If you’re an avid reader of privacy news, you’ve probably heard about the latest in tech and apps that promise to protect your sensitive data. One such app is called Privnote. It’s been around for nearly four years now, but it hasn’t really caught on with consumers. Why? Well, because it’s not really all that great. The best way of letting people know about your feeling or your message that you always want them to know is through an app that does not disclose your name. The most common app used by many to do the same is the pirvnota. It is used by many for letting the message sent to any person who disclosing there any details to them. The app helps to control things and keep the identity much safe.
As far as I can tell, you have three options when it comes to protecting your personal information online: Google Authenticator, 1Password, or Privnote. Each has its pros and cons, so which one should you choose? That’s what we’ll take a look at today.
First, let’s cover the basics. What is Privnote? It’s essentially a note-taking platform that lets you create secure notes that are encrypted using the AES standard. The idea behind this feature is that you can use these encrypted notes to share private data with people you trust. In other words, it’s like having a digital notepad.
The best part about this app is that unlike many of its competitors, you don’t need to register just to make a note. Instead, the only way to access the app is through Facebook or email signup (which is why you may be seeing ads).
Here’s how it works: When someone sends you a note from Privnote, you receive an email with a link to view the note. You can then either click the link or open the note directly within the app.
To me, this sounds similar to Snapchat and WhatsApp, two messaging platforms that require you to download their apps before you can send messages. This approach makes sense, because if you want to get something into the hands of another person, you’d rather do it without them knowing they’re getting a message from you.
But here’s where things start to fall apart. If you don’t want someone to know you’re sending them a note, you have no option besides opening the note yourself. Sure, you could go through the trouble of setting up a fake account or even changing the default name, but that still doesn’t guarantee that your notes will remain private.
For example, I have a friend who uses Privnote to communicate with his girlfriend. He told me that she’s pretty much the only person he shares his notes with, and I believe him. But the problem is, his girlfriend doesn’t know that I’m privy to her conversations. She’s already seen my name pop up in the “to” field of some of his notes. So while this feature has a lot of potential, there are some major holes in its security.
What about the encryption itself? Let me preface this by saying that I’m not an expert in cryptography. All I know is that I’ve taken several computer science courses in college and studied enough about computers to understand the basics. The truth is, I don’t think anyone knows exactly what goes on behind the scenes when you encrypt a note on Privnote. And even if they did, the chances of breaking the encryption method are virtually nonexistent. That said, here are a few ways I see the technology working in Privnote:
1) There’s nothing stopping you from creating more than one note. Just send the same note to multiple recipients, each of whom gets a different copy of the note.
2) The key used for the encryption method is generated randomly every time you enter a new note. Once again, the problem with this approach is that if anyone manages to break the algorithm used, they would also be able to decrypt any previous notes.
3) A third party company holds onto the private keys needed to decode the notes. But since Privnote doesn’t store these keys themselves, they must be stored somewhere else. How would they access those keys? I honestly don’t know.
So there you have it. That’s the basic rundown of how the encryption method works in Privnote. I haven’t actually tested it out myself because I don’t own the app. However, I plan on testing it out soon, so stay tuned!
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each of the apps mentioned above. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything you need to consider when deciding between them.
Google Authenticator
- Pros:
You can create unlimited notes.
- Cons:
Notes aren’t encrypted. Meaning, anyone who downloads your Android app can get ahold of your notes.
1Password
- Pros:
Your notes are encrypted.
- Cons:
Only one user per device.
Privnote
- Pros:
Encrypted notes.
- Cons:
Need to install the app. Can’t add friends outside of Facebook.
Of course, there are other factors you should consider when choosing the right app for you. For example, Google Authenticator is free, whereas both 1Password and Privnote cost money. Also, 1Password offers integration with popular services like Dropbox and Evernote, while Privnote currently lacks support for these types of features.
Ultimately, I recommend using 1Password over Privnote. Not only does it offer the best protection against unauthorized access, but it also has the best overall functionality.
One final thing to keep in mind is that you won’t be able to delete notes once they’re sent. This means that if you accidentally leak sensitive data, there’s little chance of getting it back. So if privacy matters to you, you might want to avoid Privnote altogether.
