to “hack” into and / or peep and intrude? Just let me know but please, not too technical of terminology. Thanks. Will.Harrison.Jr.

Hi, Will! Welcome to Android! Our writers typically just focus on creating content, but I’m Megan, editor here at Joy of Android, and I’m happy to help you out. You obviously have a lot of questions, which is great because it will help you learn faster. Instead of answering your questions individually, I'm going to link you to some Joy of Android posts that will provide you with far more information than I could in a single comment and will probably provide you with information about things you didn't even know about in the first place!

First things first, here are a couple posts with more general information for Android beginners:

Now let’s look at some of your specific questions.

I personally used Magic Jack for the first time several years ago as a way to make calls online when I didn’t have a smart phone and I was in a country where Skype is blocked. I also know people who use Magic Jack as their exclusive phone provider, and others who use it for an inexpensive second or temporary phone line. All I’ve heard is glowing reviews. As for their Android app, you can find some information about Magic Jack, as well as some similar services, through this guide:.

It is more or less accurate to say that a tablet is more or less a larger version of a smart phone. Online calling and messaging apps allow for use of these services as long as you have an internet connection. That will need to be through a wifi connection unless you have a data plan for your tablet. If you don’t have a data plan for your tablet and want one, your cell service provider should be able to help you set one up. The apps in the link on international calling above should all work for online calling, and here’s a guide to apps that you can use for messaging:. And yes, you can absolutely use Skype, too!

Last, let’s talk about security. Since you’ve commented on our post about firewall apps, it seems pretty safe to assume that this is a pretty big concern for you, and it should be! It's important to take your security seriously, but it's also not too difficult. The most important thing to know is that your data is much more likely to be compromised because someone gets their hands on your device, not because someone hacks it, so be sure to never leave your tablet unattended where someone else could access it, and be sure to use a secure lock screen just in case.

Hacking is more commonly a problem when someone who has your sensitive information, like your insurance company, bank, or credit card company, has a breach in security, which there's not really anything you can do to prevent, but it can also be a problem if you accidentally download something unsafe onto your phone. Fortunately, there’s plenty you can do to prevent this. It sounds like you’re going to be a pretty casual Android user, so there’s probably no reason for you to download apps from anywhere but the Google Play Store. Google takes a lot of care to keep dangerous downloads out of the Play Store, while third party app stores can be full of dangerous malware disguised as apps. Just in case, you’ll also want to have at least an anti-virus app, though a firewall app, like any of the ones listed above, is also helpful. Here's a round up of some of the leading anti-virus apps:. We also have individual reviews on a lot of the anti-virus apps, so be sure to use our search bar to find other posts about any that you’re interested in. You may also want to take a look at these anti-malware apps:. Finally, always be careful when you download anything onto your mobile device. This guide can help you download safely: and this device can keep you safe while opening downloads, just in case something bad slipped through:.

Now, I know that was a lot of information, so please feel free to ask if you need some more explanation, or if you just think of more questions! Thanks for using Joy of Android as your source for Android related information and, once again, welcome to Android!

We're continuing our discussion of firewalls (or firewalls, if you prefer) for Android. In the last article, we talked about the program of the Gray Shirts studio, as well as its direct competitor - Mobiwol. It was the last application that became the leader in the direct comparison. The new material will find out if there is a worthy replacement for them.

First, let's introduce the test subjects. The first to come to our court will be AFWall + - a firewall that requires root rights and offers (presumably) more than others. It is favorably distinguished from its competitors by the ability to control local network traffic, import DroidWall rules, support for the task scheduler, and much more. It is clear that such a solution is designed for experienced and tricky users.

And the end of the review will be LostNet, which, among other things, offers a paid Pro version. But do we have to pay extra and what are the benefits we get? Perhaps you shouldn't fence a garden if there is a universal Mobiwol? This will become clear based on the results of the review.

The following equipment was used as test equipment:

• DEXP Ursus 8EV2 3G tablet (Android 4.4.2, MT8382 processor, 4 x Cortex-A7 1.3 GHz, Mali-400 MP2 video core, 1 GB RAM, 4000 mAh battery, 3G module, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n );
• Homtom HT3 Pro smartphone (Android 5.1 Lollipop, MT6735P processor, 4 x Cortex-A53 1.0 GHz, 64-bit, Mali-T720 video core, 2 GB RAM, 3000 mAh battery, 4G-module, Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n).

AFWall +

Acquaintance

I am glad that the application is not abandoned, as happened with the "Firewall", and is constantly evolving, acquiring new functions. As a reminder, it requires root, which is not surprising if you look at the list of options below. Thanks to this, a real firewall can be organized on a mobile device.

There is also a hint of use in the corporate segment, which will be interesting for bosses and not at all acceptable to subordinates (for example, you cannot sit on social networks). It remains only to explore the capabilities of the firewall.

