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The Sun
22-07-2025
- The Sun
The hidden ways cheats conceal their DMs on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp AND text – & secret folder they hide apps in
SECRET codes for WhatsApp chats and 'restricted' Instagram followers – these are just two of the tricks that cheaters use to hide their DMs. But it turns out that there are loads of ways to conceal private messages on social media apps, including Facebook - and even regular old SMS texts aren't safe from love rat antics. 11 If that wasn't enough, the apps themselves might also be "hidden" from view. Maybe you've got a wayward partner in your life, or you're looking for your own ways to boost the privacy of your chats. Here's The Sun's tech team reveals what to look out for... Facebook One of the easiest ways to hide a Facebook Messenger conversation is to just "mute" it (to silence notifications) and then "archive" it, hiding it in a separate folder. The Archived Chats is a separate folder that keeps specific conversations separate from your main feed of conversations. So you'd only know what's in there by clicking on it. A more tactical method for someone trying to conceal a chat is the Restrict feature. If you 'Restrict' someone, it means you'll see less of the person without blocking them. Importantly, it'll remove their conversation from your chats list and mute it. So someone having an affair could very easily keep a contact "restricted" to make sure the chat stays hidden. Facebook Messenger also has a Disappearing Messages feature that scrubs messages after 24 hours. WhatsApp reveals exacty how to block one of your contacts You can see if it's on for a chat by going into the conversation settings and tapping on Disappearing Messages. This is an easy way for someone to have regular conversations that automatically cleanse themselves – removing all evidence of a chat. And a final option would be a partner creating a "private" Facebook Group that you're not a member of. You'd be blocked from seeing the posts, and there's not much you can do about it. It's even possible to hide groups from you, to keep you in the dark. But if they're logged into their account on a PC or phone, it would be visible on their own profile on that device. Instagram The most basic way that an Instagram user might be concealing something from you is by muting individual DM conversations. They do this by swiping left on the chat panel, tapping the three dots, then choosing the mute option. This prevents notifications from that chat alone from appearing, meaning they don't have to mute all pop-ups. But that's not the only method. One particularly sneaky Instagram trick involves making use of the "Restricted" setting. This is meant to be an anti-abuse feature that limits how someone can interact with you. So if you Restrict a person, it'll hide their comments from everyone else. And their DMs will go to your message requests, and limit notifications. This is what cheaters rely on: any messages from that person will go into the Message Requests folder. It means that the DMs won't show up in your main inbox, and won't trigger any pop-up alerts. WhatsApp The first way someone on WhatsApp might be hiding their texts is a combination of two features: Archive and Mute. 11 Mute will prevent pop-ups from a conversation, and Archive will hide the conversation in a special folder. To find the Archived folder, just look at the top of the chat feed. It should be there with a tag showing how many unread messages are in there. You might need to scroll down slightly to see it. For even more privacy, someone might be using the Locked Chats feature. If you want to read a message in Locked Chats, the phone's owner needs to unlock it with a phone passcode, Face ID, or fingerprint. Any type of chat can be locked, including groups and muted conversations. To find the Locked Chats, you'll need to click the lock icon. That only appears if you swipe down on your chat inbox. But a suspicious phone owner can go even further – by hiding the Locked Chats folder with a secret code. If you're trying to do it on your own phone, you'd go into the Locked Chats folder, tap on settings, then toggle Hide Locked Chats on. Then you'll need to create a secret code – it could be anything. That way, the Locked Chats folder will only appear if you type the secret code into the search bar on the chats tab. If you forget the code and make a new one, the chats will be unlocked and cleared. Sadly, the Locked Chats folder won't appear if you don't know the secret code. The only way to tell if someone has a secret folder would be to click Lock Chat on another chat. If that conversation then disappears but there's no visible Locked Chats folder, it means the folder is hidden. Of course, you then wouldn't be able to unlock that conversation – so you'd raise suspicions. Another WhatsApp feature that someone might be taking advantage of is automatic message deletion. The official name is Disappearing Messages, which lets someone choose to have their texts vanish after a set amount of time. 11 This could be 24 hours, seven days, or 90 days. Once the deadline lands, they're gone forever (unless you choose to manually "keep" them). It can be applied to all WhatsApp chats in Settings > Privacy > Default Message Timer. Or it'll show in specific chats: tap the contact's name or group subject, choose Disappearing Messages, and see what it's set to. It's a great feature for also for betrayal. Texts One cunning way a cheater might conceal their antics is by giving their lover a fake name. Maybe the contact is saved as John Smith, Royal Mail, or even UK Gov. Any nickname is an option to conceal the deceit. There is