Help HELP! Need to hide or password protect text messages!

rsdroid · Jan 3, 2010

Hi all! I've been reading everything I can on this forum since got my Droid about three weeks ago and I've learned a ton! I've got it doing almost everything I want, thanks to you guys on here, and coming from a Voyaquer that I couldn't stand, it's been awesome!

An amazing tool!

The one thing I haven't figured out is how to keep the first few words of text messages from showing up in the notification bar, even with the lock screen on! Not good! I want notifications of texts and who they're from, I just don't want any of the contents of the texts showing up without at least having to pass the unlock pattern screen! :thinking:

I'm still using the stock messaging app, but with Missed Call to customize notifications by sender. I had this problem before and after I installed Missed Call.

Does Handcent or ChompSMS do this? I've been a little leary of these because of reported bugs with them mixing up contacts and phone numbers. There are texts I definitely don't want going to the wrong person!

Also, I've searched the market for apps specifically designed for this, but they all seem to be outdated with no recent comments and very few downloads, and/or have a few terrible ratings/comments. Anyone used any of these and found one that works?

In that same vein, a reliable app that encrypts text messages would be awesome!

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!

justjosh · Jan 3, 2010

chomp has a setting that allows you to hide the message contents until you pull the notification bar down.

DanSan · Jan 3, 2010

i used handcent sms.. with the popup feature u can have it turn on the screen (if locked) and you can set it to show who its from and the message. if u dont want the message to appear u can set it to just show their name and then theres a button that says "View" and then it shows the message in the text. since the phone is still locked, the status bar isnt shown

rsdroid · Jan 3, 2010

Thanks for the tips about ChompSMS and Handcent! I may try those, however, every time I talk myself into one of them, I start freaking on the reported bugs! I've been very happy with the stock SMS except for this one thing.

I just wish there was an app to password protect messages or at least messages from certain contacts!

It sounds like even with Handcent, you can still access messages without a password.

Any other ideas out there?

rdalcanto · Jan 3, 2010

What you got to hide... Tiger....

Snorkeld · Jan 3, 2010

rdalcanto said:
What you got to hide... Tiger....

lol... I was thinking the same think as soon as I saw the thread title

Muertos · Jan 4, 2010

Yeah i was looking for the same kind of thing cause when people use my phone they usually have inquiring minds for things they shouldn't....plus i need to hide my ummmm ninja plans for the night..yeah thats it..

juliusedward · Apr 6, 2010

Even i am in need of an app of similar functionality. Help would be much appreciated. Thanks

stearic · Apr 6, 2010

The easy ones to say would be he doesn't want co-workers looking at the txt's he's getting. While it might not be for security persay, but to keep someone from glancing at his phone if it's out and reading a bit of a txt msg that shows on that notification bar.

Legacystar · Apr 6, 2010

Handcent will let you not show the message till u go to it. And as a defense against snoopers do what I do, use lockpattern onoff widget and when u are away from your phone hit the switch and turn on your lock pattern. Its nice cause I hate using lock pattern when on just using it all day but this lets u easily switch it on and off

icecold · Apr 6, 2010

Handcent allows you to turn off notifications all together, or per individual contacts.

It also has the blacklist feature which is password protected. If you add the contact to the blacklist, all messages are hidden until you click on the Show Blacklist (under settings).

kg6epf · Apr 6, 2010

I use Super Private Conversation for this. I love to show off my Droid at work, but would not be comfortable handing my phone to someone to play with, knowing that they would be able to see some messages of mine. Not because I'm Tiger, but if I'm texting about my boss then I wouldn't want that getting back to him.

Super Private Conversation works pretty well, but it works for SMS only. They say MMS is in development. When you add a name in SPC, all texts from that person get password protected and are opened with a different app.

It does what I need, YMMV

baka · Apr 6, 2010

rsdroid said:
Thanks for the tips about ChompSMS and Handcent! I may try those, however, every time I talk myself into one of them, I start freaking on the reported bugs! I've been very happy with the stock SMS except for this one thing.

