Sending private messages through back channels is nothing new. We do it all the time with emails and direct messages on multiple services. However, sometimes information is just too sensitive to keep around once it's been sent. Wouldn't it be great to have messages self-destruct after being read, Harry Potter style? Well Privnote is just the service for you.
Developed by Insophia using Django and Python, Privnote allows you to send a message and have it be immediately deleted once it is read. Spotted by MakeUsOf, simply head to the homepage of Privnote and type in your message. Once you're done click the "post it" button to grab a link to send to a recipient. Once the message is read or the link is clicked, the link is no longer accessible. You can also receive notifications for when your link is clicked, which will include the ip address of the reader.
The best reason to use Privnote?
"If you send a note and suddenly regret having done so, you can click the link yourself which will destroy the note and prevent the receiver to read it."
You can't do this with email, IM, or Twitter.
Privnote provides security in numerous ways. You'll notice that all links generated begin with "https". This means that the link has a certain level of security associated with it to prevent eavesdropping. However, I wouldn't recommend taking the service too seriously and start sending FBI classified files. But for secret love notes, messages, and meeting locations, Privnote would be a cool and fun service to use.
Comments
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I can't see many people using this service. If something is so secret that you don't want it to turn up down the road (in an email account or IM log) people will just use the phone or just tell the other person to delete the email after they've read it.
Posted by: gabe | July 5, 2008 5:19 PM
I agree with Gabe above, however it's still fun, and maybe a community of early-adopters will find a cool way to use this feature.
(love this FF box, but if it could save me a few clicks by memorizing my remote key, that'd be even better)
Posted by: xavier vespa
|
July 5, 2008 5:29 PM
Ease dropping?
Posted by: Bob Myers | July 5, 2008 7:11 PM
:-) Now I know what I would use Evernote for, which doesn't provide me links - but for copying before reading of self-destroying messages - perfect :-)
Posted by: julia | July 5, 2008 9:28 PM
There are other services out there that actually allow you to setup your email to do the same thing above, but nothing wrong with more :-)
Posted by: John Doe | July 5, 2008 9:38 PM
6 days ago; Pixites: Mission Possible: Send notes that'll self-destruct after being read http://twurl.nl/1a3dxf
Still wondering about the tv-series this gadget was on; you saw a secret agent step into a phonebooth listening to a tape that would self-destruct.
Anybody on whether this indeed was 'Mission Impossible?'
Posted by: pixites | July 5, 2008 11:00 PM
Very interesting, I'll give it a shot.
Posted by: ITrush | July 6, 2008 3:08 AM
when a msg is handled by more than just the person who created it there will always be some kind of trail
Posted by: JW | July 6, 2008 4:27 AM
Interesting approach, but I am curious to know more about the underlying privacy policy and the actual guarantee of non-recoverability on the Privnote/Insophia servers, etc. My underlying philosophy about data is that it is sticky, as most forensics experts will also attest. As you say above, it's not quite cut out for sending classified files...
More technical information would be good to have.... Still, cool tool and worth playing with. I could see something like this being white labeled....
Posted by: Eric Swenson | July 6, 2008 5:36 AM
Seems like it would make A LOT more sense if you could have Privnote send the note instead of yourself having to copy the link and send it to a person. That way making it completely anonymous.
Posted by: Stephen | July 6, 2008 8:53 AM
Hi, I'm the owner of Insophia and also one of Privnote developers.
Regarding Eric's question, I have to say that, not only we permanently delete notes after being read, but we're also unable to read the notes while they're stored in our severs. We designed Privnote that way, so we can use it to send really confidential information without worrying that our sysadmins could see it. However, sending highly confidential notes is not the only use of Privnote.
If you want to know more about Privnote design I recommend you to read this recent post of mine:
http://vampiroz.org/2008/06/sending-private-notes-using-privnote.html
We're gonna add a Privacy Policy page soon to state these things more clearly.
Posted by: Pablo Hoffman | July 6, 2008 9:17 AM
Stephen, Privnote is a tool to send private notes, not anonymous ones.
