{"id":74517,"date":"2017-05-30T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2017-05-30T14:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=74517"},"modified":"2025-08-26T04:42:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T11:42:13","slug":"kids-use-secret-decoy-apps-parents-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/kids-use-secret-decoy-apps-parents-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Kids Use Secret Decoy Apps and Why Parents Should Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kids have been locking their diaries and hiding top secret shoe long before even Sandy Olssen had a crush on Danny Zuko. The need for more and more privacy as they mature is a natural part of growing up. Today, however, some kids hide their private lives behind locked decoy apps catapulting those harmless secret crushes to a whole new level. Looking for comprehensive mobile protection? Download McAfee Mobile Security.<\/a><\/p>\n

A decoy app is what it sounds like; it’s a mobile app designed for the purpose of hiding something. Decoy apps are also called vault, secret, and ghost apps and make it tough for parents to know whether or not their kids are taking and sharing risky photos with peers since the apps are disguised as\u00a0an everyday app.<\/p>\n

A decoy app may look like a calculator, a game, or even a utilities icon, but it\u2019s actually a place to tuck away content a phone user doesn\u2019t want anyone to find. Kids use decoy apps to store screenshots of racy conversations, nude photos, pornographic videos, and party photos that are simply too risky to keep in a regular photo folder that mom or dad may find. One case in Pennsylvania documents vault apps at the center of sexting and cyberbullying case<\/a> in a middle school.<\/p>\n

Adults and Decoy Apps<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Many adults are also well acquainted with decoy apps. It\u2019s no surprise adults use these stealth apps to store private business activity, passwords to secret accounts, inappropriate photos, and content related to extramarital affairs. Apps such as Vaulty Stocks looks like a Wall Street stock market tracker, but in reality, it’s an app designed to\u00a0keep private photos and videos hidden\u00a0from nosey spouses.<\/p>\n

How to Spot a Decoy App<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you want to get an idea of how many of these kinds of decoy apps exist go to your iOS or Android store app and search secret apps or decoy apps and you will get your fill of the many icons that are in place to hide someone\u2019s private digital life.<\/p>\n

Once you know to look for these apps designed to look like a calculator, a safe, a game, a note or even a shopping list app, you are well on your way.<\/p>\n

A decoy app can\u2019t be opened without a code or password specified by the original user. Some of these decoy apps such as Keep Safe Private Photo Vault actually have two layers of security (two passwords) designed to throw off a parent who can open the first level and find harmless content. According to the app description on the Google Play store, \u201cKeepsafe secures personal photos and videos by locking them down with PIN protection, fingerprint authentication, and\u00a0military-grade encryption. It\u2019s the best place for hiding personal pictures and videos.\u201d Further privacy is detailed with the promise of a face-down auto lock feature, \u201cIn a tight situation? Have Keepsafe lock itself when your device faces downward.\u201d Another app, The Secret Calculator, description states: \u201cDon\u2019t worry about the icon. It will become a standard calculator icon. No one will ever notice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other features highlighted in the Keepsafe app description include:<\/p>\n