Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Private Photo Calculator Vault Apps: What Parents Need to Know
., you're 1 minute away from entering for a chance to win a prize!
Watch & Win! Watch a video on this page and then scroll to the bottom to enter for a chance to win a prize each week!
Copy Resource Link To Share With A Friend
There are now hundreds of apps that allow students to hide inappropriate photos behind an innocent-looking calculator app. These private photo calculator apps are popular because they help a student hide their behavior from their parents or teachers under the disguise of a useful tool. These apps are often hiding sexting photos and other inappropriate images/videos.
Parent & educator training video
How do calculator vault apps work?
The icons of calculator vault apps often look similar to actual calculator apps when they open and adults may not know what the full extent of the app is until they research it for themselves
When you open the app it looks like a regular calculator
To access secret photos in the calculator vault, you often need to type a secret code such as: “.” (period) then a 4 digit passcode, and then a “.” (period) again
Many of the apps ask for permission to use the phone’s camera to take pictures directly in the app or to access the photos on the phone to “hide” them from the device’s photo folder
Many of the apps offer sharing options to text or email from the app
Live Demonstration - How one of the calculator apps works
What should parents know about private photo calculator apps?
Calculator secrecy apps are still extremely popular despite many being removed from the Apple Store and Google Play for various reasons
Many of these apps help users hide sexting, inappropriate images, or cheating photos
When students feel like they can hide their behavior they tend to act negatively
Many of the apps will report any attempts to try and access the app, so secretly trying to access your student’s vault won’t be secret from your student for long
Why do students like secret calculator apps?
These apps are popular because they help a student to hide their behavior from their parents or teachers
Students might justify the app to adults because they need a calculator with scientific or graphing capabilities for their classes; however, these vault calculators do not provide those options
What are some of the calculator vault/secrecy apps?
A search for “calculator” + “secret” or “vault” in the Apple App Store or Google Play results in no shortage of apps designed to look like a calculator to hide photos and information on a phone. Some examples of deceptive calculator apps include:
The fact of the matter is, if parents and others are only looking for suspicious activity on those most popular apps, then they are likely already behind. NBC 11 San Diego
It usually means if they’re trying to hide something, that there’s something wrong with what they’re trying to hide. WTVB 4
[P]olice are investigating an undisclosed case where the [calculator vault] app was used. The app has seemingly disappeared from the App Store, likely pulled by Apple. 9to5Mac
What can parents do?
Ask your student if they, or their friends, are using private photo calculator apps and why they feel the need to hide their activity
Talk with your student about appropriate photos to take on their devices and what is not appropriate to share with others or what to do if someone sends them an inappropriate photo
Remind your student that anything sent via text, email, or social media can be shared beyond the people they think they are sending it to
Ensure your student that they can always come to you, or another trusted adult, if they are asked for inappropriate pictures from friends, or strangers, especially if they are being blackmailed or told not to tell anyone
If students need upgraded calculator settings, explore the options in the app stores together to pick the best solution and talk with your students’ math teachers about what is needed
How to check if private photo calculator apps are on your student's device
Check your student’s Apple App Store for the history of apps that have been downloaded on the account
In the Apple App Store: type in “secret” or “calculator” or “vault”
If it says “open” next to the app, your student has this app installed now
If it says “get” next to the app, your student has not downloaded this app
The cloud logo next to the app means your student downloaded the app at some point, but it is not currently on the device
Check your student’s Google Play history to see what apps have been downloaded on the account:
Open Google Play, tap the three lines at the top right and select “My apps & games”
Tap “Library” to see all the apps that have ever been downloaded from the Google Play Store (Note: students may know they can permanently delete the history of downloads on Google Play, so this is not a tell-all check)
If you find calculator vault apps on your student’s device: talk with your student about why they want the app and how they use it and help them delete it
Help your student develop an interest in photography by taking positive photos to focus their attention towards shining online
Private photo calculator apps are designed to help users be sneaky and hide photos, videos, messages, or other files on their smart devices. Parents must be aware of apps like these that appear to be useful tools but have mischievous functions.
SmartSocial recommends always starting with a conversation with your students about these types of apps, but sometimes the only way to truly know what an app does is to look it up in the app stores and read the full app descriptions.
You're not logged in! Log in or join to protect your family and enter for a chance to win cool prizes
Join our next live online workshop events to keep your family safe and be entered for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle, Bluetooth speaker or 3d printer each week!
School Districts: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
What should parents know about private photo calculator apps?
Calculator secrecy apps are still extremely popular despite many being removed from the Apple Store and Google Play for various reasons
Many of these apps help users hide sexting, inappropriate images, or cheating photos
When students feel like they can hide their behavior they tend to act negatively
Many of the apps will report any attempts to try and access the app, so secretly trying to access your student’s vault won’t be secret from your student for long
How do calculator vault apps work?
The icons of calculator vault apps often look similar to actual calculator apps when they open and adults may not know what the full extent of the app is until they research it for themselves
When you open the app it looks like a regular calculator
To access secret photos in the calculator vault, you often need to type a secret code such as: “.” (period) then a 4 digit passcode, and then a “.” (period) again
Many of the apps ask for permission to use the phone’s camera to take pictures directly in the app or to access the photos on the phone to “hide” them from the device’s photo folder
Many of the apps offer sharing options to text or email from the app
Login or join the VIP membership today to view all resources about calculator vault apps!
Become a member or log in to learn more on this topic
Superintendents, Directors and Principals: Request a partnership on this page to unlock our resources for your whole community.
This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!
Sharon M.
Parent VIP Member
Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.
Director of College Advising
Educator Webinar Attendee
This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.
Irene C.
Educator Webinar Attendee
You're not logged in! Log in or join to protect your family and enter for a chance to win cool prizes
Join our next live online workshop events to keep your family safe and be entered for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle, Bluetooth speaker or 3d printer each week!
., start learning from this page to enter for a chance to win each week!*
Hello, I'm Josh, the founder of SmartSocial.com. Don't leave this page until you fill out our feedback form that will appear after you learn from the resources...
., you have earned 10 points on this resource in the past for submitting feedback! Visit another resource to earn more points!
Also you can earn points when you share this resource with a parent at your district by visiting our sharing center
Your submission has been received! You now have additional points added to your account. If you are in a live event, please comment "I filled out the form!" in the live event chat box!
Otherwise you are free to roam around the site. Thanks! -Josh and The SmartSocial Team
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
