Android allows you to configure the apps installed on your device link to the internet, for safe your data, the default Android firewall does quite a good job of blocking incoming attacks from the web, but deciding which apps can (or can't) go online is not configurable under stock settings.
NoRoot Firewall app for Android resolve this by giving complete control over each app’s access to the Internet, and allowing you to filter the traffic by routing it through a VPN connection, all without the need for root access.
Features
- No root required as the name NoRoot Firewall says.
- Fine-grained access control based on IP/host name/domain name.
- Simple interface. Easy to use.
- Minimal permissions. No location, No phone number.
There are five tabs at the top in the interface of app, which let you navigate between Home, Pending Access, Apps, Global Filters and Access Log sections.
When you tap the ‘Start’ button under the Home tab, the app asks for your permission to intercept Internet traffic. Simply check the ’I trust this application’ option below and hit OK. NoRoot Firewall will then create a VPN connection for you and divert all traffic through it. The purpose of this VPN connection is to protect your data and block malicious packets.
When an app tries to access the Internet, you automatically get a notification, which lets you allow or deny access on the fly as well as save your choice for future instances. Apps for which no access or denial action has been made appear under the NoRoot Firewall’s ‘Pending Access’ section.
It also gives you the option to manually set ‘allow’ or ‘deny’ access for individual apps from under the Apps tab, both for Wi-Fi and 3G connections.
Another really handy bit about the app is that it lets users to create filter rules (either global or individual) based on IP address, host name or domain name, letting them specify which connections to allow or deny for specific IP addresses of the apps. These filters can be managed under Global Filters tab.
The Access Log keeps a record of apps that previously tried going online. This enables you to see when a certain app type of application or service tried to access internet.
The app is available for free on the Google Play Store. You can download it to your device from this link.
