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vMask Chat and Direct Chat

VanZen has two chat types. The chip at the top of a chat says which one you are in: vMask or Direct.

Direct Chat

Direct Chat sends your message as written, like a normal chat. Names, numbers, and anything else you type go to VanZen exactly as you typed them.

Direct Chat can search the web. A question that needs the web is sent as written for an external web search. The Privacy Policy names the services we use.

New chats start in Direct Chat unless you change Start in vMask Chat in Settings → Privacy.

vMask Chat

In vMask Chat, personal details become vMasks on your device before your message is sent. A vMask is a placeholder such as [vMask_1]. VanZen answers using the vMasks, and your device puts the real words back in the reply you see.

  • Card numbers, Social Security numbers, bank numbers, IBANs, and passport numbers are always hidden in vMask Chat, and are never put back in the reply.
  • Reveal (the lock) shows or hides the real words on your screen. It changes only your view: VanZen saw the vMasks.
  • A vMask chat continues on the device that started it.

Automatic detection can miss a detail or hide the wrong text. For names that matter, add them to My Protected Terms.

Switch between them

  1. Tap or click the chip at the top of the chat (vMask or Direct).
  2. Choose vMask Chat or Direct Chat.

To choose which one new chats start in, open Settings → Privacy and set Start in vMask Chat. Off starts in Direct Chat; on starts in vMask Chat.

My Protected Terms

My Protected Terms is your own list of names and details to hide before sending in vMask Chat: a nickname, a company, a street. The list stays on your devices. With sync on, it travels only end-to-end encrypted between your linked devices.

  1. Open Settings → Privacy → My Protected Terms.
  2. Add a name or detail and save it.

On the web, Automatic detection (Beta) can be turned off. Then vMask Chat hides only your My Protected Terms, and everything else may be sent as written. VanZen asks you to confirm first.

Some questions need today’s information: news, opening hours, prices, scores, weather. VanZen searches the web for them.

  • Direct Chat: web search is always on. Your question is sent as written for an external web search.
  • vMask Chat: web search is off until you turn it on. In the chat type chooser, under vMask Chat, turn on Web search (it reads Use my vMask Chat in web search.). The search uses your message with its vMasks in place, never the hidden details.

With web search off, vMask Chat answers from what it knows. When a question needs live information, the reply tells you how to turn web search on or switch to Direct Chat.

The Privacy Policy names the search providers.