5 best safety apps to download before you need them

June 21, 2020

By Kim Komando

If you or your children work late into the evening, you know it can be scary navigating your way home alone. It can be unnerving walking to your car or the nearest bus stop in total darkness.

As a parent, you’re probably worried sick about your kid’s safety whenever they leave the house no matter if it’s night or day and with good reason. The world can be a dangerous place out there and you’ll never stop worrying about your kids, even when they become adults. RELATED: Ways to know if your phone has been hacked.

Fortunately, smartphones can help put you at ease. These safety-focused apps provide the tools and resources needed to stay safe if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation.

Kitestring

Kitestring works a little differently than some of the other safety apps out there. In fact, it’s not an app at all. Instead, signing up for Kitestring gives you access to an SMS service that checks in on you when you tell it to.

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Let Kitestring know when you’ll be walking home alone or headed out for a late-night and Kitestring will send you a text to check-in at the appropriate time. If you don’t respond, your emergency contacts will be notified. You can sign up for free here.

One Scream

When you hear someone scream, it’s usually pretty clear whether or not it’s a legitimate emergency. The One Scream app uses unique technology to recognize when it hears a true panic scream and triggers the app to send a text message and an automated call with your location to your emergency contact.

That automated call even keeps running so they can hear what’s going on. The One Scream app is available for free on both Apple and Android devices. Tap or click here to download for iOS. Tap or click here to download for Android.

bSafe

With the bSafe app, you can tap the SOS button to send an alarm straight to your emergency contacts with your location. Audio and video will automatically be recorded and sent straight to them. The app also features a “follow me” function where your contacts can watch your progress on your walk home via GPS tracking, as well as “fake call” and alarm features to potentially deter attackers.

For less stressful situations where it’s more about being safe proactively, the app includes a timer that will let your emergency contacts know if you don’t check in on time and a way to simply notify someone when you have successfully arrived somewhere to give them peace of mind.

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Premium users can benefit from activating the SOS button with voice activation (even inside of a purse or backpack) as well as live video streaming and extended audio and video recording time.

bSafe is available for free for both Apple and Android devices. Tap or click here to download for iOS. Tap or click here to download for Android.

LiveSafe

The LiveSafe app works as a two-way communication system used by many businesses and universities. It provides a way to quickly connect with safety officials using text, picture, video, and audio.

The app also offers peer-to-peer and self-service tools such as virtually walking with friends and family and access to safety resources. LiveSafe is available for free for Apple and Android devices. Tap or click here to download for iOS. Tap or click here to download for Android.

Kinetic Global

With the Kinetic Global app, you simply place your thumb on the screen when the app is activated and if your thumb leaves the screen you’ll be prompted to enter a code to deactivate the alarm that alerts authorities. If an attacker forces you to disarm, there’s even a secret code to make sure authorities are still notified.

The alarm can be heard for miles and on its own will likely deter the attacker. If your phone gets broken, your alert will be sent out the second your connection is dropped. And if you need to use the app when your hands are full, you can simply use a timer function and the alert will be sent if you don’t disarm the app before the timer runs out.

The Kinetic Global app is free to download for Apple and Android and comes with a free 14-day trial. After that, you can subscribe to the service for $4.99 per month. Tap or click here to download for iOS. Tap or click here to download for Android.

In life, it can be difficult to avoid potentially dangerous situations. These apps can help to prevent attacks, deter threats and simply provide peace of mind.