Stealth mode
Stealth Mode is designed for situations where the presence of a secure messaging app itself creates risk.
When enabled, Anonomi Messenger disguises itself to reduce suspicion and delay casual inspection — buying you time rather than promising invisibility.
What Stealth Mode does
Section titled “What Stealth Mode does”When Stealth Mode is enabled:
- The app appears as something innocuous (a calculator)
- The normal Anonomi Messenger interface is hidden
- Access to the real app requires a secret unlock action
- The decoy screen remains functional and believable
The goal is to make Anonomi Messenger blend into the device, not stand out.
Calculator-style disguise
Section titled “Calculator-style disguise”In Stealth Mode, Anonomi Messenger presents a fully usable decoy interface.
For example:
- A calculator that performs real calculations
- Normal-looking buttons and behavior
- No obvious indication that it hides another app
This reduces suspicion during:
- Casual device checks
- Quick inspections
- Situations where hesitation or refusal would raise concern
Hidden unlock (passcode)
Section titled “Hidden unlock (passcode)”Access to the real app is protected by a hidden unlock gesture or code.
For example:
- Entering a specific calculation (e.g.
50 + 50) - Performing a defined interaction sequence
Without the correct unlock:
- The app continues behaving like the decoy
- No error or warning is shown
- There is no indication that anything is hidden
Unlock interaction details
Section titled “Unlock interaction details”To reduce accidental discovery and limit brute-force attempts, the unlock action is deliberately non-obvious.
When using the calculator disguise:
- Enter your secret calculation exactly as configured
- Press and hold the
=button for about one second - A normal tap behaves like a regular calculator
If the unlock action is incorrect:
- The calculator continues to behave normally
- No error or feedback is shown
This behavior is intentional and designed to preserve plausible deniability.
What Stealth Mode does not do
Section titled “What Stealth Mode does not do”Stealth Mode is a risk-reduction tool, not a guarantee.
It does not:
- Protect against forensic device analysis
- Hide network traffic
- Prevent discovery by someone with full device access
- Replace strong operational security
Assume that a determined or trained adversary may still discover the app.
When to use Stealth Mode
Section titled “When to use Stealth Mode”Stealth Mode is useful when:
- App presence alone increases risk
- You may be asked to open apps on your device
- You want plausible deniability during inspections
- You need time to trigger panic actions or disengage safely
It works best in combination with:
- Screen lock and inactivity timeout
- Panic button workflows
- Conservative connection settings
Relationship to panic features
Section titled “Relationship to panic features”Stealth Mode and Panic Mode serve different roles:
- Stealth Mode → reduce suspicion before escalation
- Panic Mode → react after coercion or escalation begins
They are strongest when configured together.
See: