With he list of security threats ever increasing, you can now add visual hacking to the list, which as the name implies is when individuals look at your screen to steal information.
With smartphones, tablets and laptops now being used outside of the office just as much as inside, you have to take precautions if you don’t want to fall victim to this type of hacking.
To discourage potential visual hackers from looking at your device, you can use privacy screens. Here is a list of 21 products you can choose to make it happen. In most cases, the companies provide the privacy protectors for the most popular brands of smartphones and tablets. As for laptops and desktop screens, you just buy the product for the appropriate screen size, but vendors will offer brand specific protectors.
HP EliteBook 1040 and HP EliteBook 840
Introduced as the world’s only notebooks with integrated privacy screens, the HP EliteBook 1040 and HP EliteBook 840 come with the protection you need to thwart visual hacking.
It was developed with 3M privacy technology, so you won’t have to carry additional tools. All you have to do is press the F2 key on your laptop, and it turns into privacy mode, reducing up to 95 percent of visible light when viewed at an angle. If you are in the market for a new laptop this is a great feature, which as of now is only available on the HP models, otherwise a screen protector is the way to go.
3M Gold Privacy Filter
This privacy screen from 3M protects your laptop that delivers high level of clarity while at the same time protection your privacy. According to 3M, the Gold Privacy Filter delivers 25 percent more clarity than standard 3M Black Privacy Filters.
The filters starts fading to black at the 30-degree side angle and there is an effective blackout from side views outside the 60-degree viewing angle. You can use the gold effect or flip it over for a glossy black screen
Gadget Guard
The Gadget Guard privacy glass screen protector is made with optical grade tempered glass. It comes with two-way (side view) privacy and a 9H Hardness rating to resist scratching. This is one of the more expensive products out there, but the company has a guarantee for the life of the devices they protect.
Bodyguardz
Bodyguardz was founded in 2002, and it has been making screen protectors for 15 years. Its line of ScreenGuardz privacy protectors have 4-way protected viewing, making it very hard for anyone but yourself to look at what is on your smartphone. The protectors are custom made for each brand to ensure exact fit.
3M Privacy Screen Protectors
When it comes screen protection, 3M is renowned for the many different line of products it offers. This unique design lets you change the privacy setting by changing the orientation of the phone. When it is in portrait, it is private and if you want to share just change angle to share.
It has a dry application and a stay-clean edge technology that prevents dust and grime from collecting on the edges of the screen protector.
Akamai Privacy Screen for Widescreen Laptops
The Akamai privacy screen for laptops comes in different sizes for your laptop and desktop monitor. It blocks visibility from side angles outside the 60 degree viewing angle. It can be installed permanently or as a slide screen you can take on and off. This particular model is not compatible with touchscreens.
Eleplace
In addition to providing optic grade clarity, Eleplace has a lifetime guarantee along with a full refund if you are not happy with how it performs. The screen is available for monitors with different aspect ratio, and it prevents 96 percent UV and 99.9 percent LF-radiation to protect your eyes.
Kensington
Known for many of the accessories it provides, Kensington is a recognized brand. This screen protector is not cheap, but it is easy to use and comes highly rated.
It has a spring-loaded mount that eliminates the need for adhesives, and it limits viewing angle +/- 30 degree. The screen also reduces harmful blue light by up to 30 percent.
Targus
Like Kensington, Targus is also a recognized brand when it comes to computer accessories. According to the company, data is only visible directly in front of the monitor up to 45 degrees away from the center of the screen. It uses clear adhesives strips you stick on your laptop or desktop monitor, but the company claims it can slide on and off easily.
Tech Armor
The Tech Armor privacy screen protectors are available for most of the major smartphones, tablets and PCs. The 4-Way Privacy filter keeps your monitor hidden even if you hold your phone in portrait or landscape mode. However, the company does warn, “It may reduce display clarity.”
Klearlook
The Privacy Series of Klearlook’s anti-spy filter is also a 9H tempered glass screen protector with Oleophobic coating layer to keep fingerprint smudges away.
It has a microlouver optical technology with a viewing area of 60 degree with close to 100 percent transparency that doesn’t affect screen color and retina display.
iMoreGro
This privacy protector from iMoreGro is made from specially processed glass to protect your screen along with a privacy film in portrait or landscape viewing modes.
iCarez
The Secret Series from iCarez is a 4 Way 360 degree privacy screen protector made from new generation of Grade A, ECO materials and Japanese Nano coating technology. The company offers a 100 percent guarantee for the life of your device, with free replacements if it is damages.
Patchworks ITG Privacy
Made from raw glass from Japan and finished in Korea, Patchworks has created a quality glass screen protector with an anti-spy privacy filter from 3M. It has view-angle of more than 30 degrees which goes invisibly dark beyond this range, according to the company.
NEVEQ
The NEVEQ has tempered glass with 9H hardness to protect you screen with an Oleophobic coating. The privacy feature it has delivers maximum clarity with views of 30 degrees on each side.
Mothca
In addition to the screen protection with 9H hardness with anti-shatter, the privacy anti-spy feature has a privacy film in portrait viewing modes. Mothca also provides a lifetime replacement warranty.
iOrange-E
The iOrange-E has 9H hardness along with hydrophobic and oleophobic coating making it fingerprint resistant. The privacy protection blocks views within 45 degrees of the left and right side.
GLASS-M
The GLASS-M has a full coverage of the device it is protecting with 9H hardness. The privacy shield delivers 360 degree of privacy in portrait or landscape viewing modes. The 98 percent light penetration ratio maintains the viewing quality of the display so you won’t have to adjust the brightness to maximum. GLASS-M offers a lifetime warranty.
JETech
JETTech makes a highly rated privacy anti-spy screen protector that is thin, yet comes with 9H and premium tempered glass. The privacy film works on portrait viewing modes.
Juji
This is an edge to edge screen protector made with high-grade Japanese glass. The Juji Medium Privacy Shield is lighter, which make seeing your screen easier while protecting it from anyone trying to take a peek.
As any security expert will tell you, there is no such thing as 100 percent security. This means if you have information that has enough value, there is nothing the bad actors will not do to get it. Your job is to make it as difficult as possible for them. And if you are not protecting government or intellectual property secrets, placing enough obstacles will discourage your garden variety hacker to find targets that are much easier. The privacy screen protectors are one tool of many you can use to do that.
Protecting Screen Photo via Shutterstock
This article, “20 Top Privacy Screen Protectors for Your Computers and Phones” was first published on Small Business Trends