We all do it. A colleague needs a password, a tax accountant needs a social security number, or a family member needs a credit card detail. We open our email client, type it out, and hit send. It feels private.
But email is one of the least secure ways to transmit sensitive information. Here is why you should never email a secret.
1. The "Postcard" Analogy
Email is often compared to a digital postcard. When you send it, it doesn't teleport to the recipient. It hops from server to server across the internet. At any point during this journey, if the connection isn't perfectly encrypted (and it often isn't), your message can be read by anyone listening on the wire.
2. Ideally, It Stays Forever
The biggest feature of email is also its biggest flaw: persistence. Email providers are designed to never lose your data. They back it up, archive it, and replicate it across data centers.
That bank statement you emailed in 2018? It's still there. If your account is compromised today, the attacker doesn't just see your new emails—they see everything you have ever sent. Your inbox becomes a treasure trove for identity thieves.
3. You Cannot "Unsend"
Some email clients have an "Undo Send" button, but that only works for a few seconds. Once an email lands in the recipient's inbox, you have zero control. You cannot delete it. You cannot expire it. You cannot prevent them from forwarding it to 10 other people.
SnapSend solves this by keeping the data on a server you control (via the expiration timer), not in their inbox. When you delete the file or the timer runs out, it's gone from their view too.
4. Metadata Leaks
Emails leak more than just their content. They reveal your IP address, your location, your device type, and the software you are using. This metadata can be used to build a profile of your digital habits.
Summary
Email is for communication. It is not for storage, and it is certainly not for secrets. The next time you need to send something sensitive, use a tool designed for the job. Use a burn-on-view link.