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Ask HN: Does anyone else, other than myself, need a secure note app?

by VuongN on 2/25/16, 2:22 AM with 7 comments

Hi friends,

I'm working on a secure note taking/saving app. Think Evernote + Wunderlist + 1Password with a hardy layer of encryption combined with a unique(?) way of note discoverability/consumption.

I'm an engineer so I tend to just dive in, prototype and code. I've been focusing on the core key management system, pretty far along (I think). Then for some reason, today, I woke up and realized: "shoot! do people really want this stuff?" Because, not to offending anyone here, but good key management stuff is pretty hard core work and requires a little bit more time & attention than the usual engineering project (at least for me).

My wife and I need this for our own purpose and I promised my wife I'd build it for her (heh!). So I guess, I'll ask an honest question, without any ulterior intention here: does anyone else need this? I would love and appreciate any thought one way or another about this.

Thanks,

-V.

  • by kjksf on 2/25/16, 3:02 AM

    I also work on a note-taking application and my thoughts are: ability to have secure notes is somewhat important but it's not important enough to make it a primary benefit.

    Your app would have to be great at non-secure notes AND have an option to add secure notes.

    Evernote, btw, does support secure (encrypted) notes. They have a lousy UI for them but the option is there.

    If you don't think that your app is better in at least some ways than existing note-taking apps, that having secure notes will not make a difference.

  • by duncan_bayne on 2/25/16, 2:25 AM

    Yes. But I rolled my own out of pre-existing software:

    * Emacs (desktop / laptop editor)

    * Orgzly (Android editor)

    * org-mode (the note mechanism itself)

    * Unison (for file sync)

    * Ubuntu LTS + OpenSSH (on the file server)

    Happy to provide more detail if you're interested.

  • by vldx on 2/25/16, 11:56 AM

    Slightly different, but however - I've been journaling daily for the past 4 years. It turned out it's a healthy habit. I'm writing to myself and I would be really happy knowing that my thoughts are secure. There's nothing to hide, but knowing that probably helps you being more direct and upfront with yourself. As far as I know, Day One are planning to roll out encryption this year.

  • by CiPHPerCoder on 2/25/16, 6:20 PM

    I've always just used encrypted pastebins, e.g. https://defuse.ca/b/