9 secret apps to hide your sexts
Since the dawn of time, solitary lovers (more accurately, lusters) have kept the erotic spark alive by sexting. Trading flirty notes and then much more explicit pics makes loneliness a little more manageable and much more steamy.
Smartphones have made sexting easier than ever — just get to the dirty talking via text, then snap a suggestive pic or eight and send them over. Instantaneous digital gratification.
SEE ALSO: Put your undies back on. New data reveals sexting isn't so great after all.
But what do you do after your sexting sesh? While one option is always to delete them ASAP, if you're going to keep them, do yourself and your partner a favor and lock them down.
You don't want everyone who could grab your phone to have access to these pics, so you'll need a sneaky app to hide them away. Here are nine you can download right now to create your own secret, racy digital stash.
1. Private Photo Vault
Image: App store/screenshot
Private Photo Vault protects your sexy pics behind a PIN-protected folder in your Albums, and you can even set up additional layers of security with passcodes on individual folders within the app.
The app also offers next-level security features like a break-in report that secretly takes a photo and records your device's current GPS location when the wrong PIN is entered and decoy passwords that shows different pics if someone has you on the spot. We didn't have a chance to test those next-level features out to confirm that they work as advertised, but if you're really paranoid, it might be worth your while to check it out.
Private Photo Vault is available on iOS and Android for free.
2. Best Secret Folder
Image: screenshot/app store
Best Secret Folder disguises itself on your home screen as an unassuming app folder labeled "My Utilities." That way, you'll have access to your passcode-protected sexts without swiping through your Albums, and no one snooping on your phone will be the wiser.
Security features include photo capture and GPS tags of intruders after four login attempts. When you're alone and ready to kick back and enjoy your sexy content on the big screen, you can stream the pics and videos straight to your Apple TV via AirPlay.
Best Secret Folder is available for free on on the App Store.
3. Vaulty
Image: screenshot/google play
Vaulty offers photo and video editing capabilities within its secret folders along with the standard PIN-protection for multiple Vaults and a Mugshot feature that catches snoopers red-handed.
The app also provides a free automatic online backup of your Vaults in case you lose your phone. It's not clear how exactly the files are protected in the cloud, but at least you'll be able to recover all your sensitive materials if you lose them.
Vaulty is available for free on Google Play for Android devices.
4. Gallery Vault
Image: screenshot/google play
Gallery Vault takes your sexy image hiding tools to the next level — along with the standard passcode protections, the app can hide itself on your phone's home screen and encrypts all of your sensitive data.
The app also has an integrated private browser for file downloads directly into the secret folder and, since it's an Android app, it allows you to easily transfer your encrypted data to an external SD card.
Gallery Vault is available for free on Google Play for Android devices.
5. Gallery Lock
Image: screenshot/google play
Gallery Lock has a super-secret Stealth Mode that hides it from your home screen, just like a few of the other apps on the list. To launch the app, just use your phone to dial star (*) then your four digit password and press call.
If you're looking to make your naughty pic viewing experience extra classy, you can create in-folder slideshows, complete with mood music, once you have your images safely hidden away. Nothing says long distance loving like a complete multimedia sexting experience.
Gallery Lock is available for free on Google Play for Android phones.
6. KeepSafe
Image: SCREENSHOT/APP STORE
Keepsafe is less explicitly designed for sexting than other apps — it has a Family Vault option to share protected content — but c'mon guys. We know exactly what this is all about. It has PIN-locks and standard safety features, and also offers encryption.
If you're trying to keep your pics secret from the moment they're captured (and maybe have a sexy photoshoot for some keepsakes), Keepsafe also has a built-in camera function to take snapshots directly through the app.
KeepSafe is available on the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.
7. Vault for iOS
Image: SCREENSHOT/APP STORE
Vault supports photo-hiding features found in other secret apps like PIN protection and photo encryption — but it also lets you use your fingerprint to unlock your nudie treasure trove with Touch ID.
To unlock some of the app's higher-end features, like cloud storage, you'll need to subscribe for Vault Pro. Costs for that vary from $1.99 for a month to $19.99 for a full year.
Vault is available on the App Store for iOS devices.
8. Vault for Android
Image: screenshot/google play
Look, it's another Vault! This Android app isn't related to the iOS version above — and it's sneakier, disguising itself as a calculator app.
Vault offers cloud backup and a private browser, so you can navigate and download other sensitive media without detection. If you accidentally delete one of your favorite sexy pics, you can easily recover them using the Trash Recovery feature.
Vault is available for Android devices on Google Play.
9. iOS Hidden Photos
OK, this one isn't an app — but it's the most basic move you can make on iOS to stow those intimate pics away from prying eyes.
Hiding a photo is easy. Just select the photos you want to conceal and press the "Hide" button on the bottom right hand corner of the screen.
Image: screenshot/apple
Your scandalous pics will then be moved to your "Hidden" folder, which keeps them out of your Moments, Collections and Years photo flows.
Image: screenshot/apple
Just remember — your Hidden album isn't password protected. If someone gains access to your phone, they can check out your snaps by accessing the folder.
You can download any of these apps — or you could just use Snapchat for its originally intended purpose and trade sexy shots that disappear like a modern human being. You'll still have the same problem of where to hide your pics if you want to hold on to any of your Snaps for later — but that's something you'll have to discuss with your partner once they catch you screenshotting. Practice safe sexting, everyone!
