# A Privnote alternative, stored in the EU

> temp.cool works like Privnote, with a note that self-destructs after reading, and adds EU storage, a password that locks after 4 wrong tries, up to 10 views, a link that tells you when it was opened, and protection against chat apps opening the link for you.

1. **Stored in the EU** Every temp.cool message lives in Cloudflare's EU jurisdiction until it is read or expires, and is then deleted.
2. **Safe from link previews** WhatsApp, Slack and Teams open links to build a preview. temp.cool shows a "Show the secret" button first, so a preview can't burn your note.
3. **You see when it was opened** Your private manage link shows whether the note was read, and lets you shred it early.

## When temp.cool is the better fit

Privnote is one of the oldest and best-known tools for notes that self-destruct after reading. temp.cool does the same job and adds a few things people often ask for:

- **EU storage.** Useful if you work for a European company or with clients who ask where data lives.
- **A password on the link.** Share it by phone. After 4 wrong tries the message is destroyed.
- **More than one view.** Let a note open up to 10 times, for example for a small team.
- **A timer from 5 minutes to 30 days.** Unread notes delete themselves.
- **A read receipt you control.** Your manage link shows "opened" and lets you shred the note before anyone reads it.
- **English and Dutch**, no account, no ads, no trackers on message pages.

## How the encryption works

Your browser encrypts the note with AES-256-GCM before it leaves your device. The key sits in the part of the link after the `#`, which browsers never send to a server. temp.cool stores only scrambled text it cannot read. The [security page](/security/) explains every step.

## Watch out for look-alike sites

Popular note services attract copycats. Security researchers have reported look-alike Privnote domains that quietly changed the messages passing through them. Whatever tool you use, type its address yourself or use a bookmark, and check the domain before you paste a secret.

## Switching is easy

There is nothing to migrate. Open [temp.cool](/), paste your note, pick a timer and send the link.