The GCHQ has released an Android app to inspire budding cyber-spies

Normally when we hear about the GCHQ in the news, it’s because there has been some revelation about a new method to spy on people using digital technology. Today that is not the case, because the intelligence organisation has released a new Android app. Best of all, it won’t be spying on you.

The app is called Cryptoy, and is designed to teach secondary school-aged children about cryptography, its history, and how to create their own encoded messages. The government hopes that it will help inspire the next generation of cyber-spies and cryptographers.

But this isn’t some plot by the GCHQ to trick people into allowing the organisation access to the personal information stored in their phones. As Wired points out, the app doesn’t need any permissions that would compromise your data — meaning this app really is just an educational tool.

The app is currently only available for Android devices, but the GCHQ has confirmed that Cryptoy will be available for iOS devices sometime next year. I don’t know about you but I think I’m going to download it and have a go. I don’t care if it’s aimed at kids.