Posted by: Pablo Hoffman | July 6, 2008 9:23 AM
And how are you going to cope with a good ol' screen grab? IMHO privacy is not so much more given here, than with a secure e-mail account ssl and or pgp.
Posted by: linuxcluster | July 6, 2008 1:03 PM
ALT [Print Screen], save as message.jpg
Not so secret anymore hu.
Posted by: Shades | July 6, 2008 1:54 PM
Precisely, #13. Screenshots are the easiest way of capturing the page's contents and avoiding the self-destruct. And how about printing out the page?
Still, it's not a good idea for this service to send the e-mail with the link, because we all know unencrypted e-mail is spied on.
Posted by: Frederick | July 6, 2008 1:56 PM
The self-destructing email option of from ReadNotify.com is much, much easier to use (right from your mail client) and blocks screen captures. Plus it's been around for years.
Posted by: qurly63 | July 6, 2008 2:36 PM
A screenshot will record anything on the monitor.
Posted by: darvoun | July 6, 2008 5:34 PM
I agree qurly63. Readnotify has an expansive list of options for tracking your emails, even documents and attachments that have been separated from their original email. I use it extensively, along with the Outlook plugin.
Posted by: phantisize | July 6, 2008 8:07 PM
I just wanted to let you know that I've posted a new (and hopefully better) explanation of how Privnote works, for those of you who are interested in privacy issues concerning the notes while they're stored in Privnote servers.
http://vampiroz.org/2008/07/how-privnote-really-works.html
Posted by: Pablo Hoffman | July 6, 2008 8:44 PM
I agree, there are much better ways of gaining privacy.
Mat !
www.toughnrugged.com
Posted by: mat | July 7, 2008 5:07 AM
Scratching my head trying to figure the application of sending emails that vanish after you've read them. The only two things I can think of is 1) you might have the chance of being remembered for doing something different and 2) might be an interesting way to create urgency. For example, "Register right now because you'll never hear this offer again...and in fact, you won't even be able to find this email again because it's going to self-destruct..." kind of thing. Anyone have any additional uses?
Posted by: WebsiteWaves Blog | July 7, 2008 6:53 AM
Great article, and great read as always!
Definatley going to give this a try the next time us guys are headed out for that make-sure-your-girlfriend-doesn't-find-the-place-and-spoil-the-fun night out!
Posted by: Wendy | July 7, 2008 7:30 AM
Cool idea. For sure not to be used for items of real importance, but I bet will be very popular with teenagers.
Posted by: Rob | July 7, 2008 9:17 AM
Sounds interesting, but don't know how effective it could be...
Posted by: David - Merchant Cash Advance | July 8, 2008 2:02 PM
That is 007 stuff and I love it. How many times have I watched Judge Hatchet and saw a complainant with a cellphone? Your Honor, I have the message right here. Nah uh, not now you don't. Pffft. I love it.
Posted by: Michael Mapstead | July 10, 2008 5:27 PM
Uh, just realized what I was thinking. Have you ever had one of those days when you read right through an article and somehow you kept the same impression you had when you began reading the article? I just did. I thought the article was going to be about text messages on cell phones. After reading it, and finding out that it wasn't at all, I stuck with that impression writing my message. Please forgive.
Posted by: Michael Mapstead | July 10, 2008 5:30 PM
Don't worry Mike, I was thinking text messages too and I thought it would be a great idea. I wish you could do it with emails and ims, the ones that are delayed because you know the guy isn't available at the time you write the message. Then, you want to take it back.
Posted by: Jessica Brylan | July 10, 2008 5:33 PM
Inaccurate. Message doesn't actually cause explosion in computer and cause smoke to wisp in the air.
Posted by: sunny beach | July 11, 2008 3:29 AM
I don't see this becoming too popular but it's a pretty cool idea. I've thought about some messages that I would only want them to be read once so they can't show it to nobody else afterward.
Posted by: Yasser | July 12, 2008 1:12 PM