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3 Unique, dynamic secure image sharing choices

by Casey Schmidt  |  March 18, 2023

7 min. read
A digital lock.

Secure image sharing allows users to send valuable digital photographs to numerous locations and recipients without fear of some type of privacy breach. The first step in secure image sharing is examining your personal image needs and understanding the privacy and security features of the apps you use. It’s also crucial to consider the importance of encryption in photo sharing to ensure your files are protected during upload and storage. Categorize the way you’ll store your pictures then select a system from the correct category, focusing on secure photo sharing methods. This helps ease the process, by finding what type of system you need and then selecting one that fits your needs. To make things easier for you, here are three unique tools for each user type.

Introduction to Secure Sharing

Secure sharing of photos and videos is a crucial aspect of online interactions, especially when it comes to sensitive or personal content. With the rise of social media and cloud storage services, it’s easier than ever to share photos with friends and family. However, this convenience comes with a risk of compromising privacy and security. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of secure sharing, discuss various methods for sharing photos and videos safely, and provide recommendations for choosing the right cloud storage service. We’ll also delve into the benefits of end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and other security features that can protect your photos and videos from unauthorized access.

For enterprises

Small, medium and large companies gather and retain high quantities of images. As they grow as a business, the amount of images they have on-hand grows as well. Therefore, they need an automated system to store images securely. Digital asset management has become the front-runner for enterprises as it gives businesses numerous benefits outside of security. Most importantly, it offers the highest level of insurance when it comes to the privacy and secure access of important company images.

Digital asset management (DAM) from Canto, for example, is a comprehensive business system. It has advanced security features to protect your account. One of these features is it utilizes AWS to maintain sensitive images. This gives it SSL encryption and custom permissions that keep anything stored in its servers completely protected. Another way DAM stands out is the admin levels that are easily adjustable and customizable to each company’s preference. This ensures total control and adherence to different levels of access for different users. Additionally, it is crucial to adjust privacy settings within the DAM to control who can view and share images, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure.

A screenshot of the Canto DAM interface.
Canto DAM is a comprehensive enterprise tool.

What makes DAM so special is its comprehensive functionality. While maintaining images, it also boosts access speed, sharing speed and retrievability. It even handles things like watermarking and copyrights. DAM is the perfect system for companies that need safe cloud storage for their images and other media files.

Share images securely by determining the type of system that suits your company best. Figure out what type of images you want to share, then use a tool that goes above and beyond its competition.

For personal use

Sometimes we wish to share an image but we don’t want it shared further. Additionally, we don’t want it revisited by the person we originally shared with. Fortunately, there are programs that give us complete control of the images we share by default. This is where the Unsee service comes in handy.

Unsee is a one-of-a-kind browser-based image sharing tool. It’s similar to Snapchat, only it’s designed for desktop and laptop access. Users access Unsee on a web browser and upload images they wish to share. They receive a link URL and can share this link with whomever they wish. Users can also invite specific individuals to view the images, ensuring a private sharing experience. The image they share deletes itself after the recipient views the photo. The user has options to extend the viewing period for more than a single view if they so please. For example, they choose to automatically delete an image in 10 minutes, 30 minutes and so on. Users can invite only the people they choose, ensuring both privacy and control over their shared memories.

A screenshot of the Unsee tool interface.
Unsee prevents exploitation of sensitive photographs.

A second level of security with Unsee is the automatic IP watermarking. Anytime a user shares an image, the recipient’s IP address is automatically watermarked onto the photo. Therefore, even if the recipient was able to screenshot the photo before it deleted itself, sharing it would be ill-advised. These special security features make Unsee an interesting tool for sharing images. Confidently upload and share images using this system when you have personal photos to manage.

For professional photographers

Professionals have different needs when it comes to images. Though safety is a definite concern, there are greater considerations in play. A professional photographer wants an image sharing site that helps them share in a professional setting – with options further than just sharing. They want to be able to share but also advertise and potentially sell their work. SmugMug was created specifically for these types of users.

SmugMug is a secure, cloud storage tool that offers extensive features for photographers looking to get their work noticed. On top of secure image sharing, it lets you construct a professional portfolio, sell images and promote your work. You can also send photos securely through various messaging apps, ensuring your privacy. This makes it stand out as a system that goes above and beyond the basic security of other image systems. It is a comprehensive site for professional photographers looking to safely store photos and share their favorite moments.

A screenshot of the SmugMug interface.
SmugMug is perfect for photographers.

Another reason SmugMug stands out is it’s a comprehensive image tool, allowing photographers to easily create websites and logos within a simple interface. Ultimately it goes beyond secure image sharing and promotes a total package of images for photographers. Try SmugMug if you want to create a portfolio of your work that won’t be accessible to unauthorized eyes.

Make sure that your photos are safe with these secure image sharing tools. There’s too much at stake to be restricted from sharing your owned image files, unique vision or detailed plans in any way.

Cloud Storage Solutions

Cloud storage solutions have become increasingly popular for storing and sharing photos and videos. Services like Google Photos, Proton Drive, and Dropbox offer a range of features and storage options, but not all of them prioritize security and privacy. When choosing a cloud storage service, it’s essential to consider factors like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and access controls. Proton Drive, for example, offers secure cloud storage with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only you and the intended recipient can access your photos and videos. Additionally, services like Proton Drive provide features like expiration dates, password-protected links, and disappearing messages to give you more control over your shared content.

Encrypted Sharing Methods

Encrypted sharing methods are a crucial aspect of secure photo and video sharing. End-to-end encryption ensures that your photos and videos are encrypted on your device and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. This means that even the cloud storage service or messaging app can’t access your content. Services like Signal and Proton Mail offer end-to-end encrypted messaging and email, respectively, making it easy to share photos and videos securely. Additionally, features like QR code sharing and image URLs can provide an extra layer of security and convenience when sharing photos and videos.

Benefits of Secure Systems

Secure systems and cloud storage services offer numerous benefits, including protection from unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber attacks. By using end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication, you can ensure that your photos and videos are safe from prying eyes. Secure systems also provide features like access controls, allowing you to choose who can view or download your shared content. Furthermore, secure cloud storage services like Proton Drive offer additional features like secure photo albums, private sharing, and controlled access, giving you more control over your digital memories. By choosing a secure cloud storage service, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your photos and videos are protected and secure.