What is an Empty Vault?
An Empty Vault is what StrongRoom shows when you enter a pattern or passphrase that opens no Vault. It looks exactly like a real Vault that has no items in it. The app never says the credential was wrong, and nothing is created or kept by looking at it.
Why
If an app answered "wrong pattern" to a bad guess, anyone could tell a real credential from a false one by trying. Showing an empty Vault instead means a wrong guess and a right guess both lead to a plain, empty screen. It also helps if someone makes you open the app: you can open a credential that shows nothing, or, with Pro, a Decoy Vault that holds ordinary items.
The free app has one Vault, so a stranger cannot tell from the screen whether the credential matched or not. The Throttle counts every attempt, matched or not, and nothing in it says which.
What to do
- Try it: enter a pattern or passphrase you have not set. You will see an empty Vault.
- Do not use an Empty Vault to store anything. Nothing is kept in it and no Vault is created by opening it; to keep items, make a real Vault.
- With Pro, add a Decoy Vault with believable, ordinary items, if you want something to show when asked.
- Do not rely on any of this as a promise. Someone who knows how the app works may guess what an empty screen means.
What this does not cover
It does not make the app invisible: the app is still on your phone, and anyone who has seen it before will know what it is. Read the limits.
Frequently asked questions
Does the app ever say "wrong"?
No. It shows an Empty Vault instead.
Is an Empty Vault the same as a Decoy Vault?
No. An Empty Vault is what you see when nothing matches. A Decoy Vault is a real Vault you fill with ordinary items.
Sources
No platform facts are stated on this page.