Skip to main content

See what happens when you leave the room with Haven, Snowden’s security app

Feeling antsy lately? Is there a delivery van idling in your neighborhood every day? Have you noticed men in black suits watching you everywhere you go? Paranoid you’re the target of government surveillance? Depending on your line of work — journalist, activist, government worker — that may actually be true.

There are probably few people on Earth who understand those concerns better than Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who leaked information about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs. Whatever your opinion is of Snowden, he has become an icon for activists who oppose government surveillance. Most recently, Snowden has worked with an organization called The Guardian Project to create Haven, an app that turns your phone into a personal security device.

Recommended Videos

Smartphones are chock-full of sensors — including cameras, microphones, gyroscopes, and accelerometers — and Haven uses those sensors to detect disturbances near the phone, alerting you via text. The idea is that you install Haven on a “burner” phone you have lying around, one running Android 4.1 or higher. Once installed, you can set Haven up to detect sound or motion, configuring the levels of detection, and you can use either of the phone’s cameras to record video.

To receive alerts, enter your phone number in the app. If you’re concerned about providing your number, you can always use Signal, which is a security-focused messaging app.

Once that’s finished, leave the phone somewhere you want to watch (maybe looking at a door), then set a countdown so you can leave the room. Once the countdown finishes, the app goes into surveillance mode. If it detects appropriate levels of motion or sound, it will start recording, and send an alert to you. That’s all there is to it!

Keep in mind that the Haven app is currently in beta, so it may not work perfectly, and it’s currently only available on Android devices. If you prefer a more traditional security camera, check out some of our favorites. If you’re concerned about your online privacy, we recommend using a VPN when browsing the internet.

David Cogen — a regular contributor here at Digital Trends — runs TheUnlockr.com, a popular tech blog that focuses on tech news, tips and tricks, and the latest tech. You can also find him over at Twitter discussing the latest tech trends.

Will Nicol
Will Nicol is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends. He covers a variety of subjects, particularly emerging technologies, movies…
Android 16 is now available to download, and here are 3 reasons why you should
Android 16 logo on Google Pixel 6a kept on the edge of a table.

The wait for Android’s next big platform update is finally over. Google has released the stable build of Android 16 for the masses, and it is now available to download publicly on all devices, starting with the Pixel smartphones. 

Android 16 introduces a whole new design language called Material 3 Expressive, which reimagines the animations and gestures alongside a fresh color take on color theming and haptic response to touch inputs. 

Read more
The iPadOS 26 developer beta has transformed my iPad
4 windows open on the iPad Pro 11 on iPadOS 26 developer beta 1

I somewhat called it! In the run-up to WWDC 2025, I asked Apple to please introduce true multitasking to iOS (and by extension, iPadOS). We didn’t get it in iOS, but Apple did unveil an entirely new windowing system on iPadOS 26. With it, they’ve transformed the iPad for me and likely for millions of customers as well.

It’s not just about multitasking: Apple saved the best till last during its WWDC keynote, and the iPad has a host of other features that are further transformative to the iPad experience. I’ve been using the iPad OS 26 developer beta for the past 24 hours, and here’s how it’s transformed my iPad Pro experience.

Read more
My Android 16 update made me jealous of iOS 26… but it shouldn’t
Deep down, I know my disappointment is irrational
The Android 16 logo on the screen of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

I've just downloaded Android 16 on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold. As someone who’s a sucker for a software update this should be a momentous occasion - so why am I feeling flat?

Whether it's an update for one of my favourite apps, or a complete operating system overhaul, I love pouring over change logs to see what's new and diving into features.

Read more