There's a new app on the market that promises to virtually 'lock' your online logins whenever they are not in use. The app is called 'Latch,' and it adds an additional layer of protection to any online login. Here's how Latch works.

Using the Latch App

Even if you aren't currently logged into your bank account, for example, a hacker can snag your banking details with a simple email/password combo (or username/password combo). If this doesn't sound likely (or you think that there's no chance of someone actually getting this information, think again.

Thousands of accounts are logged into by hackers daily. Latch aims to prevent this kind of login. The app acts like a virtual lock that can only be accessed by you. You can activate Latch when you aren't using a webpage to prevent anyone from logging into any account that you access regularly. When you want to log into an account, Latch lets you flip a virtual switch that unlocks the account.

Smartphone Access

Latch works with iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and even a BlackBerry app is in development (that's a first!). The company wanted to make sure that the app was accessible to all people no matter what platform is in use. Is it secure, though? Latch developers claim that this app is as secure as possible.

When a user accesses Latch, the app then communicates with the Latch server. That server then connects with the login page that a user is trying to connect to. If any person other than the original app users tries to unlock a site, Latch notifies the owner of that login page. If this sounds like a great way to prevent your kids from signing into a page you don't want them to access, it is.

Latch Is a Great Parenting Tool

Latch lets parents take total control over applications that kids use, like email, but Latch doesn't actually store any usernames or passwords. So, kids get to keep privacy and details, and parents get to control the times and places that kids can access a site.

In case you missed that bit, Latch doesn't actually store any passwords, so you don't need to worry about privacy issues. This app simply locks pages that you may access at a later time with a username/password combo. In short, it's a layer of security that you'll want to have if you access sensitive information or log into banking sites a lot. Latch is a free app that's available, as mentioned, across nearly every platform, so all you need is a smartphone to use this app.

There's no indication, yet, of how Latch plans to generate revenue with the free app, but the concept is an interesting one all the same. If you're feeling paranoid about logging into bank accounts and emails, and you're worried about anyone accessing your information, Latch is the free app that will make your life a lot more secure.

Make sure to check out Latch in your app store!