Privacy and restricted access are provided for functions, applications, and services available on a computing device. An area accessible to a user interface is provided. A request from a user of the device is accepted, the request for associating the area with one or more available functions. The one or more functions are then associated with the area, and are made invisible. Another request from the user is accepted, the other request for gaining access to the area. Authentication against the user is requested. Access to the one or more functions is granted if the authentication is successful. According to another embodiment, an authorized user may send and receive messages via another device that belongs to another user based on identification of the user by the other user.