Taking notes is an integral part of your work and personal lives. You jot down ideas, make to-do lists, record important information, and more. With the rise of digital devices, note-taking has become even more convenient through apps and tools that sync across all your devices.
Evaluate your needs
- What types of information do you commonly note? Is it mostly mundane to-dos and reminders? Or more sensitive personal and work data?
- How important is cross-device access and syncing for you? Do you need to be able to access your notes seamlessly from desktop to smartphone?
- How tech-savvy are you? Are you diligent about security practices like strong passwords and two-factor authentication? Or do you need more automated security measures?
- How comfortable are you with complexity? Do you want a basic, intuitive app? Or are you willing to trade some convenience for more granular control over security settings?
what is privnote used for? By analyzing your unique needs, you zero in on the right balance point. Someone who takes only occasional, non-sensitive notes likely gets by with a very convenient solution with minimal security adjustments. But for sensitive information, more rigorous protections will be warranted.
Refine permissions
The security of your notes depends not just on platform choice, but also permission settings. Here are some tips for fine-tuning app permissions:
- Disable public sharing – Most apps allow making notes publicly sharable. Disable this globally if you won’t need it.
- Limit inbound connections – Restrict apps from accessing notes stored in other locations like Dropbox. Limit points of entry.
- Turn off read receipts – Read receipts inadvertently expose note content via notifications. Disable if possible.
- Require stronger passwords – Enforce longer, more complex passwords than apps require by default.
- Use two-factor authentication – Add an extra credential check like biometrics or one-time codes.
- Audit third-party app access – Apps connect to third-party tools. Scrutinize what data those apps access.
- Check emergency access – Some apps have emergency or legacy contacts. Remove those if they are unnecessary.
Start conservatively with permissions, only opening up broader access once security needs are met.
Institute access controls
To further secure sensitive notes, implement access controls. Possibilities include:
- Password protection – Most apps let you password-protect individual notes or notebooks. Use complex passwords.
- App blocking – On mobile devices, blacklist note apps from unauthorized fingerprint/face unlock to require manual password entry.
- Screen overlays – On Android, apps like Private Note and NoteCryptor obscure on-screen content until you enter a password.
- Private tabs – When using cloud-based apps in a browser, open a private browsing tab and close it when done.
- Remote wipe – Some note services let you remotely wipe your data in case a device is lost or stolen.
- Timed access – For collaborators, grant time-limited access that automatically expires. Don’t allow permanent access.
- Necessary access only – When collaborating, only share specific relevant notes rather than your entire library.
Treat access controls like layers of an onion for your most sensitive notes. Use multiple controls for optimal security.
