Security Basics

Understanding 25cent.cloud's core security features. Estimated read time: 3 minutes.

The 25cent.cloud Security Model

25cent.cloud is built on the principle of ephemeral storage—files that exist temporarily and then automatically disappear. This fundamental design creates a baseline security advantage: even if someone breached our systems, the data wouldn't exist for long.

Password Protection

Password protection is your first line of defense. When you set a password on a share link:

• Recipients must enter the correct password before accessing the file
• The password is never stored in plain text on our servers
• Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms (bcrypt)
• You can change or remove the password anytime (if you have an account)

Expiration Times

Every 25cent.cloud share has an expiration time. After this time expires:

• The share link becomes completely inaccessible
• The file is automatically and permanently deleted from our servers
• No recovery is possible—the deletion is permanent by design
• Recipients cannot re-access even if they downloaded it previously

Expiration options range from:

• 1 hour (ideal for highly sensitive, time-critical information)
• 24 hours (default, works for most use cases)
• 3 days (for collaborative projects)
• 7 days (maximum on free tier)
• Longer periods available by request

One-Time Links

One-time links provide maximum security for critical files:

• The link can be accessed exactly once, by exactly one recipient
• After the first access, the link permanently expires
• Perfect for sharing login credentials, API keys, or confidential documents
• Prevents accidental re-sharing or unauthorized access

Self-Destruct & Anti-Screenshot

Self-Destruct lets you set a countdown timer so a page is no longer viewable after a specific time. This applies to web page views and one-time messages only.

• Set a time window before content burns
• Works best for sensitive notes or one-time messages
• Anti-screenshot protections are a deterrent, not a guarantee

How one-time links work:

1. You create a share with one-time link enabled
2. Recipient receives the link and accesses it once
3. System records the download and marks the link as used
4. Link becomes completely inaccessible to anyone else forever

Encryption in Transit and at Rest

Your files are protected at multiple layers:

Access Control and Logging

We keep logs only for the service we provide and for your analytics:

• System logs related to service reliability and security
• IP logs used for customer analytics
• Download timestamps you can view in analytics
• No logs are stored about your data, file type, file size, or file names

What About My Privacy?

Beyond file security, your privacy is important to us:

• No Account Required: Share files without signup
• No Tracking: We don't track users or sell data
• Limited Metadata: We store minimal personal information
• Logs Policy: Only system logs and IP logs for analytics are kept
• No File Metadata: We do not log file names, types, sizes, or contents

What 25cent.cloud Does NOT Provide

It's important to understand the limits of our security:

Security Best Practices

Follow these guidelines for maximum security:

1. Use passwords for sensitive files — Always protect important documents
2. Set appropriate expiration — Shorter times for more sensitive data
3. Share passwords separately — Never in the same message as the link
4. Check analytics — Monitor who accessed your files
5. Use one-time links — For critical credentials or documents
6. Educate recipients — Warn them not to re-share critical files
7. Review regularly — Check your share history for unexpected access

Learn More

Ready to dive deeper into security features?

• Password Protection Guide
• One-Time Links Guide
• Expiration Times Guide
• GDPR Compliance