Guides: hide and protect private photos and files

Clear, practical answers about hiding files on your phone, how encryption really works, and how to back up without losing your privacy.

Vault apps

A calculator vault app hides an encrypted file vault behind a working calculator. Learn how it works, what it protects and the limits to know about.

What AES-256 actually protects, why it is considered secure, and the real-world weak points: passwords, key storage, malware and backups.

Four ways to hide photos on iPhone, from the built-in Hidden album to an encrypted vault, with what each method does and does not protect.

Back up private photos and files to iCloud or Google Drive while keeping them encrypted, plus why a recovery key matters if you lose your phone.