Latest Posts
Why We Recommend Proton: Mail, VPN, and Pass Reviewed (2026)
The same who-holds-the-keys test we apply to notes apps, applied to email. End-to-end encryption, open source clients, a nonprofit foundation, and the honest caveats, court order included.
5 Best Private Notes Apps for Windows, Compared (2026)
Scrib Desktop, Joplin, Standard Notes, Obsidian, and Notesnook compared on who holds the keys: local encryption, account requirements, E2E sync, and the honest trade-offs of each.
Encrypted Notepad for Windows: What Actually Works (2026)
Notepad cannot password-protect a file. What does work: an editor with built-in AES-256, and the honest limits of EFS, BitLocker, Office passwords, and 7-Zip archives.
Is Apple Notes Private? Only If You Lock the Note (2026)
By default Apple holds the keys to iCloud notes. Locked notes and Advanced Data Protection change that, with real caveats: visible titles, opt-in settings, and a browser-only Windows story.
Is OneNote Safe? Microsoft Holds the Keys (2026)
OneNote notebooks live on OneDrive under Microsoft's keys. Password-protected sections are the one genuinely encrypted exception. What Microsoft can see and how to lock it down.
Samsung Notes vs OneNote: Which Is More Private? (2026)
Neither is end-to-end encrypted, and the Samsung-Microsoft integration can put your Samsung notes on OneDrive anyway. The head-to-head, plus the on-device alternative.
Is Notion Private? No, And Notion Says So Itself (2026)
Notion's own docs confirm there is no end-to-end encryption. What staff and AI subprocessors can access, what belongs in Notion, and where private notes should live instead.
Is Evernote Safe in 2026? What Changed, Honestly
Not end-to-end encrypted, new owners since 2023, and a free plan capped at 50 notes. The one real encryption feature, the 2016 policy incident, and what to replace it with.
Scrib Desktop 1.7.0. Lock Encrypted Notes Without Closing Them (2026)
Press Ctrl+L and an encrypted note locks in place: content and password wiped from the editor until you re-enter the password. Plus idle auto-lock, session restore that reopens encrypted notes locked, a command palette, and one-step Change Password.
Scrib Desktop 1.5.0. Put Images in Encrypted Notes (2026)
1.5.0 adds image embeds to rich-text notes. PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP, BMP, SVG and more, stored inside the note so a .scrb keeps the picture AES-256 encrypted with the text. Plus instant note closing and a right-click tab menu.
Samsung Notes vs Google Keep: Which Keeps Your Notes More Private? (2026)
A head-to-head on the one thing that decides whether a notes app is private: who can read your notes. Neither is end-to-end encrypted. What each stores, the account-takeover risk, and a fully offline alternative.
Scrib Desktop 1.2.0. Atomic Saves, Crash Recovery & Undo-Safe Replace (2026)
1.2.0 ships atomic file writes via MoveFileExW, crash recovery on startup, a one-click Revert on Plain ↔ Rich toggles, undo-safe Find & Replace, and a 65-test suite. The .scrb format is unchanged. Upgrade is safe.
Is Samsung Notes Safe? No. Here's What Samsung Cloud Stores (2026)
Samsung Notes syncs to Samsung Cloud by default with no end-to-end encryption. Samsung holds the keys. Breach history, account-compromise scenarios, and how to lock it down.
Scrib Desktop Is Now Open Source
An encrypted text editor for Windows. AES-256, rich text, multi-tab, fully offline. Source code on GitHub under GPL-3.0.
Best Notes Apps That Don't Need an Account. No Email, No Cloud (2026)
Every Android notes app that works with zero sign-up. No Google account, no email, no phone verification. Honest picks with trade-offs stated.
Is Google Notes Safe? No, And Samsung Notes Isn't Either (2026)
Neither Google Notes nor Samsung Notes is end-to-end encrypted. Both vendors hold the keys. Side-by-side breakdown of what each stores and the real alternatives.
4 Best Private Notes Apps for Android, Compared (2026)
Scrib, Standard Notes, Joplin, and Notally compared on encryption, sync, account requirements, and trade-offs. One picks itself for your use case.
Notes App Encryption at Rest: What It Protects and What It Does Not (2026)
Encryption at rest is not the same as end-to-end encryption. What each one stops, why most notes apps only do the weaker kind, and how to check yours.
Is Google Keep Secure? No. Google Holds Every Encryption Key (2026)
Google Keep is not end-to-end encrypted. Google holds the keys and can read every note. What that means, what Google's policy permits, and real alternatives.