DigitCalc

App Review – Digitcalc

Threat Level – Very High

Welcome to the world of secret spy apps. Uh oh, probably something your kids don’t want you to know about, but I am going to tell you anyway:-).

Nestled down deep in the App Store is an app called Spy Calc and at first glance you see the app and think, what in the world is that? Spy Calc is an app in the growing line of what you see is not what you get section. In the App Store this app explains that it is developed for people to hide and store pictures, videos and documents. The description actually describes this as a hidden compartment app, and it truly is just that.

The app is free on all mobile markets and after download, it appears to be a calculator. The app looks like a calculator and even says Digit Calc underneath the image on your phone. Anyone looking at a device with this on it would think it is just a calculator. Even when you touch the app to launch it, the app is still a calculator. Complete with being able to add and subtract! So now you are now asking, what is wrong with my kid using a free calculator app? Well this is where the hidden compartment I was speaking of earlier comes into play.

When you first download the app and install, it will ask you for a 4 digit code and then save that as your password. When you open the app again and the normal looking calculator app appears, all you do is type the 4 digit code with a period before and after it and the app transforms. Not a cool Optimus Prime transform, but a transform into a totally different app. This is where you can take or upload pictures and videos. Once they are inside here, you can delete them from your photo album and no one ever knows there hidden in a calculator app.

Now for the info commercial spin on this….But Wait! There’s More! If you want to get rid of the ads at the bottom of the screen and unlock new features, pay the 1.99 for an upgrade. This upgrade will take away the ads, plus give you options to make secret folders to sort your pics and videos along with a way to upload documents. Another part of upgrade is a digital recorder. You can set the recorder to record digitally with your phone microphone with a different 4 digit code.

This app is definitely regarded as a spy app and it appears to be a sneaky way to save photos, videos and documents. So before you ask as an adult why I would give this a high threat level, ask yourself the following question…why would your child need to hide photos in an app that appears to be something else? Yes, now you understand. I don’t want my child hiding anything behind a calculator app. They are children, not secret agents.

Cyber Dust

App Review – Cyber Dust

Threat Level – High

Welcome to the World of Dusting.

When you hear your children talking about dusting, it may be referring to a new growing in popularity app called Cyber Dust. Cyber Dust is an app designed and developed by a company named Mention Mobile. This is Mention Mobiles first venture into the world of social media/texting apps. This app is another in a long line of self destructing apps for the IOS market and in the future Android and Windows mobile.

Snapchat made self destructing photo sharing apps popular and started a trend of deleting after you send. The difference with Cyber Dust is that it is not just a self destructing picture sharing application, but it self destructs everything from text messages to pictures. Cyber Dust describes itself in the description as “Every spoken word isn’t recorded, why should your texts be?” Also, it states Have fun and private messages without worry. These are not things I encourage my 12 year olds to be doing. Do you want a child to feel “comfortable” knowing their messages would delete? Why would they need a feature such as that? Some other features inside app allows sharing of sticker packs, screen shot detection alert (allows you to notify sender that you took a screen shot of that alleged deleted text) and also send and received notifications. Future plans hint of group options and also video.

When you search this app in the IOS App Store, you will see it has a 12+ Restriction. I’m not sure I would want my 12 year old having conversations, texts or sharing pictures that automatically delete. Like I mentioned earlier, why would they need that? If they are using, you better ask them that question.

Basically, after you download the app and get your account setup with basic information that you see in most apps, name, email address and bio, then you are ready to roll. Your username allows you to invite others to your messages or shares. Now you are ready to send text messages, share pics all knowing that everything deletes after your recipient receives the message.

I have given this a threat level of high for one simple reason, Why do they need to delete what they text? Monitor this app closely if you allow your child to use, and be sure to look at who they are communicating inside of the app. This could get dangerous if strangers find their way into your child’s messaging feeds.

App Description – chat bubble, red, yellow, pixelating, small boxes, round, pink, red, yellow