Privacy concerns have recently shot through the roof where the photo and video sharing app Snapchat is concerned, thanks to a new rogue app which discretely saves files received on a smartphone.
For those unaware, Snapchat is a simple app which allows users to send each other photos, videos, text messages and doodles which self-destruct within a timeframe set by the sender. The idea is simple, yet Snapchat has gone from a tiny, fun app to an $860 million valued company within just 2 years. Sending nudes is a big deal.
Whilst the app is popular amongst the young, Snapchat has also gained a reputation for being used to send illicit images and videos, thanks to the safety net of the self-deleting file. Snapchat users can of course perform a simple screenshot, but this then notifies the file sender who will undoubtedly be most displeased. For the ultra-sneaky, a new app called Snaphack can sit on an iOS device and quietly save all incoming Snapchats without the sender’s knowledge, raising concerns over how safe Snapchat really is.
Costing just 69p/99c, Snaphack can be downloaded from the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch, allowing unscrupulous Snapchat users to build up a library of saved files. You simply log in to Snaphack with your Snapchat credentials and you’ll be presented with a chronological history of your received chats, stored safely for as many views as you want.
The one catch with Snaphack is that you can’t go back to messages you’ve previously opened on Snapchat. Once signed in, future chats will be stored in Snaphack’s history. Previous attempts to sneakily save messages sent using the service, including one app called Snap Save, saved the images once received but alerted the sender – Snaphack doesn’t.
UK developer Darren Jones created Snaphack to raise awareness of Snapchat and sending pictures at will via your smartphone.
“Snapchat has not been in touch and I imagine it’s only a matter of time until they request that my app is removed” Darren told the BBC.
“But my app just proves and informs people that these apps exist and people need to be careful.”
The underhand app arrived on the App Store on Sunday and has since caused quite a stir. Apple tends to catch on to these things pretty quickly, though we have a feeling that it’ll take a request from Snapchat’s creators for it to be taken down.