If you need to send something truly sensitive—a confidential file, a private message, or information that absolutely shouldn’t fall into the wrong hands—traditional tools just don’t cut it. Emails can be intercepted, messaging apps promise “privacy” while collecting metadata, and cloud platforms often scan your content for “security purposes.”

For anyone who wants real privacy, there’s a better way: Cryptgeon.

Cryptgeon is an open-source, web-based service that lets you create encrypted notes and files that self-destruct after being read. Think of it as a digital courier pigeon that bursts into flames the moment it delivers your message. No accounts. No logs. No stored data. Just pure, client-side encryption.

How Cryptgeon Works (and Why It’s Safer Than Most Secure Messaging Tools)

Unlike many encrypted-note services, Cryptgeon performs all encryption locally in your browser. That means:

• The server never sees your content.
• The encryption key never leaves your device.
• Even if someone compromised the server, all they’d find is unreadable, useless data.

Here’s what happens under the hood when you create a note or upload a file:

1. A unique identifier is randomly generated

This ID ensures each note exists only once in memory.

2. Your browser creates an AES-256-GCM encryption key

Strong, modern encryption—performed entirely on your device.

3. The note or file is encrypted locally

Nothing is sent in plain text. Not even for a microsecond.

4. The encrypted blob is sent to the server

Cryptgeon temporarily stores it in RAM only—never on disk.

5. You receive a unique link containing the decryption key

The key appears after the “#” fragment in the URL.
Browsers do not send this fragment to servers, so Cryptgeon never has access to it.

Once the message is opened or its timer expires, it’s instantly and permanently destroyed from memory.

Even the project’s developer cannot read your messages. That’s true end-to-end privacy.

How to Create an Encrypted Self-Destructing Note or File

Cryptgeon’s interface is minimal, clean, and easy to use. Everything happens from a single panel on the homepage.

1. Write a Secure Note or Upload a File

You have two options:

• Type a note directly into the text field.
• Switch to “File Mode” to upload a document, image, PDF, or any other file.

When you enable File Mode, the text box becomes a drag-and-drop upload area.

📝 Tip: Maximum file size is 37 MB.

2. Customize Your Privacy Options

You can configure:

• Number of allowed views: default is 1
• Expiration time: up to 360 minutes
• Optional password protection: for extra security

3. Click “Create”

Cryptgeon encrypts the content locally and generates:

• A secure sharing link
• A QR code for easy scanning

The person receiving the link can view the message once—then it’s gone forever.

Why the Link Is Safe

The URL looks something like this:

https://cryptgeon.example/note/abcdefg#SuperSecretDecryptionKey

• Everything after the # is your encryption key.
• Browsers never send the part after the # to the server.

This ensures that even if someone intercepts the link request, or even if the server is monitored, the decryption key remains hidden.

Only the recipient who has the full URL—including the key—can decrypt the content.

Self-Hosting Cryptgeon (Docker, Synology, VPS, NAS)

If you prefer total control, you can host Cryptgeon on your own server. It works perfectly on:

• Docker
• Synology NAS
• Local Linux machines
• VPS or cloud servers

You’ll find everything you need—including deployment examples and configuration instructions—on the project’s official GitHub page.

Self-hosting ensures that:

• Your encrypted data never leaves your network
• You manage your own memory, limits, and uptime
• You retain full sovereignty over your communications

Conclusion:

In a digital world where every platform logs, scans, or “analyzes” your data, Cryptgeon stands out by doing the opposite. It stores nothing, logs nothing, and decrypts nothing. Everything happens on your device, and once your message is viewed, it disappears forever.

For journalists, security professionals, whistleblowers, remote workers, or anyone who wants to send sensitive information safely, Cryptgeon is one of the simplest and most trustworthy tools available today.

If privacy matters to you, this is one tool you’ll want to keep bookmarked.