something that can give this away. If the contact has a WhatsApp account, their true identity and picture may appear there – no matter what they're saved as on your regular texting app. They'll appear as their true self in the WhatsApp contacts panel. There's also a cheeky loophole for hiding texts that they might be exploiting. On iPhone, there's a little-known Deleted Texts recycling bin. This is a hidden folder where the texts you've scrubbed from your phone go to die. They'll stay there for 30 days before vanishing forever. So a sneaky cheater could be deleting their chats to hide them, then restoring them at a moment's notice to continue the affair. These binned conversations can be found in the Recently Deleted folder in your Messages inboxes. Secret apps First off, keep in mind that there are lots of apps that people might use for chatting. So look out for lesser-known apps like Kik, WeChat, or Signal. They're not necessarily suspicious: lots of people use Signal for its privacy protections, for instance. But it could also be a sign of foul play. Secondly, remember that apps can be hidden – so they won't show up on the Home Screen. Your iPhone has a hidden folder, right at the bottom of the App Library panel (the one on the far right of your Home Screen). It's impossible to tell if any apps are in the Hidden folder unless you unlock it with a passcode or Face ID. And Android phones have a "private space" for hiding apps in a similar way. The only way to get in and see would be knowing the passcode to take a look. It's also possible that a scheming partner might be using a disguised app. Some dating apps let you change the app icon appearance, and you can swap out symbols for apps on iPhone too. The Sun recently revealed how a love rat could give a dodgy app a makeover as an innocent calculator. There's also a chance that your partner is deleting these apps and then reinstalling them when they need them. Your phone's app store history will show the order of downloaded apps, included apps that have been "claimed" but aren't currently installed. That's a dead giveaway that an app has been recently installed and then binned.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Prime Day MacBook Deals: You Can Still Save Up To $500 On Top Models Today
Amazon Prime Day 2025 is approaching the finish line, but our tech team is still scouring the site for great deals on various popular laptops, and that includes MacBooks. Apple rarely offers markdowns on its products, so deals like these probably won't come around again until the start of the holiday shopping season in November. But if you shop now, you can still get a 2025 MacBook Air for 15% off at $850 (usually $999) or a larger 2024 MacBook Pro with 512GB of storage for $1,428 (down from $1,599). Plus, you can score even bigger savings on older models, like the powerful 2023 MacBook Pro, that's now $500 less than its original asking price. The Best Prime Day MacBook deals include major savings on MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros. Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers Even smaller discounts in the 10% to 12% range can mean hundreds of dollars in savings on pricey items like a MacBook computer. As Forbes Vetted shopping editors who track deals throughout the year, we recommend buying a MacBook now—as in today—if you've been in the market for one; chances are you'll spend hundreds more if you click that 'Buy' button tomorrow. Ahead, find the best Prime Day MacBook deals at Apple's Amazon storefront, plus competing discounts at Best Buy. Apple 2025 MacBook Air (13.6-inch, M4 Chip, 256GB SSD Storage): Now $849, Was $999 (15% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (14.2-inch, M4 Chip, 512GB SSD Storage): Now $1,428, Was $1,599 (11% Off) Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (14.2-Inch, M3 Pro Chip, 512GB SSD Storage): Now $1,799, Was $2,299 (22% Off) Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (16.2-Inch, M3 Max Chip, 1TB SSD Storage): Now $2,999, Was $3,899 (23% Off) MOST POPULAR The 2025 MacBook Air features an M4 chip, which enhances processing power and speed, making it a versatile choice for both work and play. It has a 13.6-inch display, four speakers with spatial audio and a MagSafe charging port. Plus, it provides 18 hours of battery life. Why It's A Good Deal: It's 15% off, which is just $20 higher than the lowest price we've seen for this model in months. While this is a slightly older version of the MacBook Pro, it's still equipped with an M4 chip, providing superior performance and impressive speed, even when using multiple apps. Two of the standout features, however, are the 24-hour battery life and six-speaker sound system with spatial audio. Why It's A Good Deal: You can save $170 on this model during Amazon Prime Day. The 2023 MacBook Pro combines speed and efficiency thanks to the M3 Pro chip and up to 36GB of memory. It has a crisp display and works with all your Apple devices. Why It's A Good Deal: This laptop is currently $500 off its usual price. With its crystal-clear 16.2-inch screen, up to 48GB of memory and 22-hour battery life, this is an excellent laptop to invest in. Apps such as Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft 365 run particularly well on this model, and the studio-quality microphones are helpful for playing music, gaming or taking video calls. Why It's A Good Deal: During Amazon Prime Day, you can save an impressive $900 on this MacBook Pro. The M4 chip in Apple's latest MacBook Air pushes processing power to faster speeds than ever, yet the pricing on the computer didn't rise in tandem. It features a monitor with a crystal-clear display, a decent speaker system for a compact