In an age where data breaches are daily news, the way we share files matters more than ever. Emailed attachments sit in inboxes forever. Cloud storage links often get forgotten, leaving sensitive documents exposed to anyone who stumbles upon the URL years later. Enter secure temporary file sharing.
The Problem with Permanence
Traditional file sharing is built on permanence. You upload a file to Google Drive or Dropbox, generate a link, and send it. That file stays there until you manually delete it. In the real world, we almost always forget to delete it. This creates "data debt"—a trail of sensitive information scattered across the internet.
The Ephemeral Solution
Secure temporary sharing (like SnapSend) flips this model. It treats data as a liability, not an asset. The goal is to get the data from Point A to Point B and then destroy it immediately.
1. Encryption in Transit and at Rest
When you upload a file to a secure temporary service, it should be encrypted before it even leaves your device (client-side encryption) or immediately upon reaching the server (transit encryption via TLS). This ensures that even if the data stream is intercepted, it looks like gibberish.
2. The Ticking Clock (TTL)
Every file is assigned a Time-To-Live (TTL). This is a countdown timer. Once the timer hits zero—whether it's 5 minutes or 24 hours—the database entry is purged. There is no recycle bin. There is no backup tape.
3. Burn on View
For maximum security, the "Burn on View" (or self-destruct) mechanism is essential. This limits the file to a single download. Once the recipient grabs the file, the server instantly triggers a delete command. If a hacker intercepts the link 5 seconds later, they get a 404 Not Found.
Why It Matters
Using ephemeral storage reduces your attack surface. You can't leak what you don't have. By ensuring files don't exist longer than necessary, you protect yourself and your clients from future data compromises.