# Verena — Personal Security System

> Personal security system for marginalized communities, offering discreet incident documentation and emergency resources. (iPhone/iPad app by Astra Labs.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verena/id1210502192 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Astra Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/1025244342)
- Category: Lifestyle, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.71/5 from 7 App Store ratings · 21 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 22 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2017-05-04
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verena/id1210502192/reviews.md

## What is Verena?

Verena is a personal security system for marginalized communities, protecting them before, during, and after hate crimes, abuse, bullying, and more.

All messages are sent through our servers, leaving no trace on your phone. All of their important details are saved and encrypted locally on your device. You have a bright future that you deserve to see. Verena is meant to make sure you get there safely.

The emergency feature allows you to go through a system of questions to direct you to the best resources to help them through their emergency situation. You can get directions to points of interest, find custom resources, call emergency contacts, and get directed through pipelines to best help you out. Emergency is best used after an incident or emergency to help guide you through what you need to do to get and feel safe.

Based on incident reports used within police departments and educational institutions, incident logs are forms where you can report specific details of abuse, hate crimes, harassment, discrimination, and bullying. The logs help you remember important details and events to keep track of incidents and to potentially report situations to the authorities. The incident logs should be used to keep track of incidents that occur in your life that you want to report or keep a record for.

Record allows you to take videos of escalating situations and allows them the ability to send an emergency alert to your contacts if the situation gets out of hand. Record is for use in situations where you need to actively get evidence and proof of an escalating situation, but are scared of potentially being involved in an altercation.

Timer is a tool that allows you to put a set amount of time. When the timer hits 0, your emergency contacts will be alerted. The timer is for use in situations where you may not know the outcome, and want to have a back-up in case things go wrong.

Location allows them to see where you are and how close you are to the addresses of your contacts. Within the emergency tool, you're able to use the location tool to see how far away you are from points of interest and are able to see them in AR mode to visualize the locations near them.

Shutdown allows you to use a keyword from the login screen to completely erase all data from Verena, and shows a fake "server down" screen. Shutdown is for use in situations where an abuser or an untrusted person hijacks your phone and is trying to gain access to, or knows about Verena.

Emergency Access allows you to hold the login button to alert your emergency contacts easily, letting you bypass logging in and using other tools to alert them. This is good for situations in which you need help ASAP, and are unable to use other tools.

Incognito Mode hides Verena through a fake working app and changes the app icon to look like a cooking, math, or news app. The fake app allows you to hide Verena from people who have access to your phone. Incognito mode is great for long-term situations where you need to hide the security app from others for your own safety.

Verena is made, designed, and developed by Astra Labs. We're a youth-run 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to using code for change to help marginalized communities. We follow a strict code of values and ethics to keep you safe. When our users use Verena, they know that there are no ads in our apps, no harvesting or selling data, no "dark" or unethical design patterns, and no cost for our apps, ever.

You have (and deserve to see) an amazing future. Verena works to get you there safely.

## Key features

- Discreet data storage
- Emergency resource guidance
- Secure incident logging
- Active situation recording
- Timed emergency alerts
- Location tracking with AR
- Data erasure and fake screen
- Incognito mode with fake app icon

## Recent user reviews (10 of 21)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/verena/id1210502192/reviews.md

### 2/5 — Help Please!

*2022-10-10, version 1.6.0.1*

It keeps kicking me out. It seems like such a great app, but I can’t even make an account. Please fix this!!

### 2/5 — app keeps kicking me out

*2020-08-21, version 1.6.0.1*

every time i try to log in from the fake math help screen,, it kicks me out

### 2/5 — Keeps kicking me out

*2020-02-08, version 1.6.0.1*

I’ve had the app before and it was great but after updating it it just keeps kicking me out of it for no reason. Please fix this

### 5/5 — I feel safer

*2019-06-04, version 1.5.2*

Really like that you can set a timer and create contacts of different priorities. Nice that there is option to make it more discreet for those who want it to be. Editing contacts could be more intuitive.

### 1/5 — This is bad!!!!!

*2019-01-26, version 1.5.2*

It doesn’t keep u signed in!! That’s what it’s supposed to do right?!?!

### 1/5 — Animal shelters

*2018-12-26, version 1.5.1*

It only shows animal shelters when I look up shelters...

### 2/5 — Huh?

*2018-09-02, version 1.5.1*

I totally understand the use of this app (actually not really) and it really could be helpful. However, I downloaded it from the App Store onto my iPhone 6 Plus, and I cannot access it from my home screen. Poof, it’s gone. It’s not here. I don’t know what to do. The only way I can access it is if I go to the App Store. Therefore, if I was in a real predicament this would be no use. Also, I have tried numerous times to alert my emergency contact but your dang app failed to do that for me. Thanks for nothing, I would like more queer features, por favor. 

Your feared queer, Magdalena.

