❓ Frequently Asked Questions

OneTimeRead uses military-grade AES-256 encryption, the same standard used by governments and financial institutions worldwide. Your messages are encrypted in your browser before being sent to our servers, ensuring maximum security.

• AES-256 encryption: Considered unbreakable with current technology
• Zero-knowledge architecture: We cannot read your messages
• Unique keys: Each message uses a different encryption key
• Self-destruction: Messages are permanently deleted after reading

No, absolutely not. Our zero-knowledge architecture ensures that we cannot read your messages even if we wanted to:

• Client-side encryption: Messages are encrypted in your browser
• Key separation: Encryption keys are never sent to our servers
• Encrypted storage: We only store encrypted data that we cannot decrypt
• Technical impossibility: Without the key, decryption is mathematically impossible

Using OneTimeRead is simple and requires no registration:

1. Write your message: Type your confidential message in the text area
2. Generate link: Click "Generate Secure Link" to create an encrypted link
3. Share safely: Send the link to your recipient through a secure channel
4. One-time access: The recipient can read the message once before it's destroyed

Remember: The message will be permanently destroyed after being read once!

If a OneTimeRead link isn't working, here are the most common reasons:

• Already read: The message has been accessed and destroyed
• Expired: Messages are automatically deleted after 30 days if unread
• Corrupted link: The link was modified during sharing
• Invalid format: The link format is incorrect or incomplete

To prevent issues: Share links carefully and ensure they're copied completely. Consider using encrypted messaging apps for sharing.

OneTimeRead works on virtually all modern devices and browsers:

Note: JavaScript must be enabled for encryption to work properly.

Yes, messages are limited to 10,000 characters for optimal performance and security:

• Character limit: 10,000 characters including spaces
• Real-time counter: See remaining characters as you type
• Performance: Ensures fast encryption and loading times
• Alternative: For larger content, consider breaking into multiple messages

We collect minimal data necessary for service operation:

We use minimal retention periods for maximum privacy:

• Read messages: Destroyed immediately after first access
• Unread messages: Automatically deleted after 30 days
• Server logs: Retained for 90 days for security purposes
• No recovery: Once destroyed, messages cannot be recovered

Important: There is no way to recover destroyed messages, so save important information before it's read!

Yes, OneTimeRead is completely free to use with no hidden costs:

• No registration required: Start using immediately
• No subscription fees: All features available at no cost
• No advertisements: Clean, ad-free experience
• No premium tiers: Everyone gets full security features

We believe privacy and security should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Currently, OneTimeRead processes one message at a time for optimal security:

• One at a time: Each message gets unique encryption
• Security benefit: Prevents bulk compromises
• Simple process: Create new links as needed
• No limitations: Create as many messages as you need

This approach ensures each message is independently secured and cannot be linked to others.

If you're experiencing loading issues, try these steps:

1. Check your connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection
2. Refresh the page: Try refreshing (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
3. Clear browser cache: Clear cookies and cached data
4. Try another browser: Test with a different browser
5. Disable extensions: Temporarily disable browser extensions
6. Check system status: Visit our status page for known issues

If problems persist, please contact our support team.

OneTimeRead requires JavaScript to perform secure encryption in your browser:

We believe in transparency for security-critical applications:

• Core encryption: Critical encryption code can be reviewed in browser
• Client-side visible: All client-side code is available for inspection
• Security audits: We welcome security researcher reviews
• Responsible disclosure: Report security issues to security@onetimeread.com

For complete transparency, key cryptographic functions can be examined in your browser's developer tools.

Our zero-knowledge architecture provides strong protection:

• Technical impossibility: We cannot decrypt messages without keys
• No plaintext storage: Only encrypted data exists on our servers
• Key separation: Decryption keys are never stored by us
• Auto-destruction: Read messages are immediately destroyed

Important: While we cannot provide plaintext messages, authorities might still be able to obtain encrypted data. The zero-knowledge design provides the strongest protection we can offer.