Something doesn't add up! Parents warned of the dangers of smartphone secrecy app that looks like a calculator but can be used to conceal photos and video

  • App looks like a regular smartphone calculator to snooping parents
  • Pass code reveals images and videos secretly stored on the gadget
  • Alabama woman's video encouraging parents to check for app goes viral

By Caroline Garnar For Mailonline

Published: 10:51 EST, 14 September 2015 | Updated: 14:15 EST, 14 September 2015

An Alabama district attorney has posted a video warning parents about the dangers of an app that allows children to hide photos and videos from their parents.

According to Pamela Casey, the Calculator % app looks similar to a regular calculator but allows users to input a pass code to reveal a vault of hidden images.

Worryingly, tech experts say the app is 'one of many' secret photo vaults that are being used to conceal images and videos from parents.

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An Alabama district attorney has posted a video about the dangers of apps such as Calculator %, which pose as regular phone apps, but can be used to hide secret images and videos

An Alabama district attorney has posted a video about the dangers of apps such as Calculator %, which pose as regular phone apps, but can be used to hide secret images and videos

Ms Casey has now issued advice to parents and says they should check their children's phones for the presence of the app.

However, unless the child has used their date of birth or another easily guessable code, she says dealing with the problem will require a confrontation.

Ms Casey's video warning, which was posted on Blount County District Attorney-41st Judicial Circuit's Facebook page, has since received more than 11,000 likes and has been shared 122,251 times.

The 1,623 comments are a mixture of parents thanking Ms Casey for the tip-off and agreeing to check their kids' phones, to teenagers - and some parents - arguing for the right to privacy.

One particularly angry commentator, Raven Tanner, argued: 'Don't snatch away your child's phone, don't snoop through their room or their computer. 

Pamela Casey warns parents to check their children's phones to see if they have downloaded the sneaky app, and if so advises you ask for their passcode to access what they are hiding

Pamela Casey warns parents to check their children's phones to see if they have downloaded the sneaky app, and if so advises you ask for their passcode to access what they are hiding

The Calculator % app looks like a regular calculator app, but if you enter a passcode, it reveals hidden images which are not accessible anywhere else on the phone 

The Calculator % app looks like a regular calculator app, but if you enter a passcode, it reveals hidden images which are not accessible anywhere else on the phone 

Calculator % is just one of may apps which offers to hide secret photos from prying eyes

Calculator % is just one of may apps which offers to hide secret photos from prying eyes

'Talk to your child, establish a dialogue with them. You're their parent, not their jailer. Teach your child right from wrong, treat them with love and trust, help them feel like they can talk to you about their problems.'

The description for the Calculator % app on iTunes reads: 'Anyone who starts this application looks at a calculator, but if you put in passcode it will open up private area.

'All files are securely stored in the App and remain completely private and confidential.' 

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