Digital Crosstalk

This message will self destruct in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

A more interesting and fun way of sending messages (secretly as I will shortly reveal…) is circulating the WWW waves at the moment. If you ever wanted to feel like you are part of a James Bond or Mission Impossible movie, well here’s your chance. A new mail messaging service by Privnote allows users to send a text message, which is then automatically deleted (or self destructs, which sounds more exciting!) after this message has been read by the recipient.

It is a very simple messaging system to use as VampiroZ explains; basically the user enters a message from the Privnote homepage and clicks the “Post it!” button. A link is then given to the user, who sends this link to the particular recipient. After the message is read or the link is clicked on by the recipient, the link is automatically deleted, making it no longer accessible to any individual.

Privnote hope to promote their service as one that can reassure their users that they are able to provide a completely confidential method of sending messages over the Internet, one that neither emails, IM or Twitter can offer.

To prevent eavesdropping, all links that are generated begin with “https”; also the Privnote staffs are (apparently) unable to read the notes whilst stored on their servers. There is also the option of deleting a message you may have regretted sending, which works by clicking on the link you are given, automatically destroying the message and preventing the recipient reading it. This all sounds devious with some people unsure as to its ethics, yet too good to be true (particularly if you are yourself indeed, devious…)

Exactly how this will benefit individuals is proving hard to nail down, but maybe this concept is not to be taken too seriously, in the words of Jai on 86 Words, “take a look and decide for yourself.” Privnote’s suggestions for use are sending messages, passing on meeting locations or writing secret love notes. It will perhaps momentarily please those paranoid androids that would like to send more personal (or private) messages but are afraid the message will be picked up by someone they would prefer not to view the content.

It is early days for Privnote, and their messaging system could perhaps bring further trust issues into the Internet world. Good job I am not formulating any plans to take over the world, yet…

Images from Privnote and ABC Science

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Tags: digital