Covert Camera Apps to be aware of

Have you ever tried to take a picture or video of someone with your phone without them knowing? Sometimes it's possible, but sometimes it's not. Well, maybe you knew it was coming: "Ghost apps" are available that let you take images and videos without the target's knowledge. You can then hide the images and videos in secret folders.

You can now spy on people with apps like Private Ninja Cam, Stealth Cam and Top Secret Camera. Scary enough, many users of these apps use this technology on sexting and other porny activities.

This spying-type of technology, however, can be put to good use, such as capturing a teacher abusing a student or a spouse doing some cheating. You can build evidence for a lawsuit, for instance, amassing videos at the workplace of various forms of harassment. You can be sitting in your boss's office, getting chewed out by him over nothing, recording everything without him having the slightest clue.

Be careful though, as some states have laws against these practices when audio recording is involved.

So how do you get away with the spying?

• The camera can record with a motion sensor.
• The screen can be made blank when taking a picture.
• The preview window can appear like a Web browser.
• The shutter sound can be muted.

You can then hide the loot so that someone who gains access to your phone won't be able to find it. Such secret vaults include Best Secret Folder and Keep Safe Private Photo Vault.

Snoopers can't get into them because they require a password. But snoopers may also be tricked into overlooking the vault because the vault can masquerade as another type of application. The vault may also snap a picture of the snooper or sound an alarm.

Imagine all the things someone can do with these apps, such as a man sitting on a subway "upskirting" standing women. But remember, good things can be done too, such as recording a crime, recording being mistreated by a family member, capturing your husband's boss hitting on you at the Christmas party, and so much more.

Just sayin'