### 3/5 — app crashes when i look at my location

*2018-07-02, version 1.5.1*

i think this app is absolutely spectacular, and the moment i saw it on the news i downloaded it. as a pansexual, i sometimes fear what people might do if they find out like i like the same sex, nonbinary people, and people who’ve transitioned. my only thing is that every time i try to look at my location, the app sends me back to my home screen. could this be fixed soon? thank you 💖💛💙

### 2/5 — Nice design, but poor functionality

*2018-06-14, version 1.5.1*

It has a nice and unique design. However I can’t even use the app because I don’t remember what I signed up with. There’s no feature to help you if you forgot your password and there’s no sign up button on the login page so i’m stuck. App is useless.

### 1/5 — Silly nonsense

*2018-06-02, version 1.5.1*

This app hides itself as a math tutor? Isn’t the community this app intends to aid supposed to be proud and courageous, yet hides and identifies itself as a math app???

Click on Shelter and you get Shelter Insurance or Animal Shelter. Click on hospital and you get Animal Hospitals. Click on Emergency and you have to play 21 Questions to get an answer. 911 still works on any phone.

This app sounds like a pity party for a selective group. Enjoy if you like to scribble down reminders of why you’re depressed and set yourself a timer to go back and remind yourself.

## Frequently asked questions about Verena

### How does Verena protect my data?

Verena sends all messages through its servers, leaving no trace on your phone. Important details are saved and encrypted locally on your device for enhanced privacy and security.

### What kind of resources does Verena offer during an emergency?

The emergency feature guides you to the best resources, provides directions to points of interest, helps find custom resources, allows calling emergency contacts, and directs you through support pipelines.

### Can Verena help me document incidents?

Yes, Verena's incident logs allow you to report specific details of abuse, hate crimes, harassment, discrimination, and bullying, helping you keep track of events for potential reporting to authorities.

### What is the 'Record' feature in Verena used for?

The 'Record' feature allows you to take videos of escalating situations and discreetly send an emergency alert to your contacts if the situation becomes dangerous, providing evidence without direct involvement.

### How does the 'Timer' feature work in Verena?

The 'Timer' feature lets you set a duration. When the timer reaches zero, your emergency contacts will be alerted, serving as a backup in uncertain situations.

### What is 'Shutdown' in Verena?

Shutdown allows you to use a keyword on the login screen to completely erase all data from Verena and display a fake 'server down' screen, useful if your phone is accessed by an untrusted person.

### How does Verena's 'Incognito Mode' work?

Incognito Mode hides Verena by making it appear as a different app (like cooking, math, or news) and changing the app icon, helping to conceal its presence from those who might access your phone.

### What is the age rating for Verena?

Verena is rated 9+ by app stores, indicating it is suitable for users aged nine and older.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.6.0.1 — 2020-02-04

-Fixed walkthrough bug that traps new users in walkthrough

### 1.6.0 — 2020-02-03

We're making a big change to Verena moving forward. Starting with this update, Verena opens its' doors to veterans, sex workers, disabled people, abuse victims + survivors, people of color, and so many others. 

In addition to that, we've updated a few things: 
-We have a feedback button within the app! You can now send us feedback directly from within Verena. 

-We've made some UI changes. You're gonna notice that we've changed our font, background, and removed the shadows. We've also updated our logo and app logo to match our new mission. 

-We've added a new tool called Record! In dangerous situations, you can take video through Verena and have the ability to alert your contacts if the situation escalates out of hand. 

-We've also added a new ability to incident logs! You're able to create different types of incidents moving forward, such as hate crimes, bullying, abuse, discrimination, and harassment. 

-General bug and technical debt fixes. 

-We have also adopted a kitten since the last update. His name is Pumpkin Spice Latte and he's Astra Labs' new Head of Kitten Communications.

### 1.5.2 — 2019-01-18

-added contact book support! you can now import contacts from your contact book instead of manually typing them in. 

-added AR map view! you can see locations of resources near you in AR. 10/10 much AR. very wow. 

-added separate interfaces. instead of having a fake math interface, you can choose between math, news, and cooking! and they work! 

-fixed FaceID crash, current location crash, and a bunch of other crashes that we're gonna pretend didn't happen. 

-other bug fixes and security patches to keep you safe.

### 1.5.1 — 2018-03-06

- added iPhone X support 
- UI fixes
- gayer

### 1.5 — 2017-12-28

-Added darker UI for better visibility at night 

-Introducing shutdown: when enabled through preferences, typing “shutdown” into the username or password field will automatically permanently disable Verena until it is re downloaded, allowing you to hide the apps from abusers in an emergency. 

-Contacts and Incident logs can now be edited and revised

-You can now see your current location in proximity to your other contacts and get routed to them. 

-Use the new timer feature to set a specified amount of time. If that timer hits 0, all of your contacts will be alerted with your last known location.

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## More apps by Astra Labs

- [Aetheria](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aetheria/id1028767781)

All apps by Astra Labs: https://appshunter.io/developer/1025244342

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*