Some are. Some are a folder with a PIN and an ad network. Here is how to tell.
Signs of a safe one
- It names the encryption (AES-256-GCM, for example) and says where the key comes from.
- It says what it cannot hide. Total storage used is visible on every iPhone; an app that claims otherwise is not being straight.
- Backup is encrypted before upload and goes to your own storage.
- Export is never locked behind payment.
- The privacy policy is short and specific.
Warning signs
- Ads. An ad SDK inside a privacy app is reporting to someone.
- “Break-in reports” that quietly use the camera.
- Accounts that hold your key, which means they hold your photos.
- A lifetime plan that later turns into a subscription.
What no app can protect against
A phone that is unlocked into an open vault is open. Someone who knows your pattern has your key. A jailbroken phone with malware is not safe for anything. Vaultpod’s design document lists these plainly.