Terms of use
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ReadThenBurn is a free service for sharing encrypted messages and files. These terms explain how to use it and what view-once delivery can and cannot do.
The service
The service is operated by Florian Kaiser, whose details are on the contact page. These terms apply to your use of ReadThenBurn. Our privacy policy explains how the service handles data.
Your browser encrypts content before uploading it. The complete sharing link contains the decryption key. A person with that link can retrieve the content. Successful consumption removes the stored encrypted message or file description. A viewing page can access an attached file while it remains open. The application refuses new file access 24 hours after upload. Short-lived download links may keep working briefly after the page closes or the file expires, and transfers already in progress may continue.
Your responsibilities
- Only share content you are entitled to share. Respect other people's privacy, intellectual property and applicable law.
- Do not use the service for illegal content, threats, harassment, malware or other abuse.
- Do not bypass rate limits, probe other people's content or interfere with the service.
- Keep the complete link private and send it only to intended recipients. Check that the recipient and their device can be trusted.
You retain your rights in your content. You authorize only the storage and delivery needed to provide the transfer you request. You are responsible for the content you share and for having any permissions that are required.
Limits of view-once delivery
A recipient can copy, save, photograph or record content after opening it. We cannot prevent or erase those copies. Encryption does not make a connection anonymous and cannot protect a compromised device. Link scanners or other tools that have the complete link may open it before the intended recipient.
ReadThenBurn is not a backup service. Keep a separate copy of anything you need. We cannot recover a lost key or restore consumed content. Delivery may fail, and content may become unavailable before its maximum retention period.
Availability and changes
Usage and file-size limits apply. We may restrict abusive traffic, remove stored data where required by law, or change or suspend features for security, maintenance or operational reasons. We do not promise uninterrupted availability, permanent storage or protection against every security risk.
We may update these terms for future use of the service. The date at the top identifies the current version. Changes do not remove rights that applicable law gives you.
Legal rights and responsibility
Nothing in these terms excludes mandatory consumer rights or limits responsibility that cannot legally be limited. This includes responsibility for intentional misconduct, gross negligence, and injury to life, body or health where the law provides for it. Applicable mandatory law continues to apply.
Questions and abuse reports
Email contact@readthenburn.com with questions, security concerns or abuse reports. Include relevant identifiers and a description of the issue. Remove the part of a sharing link after # before sending it. We cannot read encrypted content without a key and cannot restore burned content.