Hey Lemmy!

Exactly as the title says, where self-destructing means that no matter what email provider I, or my recipients use, the email will be gone after a set amount of time.

The methods I have come up with are:

  • using a PrivateBin or PasteBin link.
    • requires the recipient to click on a link that opens in another app/tab
    • easy to set up
  • using an HTML remote content stylesheet with CSS ::after to inject the body text of the email; then, if I control the server, I can delete the stylesheet and the email will be gone.
    • embedded in the email, but plain text only. I’m not even sure if it can do line breaks.
  • loading an SVG from a remote source

Does anyone have more methods?

  • ominousdiffusion@lemmy.world
    5·
    5 days ago
    • using a PrivateBin or PasteBin link.

    IIRC that’s essentially what ProtonMail is doing. If you send an email to another provider and set an expiration date. An email along the lines of “this email is encrypted; open this link to view its content” shows up in the recipients inbox.

    This would work just as well with any pastebin or other “self-destructing” link, like you said. But for me the whole idea of self-destructing information doesn’t make much sense. Others have already mentioned that there is no way to ensure that a copy wasn’t made at any point. A simple screenshot would, for example, defeat the whole point.

    Also clicking on links in emails still gives me a strange feeling. Maybe it’s just me but I’ve received so many phishing attempts over the years that I don’t really trust any links in emails.

    I don’t want to discourage anyone trying or implementing such a system. What I want to say is that adding a link to a known resource is probably your best option.