Cookie Policy & Local Storage Transparency
HideMyMessages is engineered around a zero-knowledge architecture. We do not use tracking cookies to identify individuals or log secret messages. Here is our complete, transparent disclosure of every browser storage key and cookie used.
1. Our Fundamental Privacy Commitment
Unlike conventional web applications that rely on session identifiers, cross-site tracking cookies, and invasive device fingerprinting, HideMyMessages was purpose-built to operate purely inside client device memory. We do not track what you encode, who you communicate with, or the passphrases you choose.
Because steganography is often chosen by users who value heightened operational security, our technical architecture isolates all cryptographic workflows within the local browser sandbox via the native W3C Web Cryptography API.
2. What Technologies Do We Use?
To provide a smooth user experience while upholding mathematical confidentiality, HideMyMessages utilizes browser storage mechanisms categorized as follows:
A. Essential Local Storage (First-Party)
These values are stored entirely on your device and are never sent to our servers in HTTP request headers:
secret-hider-theme: Remembers your interface display preference (e.g., Indigo, Peach, or Dark Mode).secret-hider-username: Stores the optional pseudonym or display nickname you set locally in your browser. Default is "Guest".secret-hider-vault: Stores your encrypted drafts locally in your browser's private storage if you explicitly choose to save an item to your Secret Vault. This data never touches a remote database.secret-hider-cookie-consent: Records whether you have acknowledged our privacy and cookie notification banner.
B. Third-Party Advertising & Analytics Cookies
To keep HideMyMessages 100% free with unlimited usage for students, researchers, journalists, and privacy advocates worldwide, we partner with advertising networks such as Google AdSense.
When advertisements are active on the site, third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on prior visits to this website or other websites on the internet. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to our site and/or other sites on the Internet.
You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings or by opting out of third-party vendor cookies at aboutads.info.
3. How to Manage, Block, or Clear Cookies
You have full autonomy over your browser storage. You can configure your browser to reject all cookies, prompt you before accepting cookies, or wipe local storage upon closing your window:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Third-party cookies → Block third-party cookies.
- Mozilla Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Enhanced Tracking Protection (set to Strict).
- Apple Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Prevent cross-site tracking and Block all cookies.
- Brave Browser: Shields automatically block third-party tracking cookies by default.
Please note: If you completely disable browser LocalStorage, you can still encode and decode messages in real time, but your UI theme preference and local Secret Vault drafts will not persist across browser restarts.
4. Regulatory Compliance (GDPR & CCPA/CPRA)
Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), users possess the right to be informed about data collection. Because HideMyMessages processes all cryptographic payloads client-side, we do not collect, sell, or share personal information derived from your hidden messages.
5. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy periodically to reflect technological adjustments or regulatory standards. The latest version will always be accessible at this URL with an updated revision date.