If you don’t want others to read those ‘personal’ texts, you better get them encrypted. That’s the why, now here comes the how…

What’s the point?

Keep your mobile safe, but your secrets safer. Use text message encryption to scramble your most intimate missives – perfect if you’re the subversive type.

Is it free?

Encryption software’s tricky to make, so there’s a price to pay. In this case it’s £12.73.

Sold! How do I do it?

Step 1 Grab CryptoGraf Messaging from ClickApps.co.uk. Download the file ending with .SIS to your computer and transfer it to your mobile using Bluetooth or USB. If you use Bluetooth it’ll appear as a text message, so you can just open it. If you use USB you’ll have to find it using your phone’s file manager, then tap it to install.

Step 2 Fire up CryptoGraf from your ‘Applications’ folder. Choose the option to create a new message and it’ll prompt you to make an encryption profile. Follow the instructions and it’ll ask you to choose a picture from your phone’s memory – the program uses this as a randomiser for your data, as it’s more or less impossible to fake from another phone.

Fill in your name and other details, pick a password and you’re away.

Step 3 CryptoGraf will ask if you want to tell your friends about the software by sending your encrypted contact details to others. Share your details and you’ll soon be able to message in confidence, however, sending your new details can use up to five messages, so be careful not to leave yourself out of pocket.

Step 4 All your messages, encrypted or not, will appear inside CryptoGraf’s message folders, although you’ll need a password to access any encrypted texts, or to send any of your own. Make sure you don’t forget it and keep yourself secure!