Main functions:

• Import / export of rules to an external drive with a user interface;
• Import of DroidWall rules;
• Search / filter / sort applications;
• Managing profiles using the user interface;
• Tasker / Locale support;
• Roaming capabilities for 2G / 3G / 4G;
• VPN and LAN support;
• Internet distribution support;
• IPv6 and IPv4 support;
• Device administrator support;
• Ability to choose a binary iptables / busybox;
• Support for x86 / MIPS / ARM devices;
• Widget.

Permissions:

Photos / Media / Files:

• Viewing data on a USB drive;
• Changing / deleting data on a USB stick.

Wi-Fi connection details:

• View Wi-Fi connections.

• View network connections;
• Unlimited Internet access;
• Launched when the device is turned on.

First impression

Immediately, I note that the AFWall + English interface, however, this can be corrected in the settings by selecting our great and mighty in the corresponding menu item. Where this business is located, I will tell you later, but for now let's consider the layout of the elements.

There is no sidebar on the left - all controls are hidden under the "three dots" in the upper right of the screen. You can activate the firewall, save the rules, view the event logs, and export or import the rules, which is important if you “lost” the application.

It is worth noting the ability to write custom scripts that will take effect when the firewall is disabled. Naturally, this requires straight arms. By the way, to help them, the developer helpfully provided a link with examples of these, however, in English. In addition, you can separately view the iptables rules, but from the program itself.

The pop-up menu contains settings. At the very bottom of the menu, you can change the language to the desired one, as well as disable pop-up messages from the Tasker plugin and block downloads using the built-in Android manager.

Let me remind you that Tasker allows root users to put the system upside down, but I will not delve into its capabilities, since we have already talked about this.

The good news is that the firewall interface is customizable to your heart's content. For example, to unload it, you can hide application icons or show all filters, that is, in addition to networks, "core", "user" and others.

It is possible to choose a color for all system applications (probably from the entire color gamut) and turn off notifications so as not to mess up the status bar - with a certain number of locks, they will pop up quite often.

In addition, rules can be configured. You can separately manage roaming permission, as well as activate VPN permission management, that is, they are in full control.

It is possible to block all connections via the IPv6 protocol, or, conversely, to allow the latter. This is the advantage of root rights, however, if you do not understand what is at stake, it is better not to touch anything in the settings.

Separately, it is worth noting the possibility of password protection (PIN-code or graphic key) AFWall + and assign the application as a device administrator, which means that these benefits can be used at least for parental control. By the way, there is invisibility for the "pattern" and maximum amount attempts to enter a password.

The security check is activated separately, but this is already a privilege of the paid version, which, depending on the version and capabilities, will cost from 85 to 119 rubles (prices are current at the time of this writing). In my opinion, the free edition is enough.

Of the interesting things, it is worth noting the ability to configure an unlimited number of profiles, for example, for home or work, which is very convenient, and then freely switch between them. It is a pity that there is no shift in time, but this is already nit-picking.

There are also binary settings, but I will not talk about them in detail. Those who need it will figure it out without me, and those who do not understand what it is about, do not need to touch this.

That's all in general terms. It remains to check the operation of the application in action.

Many programs for Android OS ask for permission for network connections during installation. Some applications may use it to download advertisements and the like. By default, Android does not have built-in tools that could monitor the software's network activity. Similar functionality is available in special applications - firewalls or firewalls. Finding a firewall will not be difficult, since there are a lot of such programs.

What is a firewall?

A firewall on an Android phone is a security feature that can prevent some programs from going online. It notifies the user if any program has requested access to the Internet. In other words, the firewall protects the device and can also help save money by saving internet traffic).

What is Firewall Service?

This is a virus that spreads on Android devices. The principle of operation is as follows: when the data transfer is turned on, the inscription "Firewall Service" appears on the screen of the gadget. It is not easy to close such a message as it appears again. To clean the device from this virus, you need to delete the malicious application (you need root rights).

If you have root rights on the device, then you should install file manager X-Plore. Next, you need to go to the Root-System-App directory and remove the Firewall Service, as well as the Security Service (if any). After that, you need to restart the gadget.

Firewall for Lenovo

There are many firewalls for Android devices... Below are two of the most popular applications that are highly functional. You can install any of them by downloading the program from Google Play.

DroidWall

It should be noted right away that Root rights are required for this program to function. Also, the device must support the iPtables utility. DroidWall can monitor all applications that request network access. There are two modes of operation of the program:

• White list. Only applications from this list will be able to connect to the network.
• Black list. Denies access to the network for the programs on the list.

To change the operating mode, you must click on the inscription with current regime work located at the top of the screen.

The program is absolutely free, so you can download it and install it on your device.

NoRoot Firewall

The software can function even without root rights. It blocks Internet access for applications and helps protect your device. If some software requests access to the network, a notification will appear and you can deny or allow the connection. The user can independently create rules for any application.

The utility works correctly on all devices with Android version 4.0 or higher.

Conclusions:

You definitely need to install a firewall on your Lenovo tablet or phone, as such programs are very useful. You can choose a suitable application after reading reviews, ratings and download statistics on the Play Market.