Tech Wendy Ewing  

 What Privnote Does to Make Messages Expire?

Privnote is a free online service that allows users to send text messages that self-destruct after being read. It provides a private and secure way to share sensitive information that you don’t want to remain accessible indefinitely.  Privnote was created in 2011 by David Rapp. The inspiration came from the Snapchat platform, which allows users to send photos that delete themselves after being viewed. Rapp realized that people might also want a similar capability for text messages.

With Privnote, you can type or paste any text into the website. It generates a unique link that you can share however you like – email, messaging app, etc. When the recipient clicks the link, they will see your message. After it is read, the note is deleted from Privnote’s server.  The service is straightforward to use. There is no login required. All you need to do is go to the Privnote website, enter your message, and share the link. Here are some of the key features and benefits of using Privnote:

  1. Message expirationThe main appeal of Privnote is the ability to make private text expire after being read. You can choose whether your note expires after the first viewing or after a set number of views.
  2. No accounts required – You don’t need to create an account or log in to use Privnote. Just go to the website and start creating notes.
  3. Link password protection- For an extra layer of security, you can set a password that will be required to view your Privnote.
  4. Message Burn After Reading – This setting will blur out the message after a few seconds so the viewer cannot keep re-reading it.
  5. Note deletion – Notes are automatically deleted from Privnote’s servers after they expire or are read.
  6. Mobile friendly – Privnote works on all devices and screen sizes.
  7. No downloads or installations – Everything happens right within the browser. There is no app to download.
  8. Completely free- Privnote is free to use without ads or limits. The code is also open source.

Primary use cases

There are many situations where sending a self-destructing message can be useful. Here are some of the most common use cases for Privnote:

  • Sharing passwords or sensitive info – You can safely share passwords, API keys, credit card numbers, or other private info using a privnote. No need to risk the recipient saving or forwarding the details.
  • Sending private messages – If you want to send a personal or confidential message to someone that you don’t want accidentally forwarded or seen by others, a privnote can give you that security.
  • Communicating anonymously– Without needing accounts, Privnote allows you to anonymously send someone a message without revealing your identity.
  • Temporary notes– Privnotes are useful as temporary notes or messages that you want to send but do not keep permanent records of.
  • Tech support messages– When providing tech support over email or chat, privnotes allow sharing temporary access or info without risk of misuse.
  • Quick notes– Jot down a quick thought, phone number, address, link, or other short note to share using a privnote.
  • Business communications – For discussing confidential business matters and sharing sensitive documents or data.

Privnote is a free online service that allows users to send text messages that self-destruct after being read. It provides a private and secure way to share sensitive information that you don’t want to remain accessible indefinitely.  Privnote was created in 2011 by David Rapp. The inspiration came from the Snapchat platform, which allows users to send photos that delete themselves after being viewed. Rapp realized that people might also want a similar capability for text messages.

With Privnote, you can type or paste any text into the website. It generates a unique link that you can share however you like – email, messaging app, etc. When the recipient clicks the link, they will see your message. After it is read, the note is deleted from Privnote’s server.  The service is straightforward to use. There is no login required. All you need to do is go to the Privnote website, enter your message, and share the link. Here are some of the key features and benefits of using Privnote:

  1. Message expirationThe main appeal of Privnote is the ability to make private text expire after being read. You can choose whether your note expires after the first viewing or after a set number of views.
  2. No accounts required – You don’t need to create an account or log in to use Privnote. Just go to the website and start creating notes.
  3. Link password protection- For an extra layer of security, you can set a password that will be required to view your Privnote.
  4. Message Burn After Reading – This setting will blur out the message after a few seconds so the viewer cannot keep re-reading it.
  5. Note deletion – Notes are automatically deleted from Privnote’s servers after they expire or are read.
  6. Mobile friendly – Privnote works on all devices and screen sizes.
  7. No downloads or installations – Everything happens right within the browser. There is no app to download.
  8. Completely free- Privnote is free to use without ads or limits. The code is also open source.

Primary use cases

There are many situations where sending a self-destructing message can be useful. Here are some of the most common use cases for Privnote:

  • Sharing passwords or sensitive info – You can safely share passwords, API keys, credit card numbers, or other private info using a privnote. No need to risk the recipient saving or forwarding the details.
  • Sending private messages – If you want to send a personal or confidential message to someone that you don’t want accidentally forwarded or seen by others, a privnote can give you that security.
  • Communicating anonymously– Without needing accounts, Privnote allows you to anonymously send someone a message without revealing your identity.
  • Temporary notes– Privnotes are useful as temporary notes or messages that you want to send but do not keep permanent records of.
  • Tech support messages– When providing tech support over email or chat, privnotes allow sharing temporary access or info without risk of misuse.
  • Quick notes– Jot down a quick thought, phone number, address, link, or other short note to share using a privnote.
  • Business communications – For discussing confidential business matters and sharing sensitive documents or data.