With mobile phones becoming a bigger and bigger target for would-be data thieves, it's important to make sure your information is safe. On Thursday, Anchorfree released the Android version of Hotspot Shield, giving Android users another tool for protecting themselves.

The app (which is available for download from the Google Play Store) uses a VPN to encrypt a user's browsing session over Wi-Fi. Hotspot Shield for Android will also encrypt other apps as well, theoretically plugging any data leaks that could be occurring due to a poorly written application. Extremely useful for when you're browsing over a public hotspot and aren't sure who could be listening in.

Anchorfree has told me that the app will work on all Android phones running version 2.0 or higher, and that the app also includes built-in compression software to reduce the amount of data you use. The company claim that Hotspot Shield's compression capabilities will allow you to double the amount of web content you can access with your current data plan, but I have yet to test its claims to see if they hold true. Expect a full review of the application in the coming weeks.

If you want to learn more about Anchorfree and its app, you can check out the company's website or download the app yourself from the Play Store. It is a paid service, but you can try it out the free version (that doesn't include the compression capabilities) before deciding whether it's for you or not.