FileSnaps — Secure, Ephemeral File Sharing
- Rodney Dela Cruz
- 24 May 2026
An end-to-end encrypted, zero-maintenance file sharing platform featuring auto-deletion, custom expiration rules, and zero account requirements.
- React.js
- Crypto API
- TailwindCSS
- Ephemeral Storage
- Security
- Cloudflare
Project Overview FileSnaps was built to solve a common digital friction point: sharing sensitive files quickly without leaving a permanent digital footprint or forcing users to create an account. It provides a seamless "burn after reading" or time-restricted file-sharing experience, ensuring that temporary files remain truly temporary. Key Features Zero-Account Sharing: Users can drag, drop, and share instantly without onboarding friction. Robust Security Architecture: Files are encrypted at rest. Passwords are never stored in plain text; instead, they are hashed using SHA-256 with a unique per-file salt. Granular Expiration Controls: Support for flexible lifespans ranging from "1 download / Burn after reading" to 7-day long-term storage. Automatic Lifespan Management: Expired files and their metadata are permanently deleted, ensuring zero-maintenance storage optimization. The Technical Challenge & Solution The core challenge of the project was balancing absolute user privacy with server-side efficiency. By implementing end-to-end encryption principles and automated data pruning, FileSnaps eliminates the data-hoarding tendencies of traditional cloud storage. The frontend leverages an intuitive, single-page interface with real-time state feedback, letting users manage uploads dynamically directly from their browser session history.
FileSnaps is a secure, ephemeral file-sharing platform designed to eliminate the friction of sending sensitive data. Built with an emphasis on privacy and speed, the application allows users to upload files up to 100 MB, apply custom expiration timers, and protect payloads with strong, hashed passwords—all without requiring an account or sign-up.
From a technical standpoint, security and automated maintenance were the top priorities. Files are encrypted at rest, and access passwords are securely processed using SHA-256 hashing alongside a per-file salt. To keep the background operations seamless and zero-maintenance, the system automatically purges expired files permanently based on user-selected schedules (ranging from a single download to a 7-day limit), ensuring optimal storage health without manual intervention. DEMO LINK: filesnaps.rodneydelacruz.space
