What does burn after reading mean?

Burn after reading means the content permanently destroys itself after being viewed once. Just like a physical letter marked 'burn after reading' — once opened, it cannot be unread or recovered.

How does burn after reading work with ProtonURL?

When you create a ProtonURL, your content is encrypted in your browser with AES-256-GCM. When the recipient opens the link, the content is retrieved, decrypted, displayed once, and then permanently deleted from our servers with a signed ECDSA deletion proof.

Can I verify that content was actually destroyed?

Yes. ProtonURL generates a cryptographically signed ECDSA P-256 deletion proof for every burned link. Anyone can verify the proof to confirm the content was permanently destroyed and not retained on the server.

Is this different from other burn-after-reading services?

While other services implement the burn-after-reading concept, ProtonURL adds end-to-end encryption and verifiable ECDSA deletion proofs that no other service offers.

Can I add a password to a burn after reading link?

Yes. ProtonURL supports optional passphrase protection for all links. Even if someone guesses the link URL, they cannot read the content without the passphrase.

Burn after reading · Self-destruct

Send a Burn After Reading Message That Disappears Forever

Mark any secret as "burn after reading" — once opened, it is permanently destroyed. No copies, no traces, no second chances.

Permanently destroyed after read
AES-256-GCM encrypted
Verifiable deletion proof
Optional passphrase

Create a burn-after-reading link Learn about self-destructing links

What is burn after reading?

The concept of "burn after reading" comes from physical documents marked with that instruction — once read, the recipient destroys the document. ProtonURL brings this concept to digital communication with cryptographic guarantees.

One-time access

Content can only be viewed once. After the first read, it is permanently destroyed — there is no way to access it again.

End-to-end encrypted

Content is encrypted in the sender's browser. We never see the plaintext — only encrypted ciphertext.

Verifiable deletion

Every burn generates a cryptographically signed ECDSA deletion proof. Anyone can verify the content was truly destroyed.

Common use cases

Password sharing

Share passwords that burn after the recipient reads them. No copies left in inboxes.

API keys

Send API keys or credentials to developers that disappear after being stored.

Legal documents

Send sensitive legal information that should not be retained after reading.

Personal secrets

Share personal information, credentials, or secrets with family members safely.

Frequently asked questions

Send a message that burns after reading

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Create a burn-after-reading link — free