Discussing confidential business matters or personal issues with a friend, and keeping your conversations private is crucial. Enter Privnote – an online encrypted messaging service that allows users to send notes that self-destruct after being read. Privnote is easy to use, and free, and ensures your messages stay between you and the intended recipient. The encrypted message remains securely stored on Privnote’s servers. Once opened, the note displays briefly before being permanently deleted from their servers. It prevents the message from being accessed again in the future.
When should you use privnote?
Privnote is perfect for sending confidential information or having private conversations online. The self-destructing encrypted notes provide an extra layer of privacy and security.
Here are some examples of when Privnote comes in handy:
- Messaging sensitive personal or work information
- Discussing confidential topics with colleagues, friends, or clients
- Sharing passwords, account numbers, or access codes
- Avoiding messaging history or records of conversations
- Preventing screenshots or copies of your messages
The ephemeral nature of Privnote notes minimizes your digital footprint and the risks associated with your messages permanently existing online.
Creating self-destructing notes
Getting started with Privnote is quick and easy. Just go to privnote.com and follow these steps:
- Type or paste your private text into the main text box text, links, images, code snippets, or any other information.
- Customize the self-destruct timer using the drop-down menu. You set messages to expire after just 1 minute or up to 1 week. The default is 1 day.
- Click the “Create Note” button. Your message will be encrypted and converted into a unique URL.
- Copy the URL and send it to your desired recipient through your messaging app of choice. Neither the message nor the URL will ever touch Privnote’s servers again.
- The recipient simply clicks the Privnote URL you sent and enters a CAPTCHA to view your message. After reading, the note will self-destruct based on your preset timer.
Customizing your privacy settings
Privnote has additional options you tweak to customize privacy, security, and self-destruct timers for each message:
- Disable link previews – Don’t show a message preview if the URL is posted publicly.
- Add password protection – Require your recipient to enter a password to view the secret note.
- Burn after reading – Only allow a single viewing and then force self-destruct.
- Lower self-destruct timer – Set messages to expire in as little as 1 minute.
- Disable the ability to forward content – Prevent others from copying or sharing your messages.
Enabling these extra precautions reduces opportunities for your encrypted notes to be leaked or exposed online. Set them up on a note-by-note basis depending on your specific privacy needs.
Maximizing your privacy
Privnote’s encryption ensures your messages remain private in transit and storage. However, there are a few extra steps you take to maximize privacy:
- Use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal or WhatsApp to send your Privnote links rather than SMS. It will encrypt the Privnote URLs as well.
- Avoid conveying sensitive information in your email, texts, or Privnote URLs that could raise flags if intercepted.
- Discourage recipients from screenshot ting or copying your Privnote message content.
- Set short 1-10 minute self-destruct timers for ultra-sensitive information.
With the proper additional precautions, Privnote offers a discreet way to share confidential information while minimizing your digital footprint.
