The new iPhone 4S features a smart passcode which means that after a period of inactivity, the phone will lock until the correct PIN number is entered. However, many phone users choose not to use this feature as it increases the operating time when you want to perform a quick function. We take a look at the new My Secret Folder app, smart software designed to keep personal files safe even if your phone isn’t locked.
The main idea behind this new app is to keep private photo and video files away from prying eyes. This can be especially useful if your phone is stolen or if you leave your phone unprotected with curious friends. When you download this app, any photos or videos you capture from the software are automatically stored behind a 4-digit password. Users also have the option to move existing footage from their camera roll to the app, but it’s important to remember to delete the original media as it’s not encrypted. All the ideas sound like a pretty basic data security system, but the app packs some wonderful features to help keep your data even more secure. The first of these clever ideas is that the app icon is pretty well camouflaged, so it’s not obvious to anyone looking at your home screen. The icon takes the form of a shortcut folder complete with smaller icons displayed inside it. When viewed very closely this may seem very obvious, but when the symbol is mixed with a variety of other icons it becomes very well hidden and inconspicuous.
The word “cunning” isn’t one you’d normally associate with iPhone 4S apps, but My Secret Folder deserves its title. The software includes not one but two four-digit passwords. The first one you enter is a decoy in case someone is looking at what you type on the screen. When this is entered, a number of normal photos are displayed, but none that are locked within the software. These photos can only be viewed when you enter the second password. Perhaps the most ingenious element of this software is how it reacts when the wrong password is entered on the phone. When this happens, the phone takes a picture with the front camera which is stored in a log along with the geographical location where it happened and the code they tried to enter. This can be seen by the user so they can see who was tampering with their phone and what numbers they tried to use. This is potentially useful when choosing future passwords and PINs, as it gives you an indication of what other people expect the digits to be.
The My Secret Folder app for iPhone 4S is much more than just a basic secure folder. The app packs a number of features that should make it an essential download for anyone who wants to keep their photos and videos private.