Send Disappearing Messages: How to Use Confide for Self-Destructing iMessages
Confide: Secure, Ephemeral Messaging
For communication requiring a higher degree of privacy than standard messaging apps offer, Confide presents a compelling solution.
How Confide Works
Unlike platforms like iMessage, which offer limited ephemeral features, Confide specializes in truly disappearing messages.
Messages sent via Confide are designed to be viewed only a single time by the recipient.
Once read, the message vanishes permanently, ensuring a high level of discretion.
Key Features and Benefits
- Self-Destructing Messages: The core functionality centers around messages that are automatically deleted after being viewed.
- Screenshot Detection: Confide attempts to detect and notify the sender if a recipient attempts to screenshot the message.
- Enhanced Privacy: The platform prioritizes user privacy through its ephemeral nature and security features.
If you require a messaging service where content is truly fleeting, Confide offers a robust and secure alternative.
It’s an ideal choice for sensitive conversations where maintaining confidentiality is paramount.
Utilizing Confide within iMessage
As previously discussed in our overview of iOS 10 features, and further detailed in our guide to iMessage apps, iMessage now supports an application ecosystem. This functions as a scaled-down iteration of the iOS App Store. Developers are able to build both independent applications and supporting apps that introduce expanded capabilities directly into iMessage.
These applications can range from simple sticker packs to tools that bolster message security through advanced encryption.
Related: A guide to installing, managing, and utilizing iMessage Apps.
Confide, known for its established standalone iOS private messaging application, quickly capitalized on the opportunity to integrate directly into iMessage. Users can now send encrypted, self-destructing, and screenshot-resistant messages without leaving the iMessage interface.
Let's explore how to integrate Confide’s features into your iMessage experience.
Why choose Confide over iMessage’s built-in Invisible Ink feature? While the Invisible Ink effect offers a novel experience, it doesn’t provide genuine security. It’s primarily a playful addition.
For instance, sending an Invisible Ink message to a user without iOS 10 results in the message being delivered as plain text, accompanied by the note "(Sent with Invisible Ink)". Conversely, a Confide message appears as nothing at all to recipients who haven't installed the Confide application.
However, there is a single limitation to consider. Both the sender and recipient must have the Confide app installed for the system to function. If the recipient lacks the app, they will receive a prompt to download it directly from within your message, minimizing any inconvenience.
Installing Confide: A Step-by-Step Guide
Confide is available for personal use at no cost. However, the "Retract" functionality—allowing message recall before recipient viewing—is a premium feature. This feature is exclusive to Confide Plus subscribers, requiring a $1.99 upgrade.
The installation process for Confide is straightforward, beginning with a visit to the iMessage App Store. Initiate the process by tapping the Apps icon.
Following this, select the icon representing Additional Apps from the displayed menu.
Access the actual App Store is achieved by clicking the "+" Store icon within this submenu.
Once inside the store, locate and tap the magnifying glass icon to initiate a search.
Type "Confide" into the search bar and then tap the "Get" button to begin the download process.
With the installation complete, you are now prepared to send encrypted and self-destructing messages.
Sending Secure Messages: A Guide to Confide
To initiate your first Confide message, access the Apps icon and swipe to the right until the Confide application is visible. Upon initial launch, a splash screen will appear; dismiss it by selecting "Get Started".
The subsequent screen provides the core functionality of the app, enabling you to transmit self-destructing text or photographic content. For simplicity, choose the text option to begin.
Input the desired message and proceed by tapping "continue". Then, activate the send arrow within the iMessage interface to dispatch your message.
While admittedly somewhat cumbersome to require a double send action, Confide operates as an iMessage application, attaching its encrypted content to the standard message format. Alternatively, for a more streamlined experience, the standalone Confide application – installed alongside the iMessage app – can be utilized.
The dispatched message will appear to you as a standard iMessage attachment.
The recipient's view will be identical, provided they also have Confide installed. If the app is not present on their device, they will receive the iMessage attachment accompanied by a link to download Confide.
As an example, a reply was received via Confide. To view the message, simply tap on the attachment.
The message is revealed by swiping across the screen.
Once the message or image has been viewed, it will permanently disappear upon closing. Any subsequent attempt to access it will result in the following error:
A marker will still be visible within the iMessage conversation, indicating a Confide message was exchanged, but the content itself will be inaccessible to all parties.
Confide provides a robust solution for users seeking a higher level of message security than simple disappearing messages, offering truly ephemeral communication that vanishes after being read.