Calculator
Risk Score
High
App Details
This app helps users to hide text and images in a secret gallery, and chat to others in a private messaging space. The app (and app icon) is disguised as a calculator and the user enters the private vault through typing a set pincode into the calculator keypad. The app (and icon) can also be hidden from the device desktop entirely, and the private vault is then acccessed through entering (and dialling) the pincode through the device's dialler.
Why is it a risk?
Vault apps such as this can become problematic as they facilitate the hidden storage, creation and transfer of photo and video content which may place the individual at risk. Vaults are often used to hide intimate content and pornography, and the nature of the app gallery means that image detection software is not effective in most cases. These apps are not suitable for children as parents will have no control or knowledge of the content stored within (if parents are aware that their child has one). Moreover, many of these apps are designed to allow the user to create a "decoy" account, so that in the event a parent becomes aware the child has the app and forces them to log in and show content, the child may enter the decoy password and a fake gallery is displayed.