I just wish there was an app to password protect messages or at least messages from certain contacts!

It sounds like even with Handcent, you can still access messages without a password.

Any other ideas out there?

Use Handcent. Has a "privacy mode" that will not display content in the notification area. Also has many other features that make it more beneficial than the OEM messaging app.

As far as password protecting specific content, I'm not sure. Maybe try the app the person previous to this suggested. Or just use security on your phone altogether.

Welcome back to the PGA, btw... lol! jk

botts121 · Apr 6, 2010

Try Protector - It protects any Android application with password: SMS, Gmail, e-mail, Settings, Photos, Calendar, Notepad, Chat... everything you want!

baka · Apr 6, 2010

botts121 said:
Try Protector - It protects any Android application with password: SMS, Gmail, e-mail, Settings, Photos, Calendar, Notepad, Chat... everything you want!

Yup. This does what you're looking for. There is also App Protector which supports patterns.

ccousinsjr · Apr 6, 2010

SmsDroid

DatacomGuy · Apr 7, 2010

Handcent is the way to go. I've had it installed for a few weeks and have never had a single bug, not sure why you're so paranoid (about the bugs)

dougwilson2000 · Apr 7, 2010

Use Google Voice. Sends your texts to your gmail account.

bills534 · Apr 7, 2010

I don't know what these bugs are that you're so scared of. Ive been using Handcent for months and its never sent a message to the wrong person. I can't even remember reading anything about handcent specific bugs on this forum.

trikotret · Apr 13, 2010

HI All,
I have protector on my phone. I am using handcent. So far so good. Its more solid than chompsms. The proctector requires you to enter the password for messaging apps, email and other apps u make it ask. Only bad thing about handcent is that u can see the messages contents in the notifications panel if u receive one message. But if you receive multiple messages, the panel will display the number of messages without showing the contents. Thats what i been trying to figure out how not show them in panel. I just dont like nosey people reading my texts if they wanna look at my phone.

Crazy_J · Apr 13, 2010

trikotret said:
HI All,
I have protector on my phone. I am using handcent. So far so good. Its more solid than chompsms. The proctector requires you to enter the password for messaging apps, email and other apps u make it ask. Only bad thing about handcent is that u can see the messages contents in the notifications panel if u receive one message. But if you receive multiple messages, the panel will display the number of messages without showing the contents. Thats what i been trying to figure out how not show them in panel. I just dont like nosey people reading my texts if they wanna look at my phone.

I used handcent and love it. Blacklist works great for those people who send irritating forwards or whatever. Privacy mode kicks ass in the fact that you still get a notification that you got a message but doesn't say what it is or whom from. Its in the main settings.

trikotret · Apr 13, 2010

Crazy_J said:
I used handcent and love it. Blacklist works great for those people who send irritating forwards or whatever. Privacy mode kicks ass in the fact that you still get a notification that you got a message but doesn't say what it is or whom from. Its in the main settings.

Hi,
I tried using handcent. But you can see the notification and where its from if you slide the notification bar down. It will tell you the number or name and the contents of the texts. Unless im doing it wrong. PLease show me :thinking:

Crazy_J · Apr 14, 2010

OK in the main screen of handcent, where you can see all the conversations you have with everyone, in the upper right corner tap the configuration icon. Scroll down until you see notification settings, tap that. Scroll down until you then see privacy mode check it. If you want to see blacklist settings those are on the first settings menu. Hope this helps.

trikotret · Apr 14, 2010

HI,
Actually i tried the blacklist feature and worked great until it started adding my other contacts to the blacklist. Any idea why this is happening.

pilotbike · Oct 23, 2010

I had same kind of question but with email. Is their a app to block or hide an email account (yahoo) not gmail with havening to delight the whole account and then re set it up. I use to have a Iphone I know their was a way to hide the account. Or not get any snails with out deleting it all the time. I looked at handcent but it only looks like for sms and mms

Help HELP! Need to hide or password protect text messages!

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