PrivateBin

PrivateBin is a minimalist pastebin designed for privacy: paste content is encrypted and decrypted in the browser so the server cannot read it (“zero knowledge”). It supports sharing sensitive text (and optional attachments) via a link, with controls for expiration and one-time reading.

Key Features

• Client-side end-to-end encryption (server stores only ciphertext)
• Optional password protection (in addition to E2EE)
• Expiration settings for pastes (time-based)
• “Burn after reading” / one-time view option
• Discussion mode with threaded comments on a paste
• Syntax highlighting for many languages
• File attachments (stored encrypted alongside the paste)
• Optional formatter support (e.g., Markdown) and configurable templates/themes
• No user accounts required; designed for simple, anonymous sharing

Use Cases

• Share secrets or configuration snippets with a team using expiring links
• Send one-time incident notes or credentials via “burn after reading”
• Publish encrypted snippets for support/debugging without exposing plaintext on the server

Limitations and Considerations

• If the decryption key embedded in the URL is leaked (e.g., via referrer logs or chat previews), confidentiality is lost; deployments should consider referrer policy and HTTPS.

PrivateBin is well-suited for organizations and individuals who want a lightweight, auditable paste service where the host cannot access paste contents. Its focus on client-side encryption and practical sharing controls makes it a common replacement for hosted paste and “secure note” services.