The SnapChat app is immensely popular because it allows users to send self-destructing photos and videos — files that automatically delete themselves after a few seconds. For security, privacy, or any other reason, you can be sure what ever image you send to your friend gets seen once, and then vanishes. Plus, as an added security message, anyone who screenshots a photo sets of an alert, which tells the original sender that it happened. However, it looks like there might be a bug that allows a way around that.
TechCrunch is reporting that there is a way to screenshot SnapChat photos without triggering the screenshot alert. Here’s how they describe the process:
- While viewing a SnapChat photo, take a screenshot by pressing the home and power button at the same time, while making sure to continue holding on the screen in order to ensure that the picture gets captured.
- After taking the screenshot, the photo won’t show on the screen and you will be brought back to your list of snaps.
- Before the photo expires, double tap the home button to bring up the multitasking bar. Once you’ve brought that up, SnapChat won’t recognize your screenshot.
This method was brought to their attention by Raj Vir, and it seems that you can interrupt the screenshot detection method that SnapChat uses by using the multitasking bar.
I’m betting it won’t be long before this hole gets patched, especially seeing as Facebook’s similar Poke app isn’t susceptible.
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