How it works
How Vault9 keeps your photos encrypted
Vault9 encrypts each photo, video and document on your iPhone before it stores it. To open the vault, you need two keys: your pattern or passphrase, and a Secret Key that your iPhone keeps for you.
Encryption
Encrypted means scrambled
Encrypted means scrambled. Without your keys, it looks like noise.
A hidden photo is like a photo in a drawer that your iPhone passcode opens. Vault9 scrambles each photo into random-looking data. It turns back into your photo only with your keys. A copy of the scrambled data, on iCloud or anywhere else, is still scrambled.
Two keys
Two keys. You remember only one.
It is like a safe deposit box that needs two keys at the same time. You carry one: your pattern. Your iPhone holds the other one for you: the Secret Key.
Your pattern protects the vault on your iPhone.
Someone who has your iPhone, and even knows your iPhone passcode, still needs your pattern. They can try to guess it, so choose a pattern that is hard to guess.
Your Secret Key protects every copy that leaves your iPhone.
The iCloud backup and any copy of the iPhone's storage do not contain it. Your pattern alone does not open those copies.
A line through dots on a 6 × 6 grid. At least 8 dots and 3 changes of direction. 12–15 dots are recommended. The order of the dots matters.
At least 12 characters. Four or more random words are recommended. The app can make a 5-word passphrase for you. A long passphrase is stronger than a pattern.
Face ID
Face ID is optional
Face ID (or Touch ID) is off by default. When you turn it on, Face ID opens the vault on this iPhone. The app still asks for your pattern or passphrase if you have not used it for 3 days. If someone adds a face or fingerprint to the iPhone, Face ID turns off in the app.
iCloud backup
The iCloud backup
The encrypted vault is saved in your own iCloud storage. It never contains the Secret Key. It is a backup, not sync. Only one iPhone backs up the vault. While an item is not backed up, the app shows a banner. The app keeps the vault out of the iPhone backup and out of Quick Start.
New iPhone
Moving to a new iPhone
- On the new iPhone, choose to open the vault from the iCloud backup.
- Scan or type the Secret Key from your Emergency Kit. You do this once.
- Enter your pattern or passphrase.
- Your items download in the background. An item you open downloads first.
- Turn on Face ID again, if you want it.
