We need security everywhere. Terms like ‘encryption’ and ‘authorization’ have become common these days. But how about security on your notepad? Yes, we note many simple things on our text editor or notepad. Enter ‘SafePad‘ a free online end-to-end encrypted alternative to your conventional notepad application. Not just an encryption utility, SafePad can also double up as your note-taking application and make your notes accessible anywhere in the world. However, you may want to use it, ‘SafePad’ is a reliable and secure note-taking web app.
SafePad Review
Before digging deeper into the actual application and its features, let’s talk about the technology it uses. First of all, the application was entirely coded for fun and no-profits. So, ‘SafePad’ is always going to be free and ad-free. The data you enter is end-to-end encrypted. The text you enter is encrypted before sending it to the server. And it is also returned in encrypted form and decrypted right on your device.
Encrypted online Notepad tool
The data is encrypted using three ciphers AES-256-CTR (Twofish-CTR (Salsa20)). And the passphrase is not stored anywhere. Make sure you remember your passphrase as there is no other way to recover it, and you may lose access to your data. Moreover, the tool is completely anonymous, and you do not need to sign up or provide any information about yourself. For more security, the tool also offers two-factor authentications and always connects through a secure HTTPS connection.
Now coming to SafePad itself, it is a minimal no-frills application. It is super simple to use and very quick to set up. Once you’ve opened SafePad, you need to enter a username. Select any available username and proceed. Complete the ReCaptcha and enable 2FA if you want. For two-factor authentications, you will need to download an application on your mobile. Once you are done with the setup, ‘SafePad’ will launch a short tutorial about using the application. You can altogether skip it if you want.
How to Create Notes with Safepad?
You are almost ready to create your secure notes, but choose a good and strong passphrase before that. Remember that the passphrase is not stored anywhere else, and losing it means losing your data. Now go ahead and give your note a title and some content. SafePad only takes in the plain textual content. Simple editing like bold, underline, and fonts is not yet allowed. Once you are done making your note, hit save, and the note will be encrypted right in front of you and then saved on the server.
You can easily create another note by selecting ‘New‘ from the SafePad drop-down. And you are allowed to set a different passphrase for different notes. This feature comes in handy when you want to partially share your secure notes with someone. If you are done creating and saving your notes, you must hit the ‘Exit‘ button. You can re-access your notes by entering the same username and passphrase. You can even share your username and passphrase to give someone access to your notes.
SafePad is not just a note-taking utility but a lot more. In addition to security features, the application’s nature lets you take notes from anywhere and access them everywhere. The app is also beautifully designed and responsive, so you may not face any issues while taking your notes from a mobile device. If you like to take quick, secure, and easily accessible notes, go check out SafePad.
How to Password Protect A Notepad Text File in Windows?
You will need to use the Encrypt option, which is available for all files in Windows. The option is available under Properties > Advanced under the Compress or Encrypt option. Be aware that if you forget the password, you will not be able to open the file, no matter what tool you try.
Why can’t I encrypt my Notepad file?
First, ensure that you use NTFS and FAT32 for the storage device. Second, check Encrypting File System (EFS) service is running. It is available in the Services section.
Steganos LockNote is an elegant alternative that can be used off-line and carried on a USB stick.
I don’t get it. Where do you log in after the note is created? I created the note, exited, and expected there to be a login where user/pw is put in.
Dunno if it’s a direct alternative since it’s not online, like Safepad. But it’s interesting none the less. Thanks!
I am looking for a notepad where I can jot down notes (like a shopping list) on my laptop at home and have it sync so I can read on my device (say in a supermarket) online or offline. Encryption a plus but not absolutely. Any recommendations?
Google Keep. Syncs to the cloud via your google account. online+offline support on android, but no dedicated windows app afaik (you can check if you like), only keep.google.com, so only online at a windows pc. doubtful there is encryption, but if its just shopping lists and random notes its probably not a big deal.
This is the software what I’ve been seeking for a long time. Thanks a lot for your work.
Thanks!