computer and reliable lag-free operation. Why It's A Good Deal: For Apple, 15% savings is downright generous; the company often caps deals at 10% or 11%. Apple 2025 MacBook Air (13.6-Inch, M4 Chip, 256GB SSD Storage): Now $849, Was $999 (15% Off) Apple 2025 MacBook Air (15.3-Inch, M4 Chip, 256GB SSD Storage): Now $1,049, Was $1,199 (13% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (14.2-Inch, M4 Chip, 512GB SSD Storage): Now $1,428, Was $1,599 (11% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (14.2-Inch, M4 Pro Chip, 512GB SSD Storage): Now $1,779, Was $1,999 (11% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (14.2-Inch, M4 Max Chip, 1TB SSD Storage): Now $2,847, Was $3,199 (11% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (16.2-Inch, M4 Pro Chip, 512 SSD Storage): Now $2,232, Was $2,499 (11% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Pro (16.2-Inch, M4 Max Chip, 1TB SSD Storage): Now $3,117, Was $3,499 (11% Off) To score a steep discount on a great computer, just look back a couple of years. This 2023 MacBook Pro was a stellar device back then and it's a solid computer today. It has an M3 chip and 18GB of memory, so it will crunch data almost as well as many brand-new computers. Why It's A Good Deal: Just because there are newer models out doesn't mean this computer that was a true powerhouse in 2023 isn't still a capable machine, and at nearly a quarter off the price, it's a stellar deal, too. Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (14.2-Inch, M3 Pro Chip, 512GB SSD Storage): Now $1,799, Was $2,299 (22% Off) Apple 2025 MacBook Air (13-Inch, M4 Chip, 256GB SSD Storage): Now $849, Was $999 (15% Off) Apple 2023 MacBook Pro (16.2-Inch, M3 Max Chip, 1TB SSD Storage): Now $2,999, Was $3,899 (23% Off) Apple 2024 MacBook Air (15-Inch, M3 Chip, 256GB SSD Storage): Now $899, Was $1,099 (18% Off) Apple 2022 MacBook Air (13.6-Inch, M2 Chip, 256GB Storage): Now $699, Was $799 (13% Off) Do MacBooks Go On Sale During Prime Day? Yes, MacBooks go on sale during Amazon Prime Day, which means it's a great opportunity to upgrade your laptop. You can save up to $900 on a new model, which is a rare deal outside of major shopping holidays, such as Black Friday. Is Prime Day A Good Day To Buy A Laptop? Prime Day is a great time to buy a laptop, as you can often find new models available for up to 23% off. You're not likely to see prices this low again until Black Friday or Cyber Monday, so take advantage of these rare deals while you can. What MacBook Is The Best Value For The Money? For most people, the MacBook Air is the best value for the money. It has fast and efficient performance in terms of speed and processing, is super lightweight and portable and has excellent battery life. Certain models are currently 20% off for Prime Day, making it an even better deal.
Zawya
30-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's quiet strength – what the world can learn from our way of delivering?
As someone leading a tech team here at BET Software in Africa, I've had a front-row seat to how innovation really works on this continent. It's not about chasing the next big trend or mimicking Silicon Valley. It's about solving problems that hit close to home, and that lands with a dash of passion. Using tools, building teams, and thinking rooted in our own realities. We build for reality, not ideal conditions Most of the solutions we build don't assume perfect conditions. We build for what's real: unreliable internet, power cuts, low-end devices. That shapes everything, from how we design user flows to how we architect our infrastructure. Take fintech, for example. When banking access was limited, we didn't wait for institutions to catch up. We built around them. Mobile money services like M-Pesa, E-Wallets, and MoMo didn't just support digital payments; they created an entirely new financial layer. That same practical thinking drives our own product decisions every day: APIs built to handle network drops, apps that don't break when bandwidth drops to near-zero, and services that work on basic phones without draining data. Resilience isn't a buzzword, it's the baseline In our context, resilience isn't a feature; it's the foundation. Our products are expected to perform in environments where a five-minute power cut, or network spike is a normal part of the day. That forces us to write leaner code, run efficient backends, and make smart bets on frameworks that won't crumble at scale. Technologies like DataFree have helped us reach more users by letting them access content without using their own mobile data. In a world where data is still a premium commodity for many users, that kind of solution isn't just clever, it's essential. We design with community in mind What makes African tech truly unique is that it's built with people, not just users, in mind. Many of the fintech products we've launched in Africa support things like group savings, informal lending, and community contributions. These aren't edge cases, they're central to how money moves here. This community-first approach runs deep. It's why we prioritise trust-building, transparency, and local relevance in everything we build. The result? Products that don't just get used, they get embraced. The future is already here, just not evenly recognised Africa isn't catching up. We're creating on our own terms. From mobile-first finance to ultra-efficient apps, from offline functionality to culturally embedded design; we're proving every day that innovation doesn't need perfect conditions. It needs the right mindset. As the world searches for more human, resilient, and inclusive tech, I believe Africa already has the blueprint. It is time more people started paying attention.
