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Secure File Sharing with Temporary Links | BlinkURL

Secure File Sharing with Temporary Links

Share files safely by creating expiring, password-protected links. Perfect for confidential documents, client deliveries, and time-limited access.

Why Temporary Links for Files?

Permanent file links (Google Drive, Dropbox) are convenient but can linger forever. Temporary links remove that risk — files become inaccessible after a set time or number of downloads. This reduces accidental exposure and improves compliance with privacy policies.

Top Benefits

Automatic expiry
No manual cleanup — links die when you set them to.
Access control
Combine expiry + password + view limits for layered security.
Simpler UX
Recipients open a link — no accounts required for quick access.
Auditability
Track downloads and access timestamps for accountability.

How It Works (High Level)

  1. Upload file to your secure storage (S3, GCS, or BlinkURL storage).
  2. Server creates a short slug and stores metadata: expiry, allowed views, password hash (if set).
  3. Server generates a temporary retrieval token or one-time signed URL and returns a short link (example: https://blinkurl.in/f/Ab12).
  4. When the link is opened, server validates token, password (if required), and view count — then streams the file or returns a redirect to a signed download URL.
  5. After expiry or view-limit reached, the file link becomes inaccessible — optionally delete the file from storage if privacy requires it.
Quick reminder: Signed URLs are time-limited by the storage provider (S3 pre-signed URLs). For best control, front them with your own short-link service so you can revoke or add additional rules.

Step-by-Step: Create a Temporary File Link (BlinkURL)

  1. Go to blinkurl.in and choose "File Upload".
  2. Upload your file (supported formats and limits are shown).
  3. Set expiry: minutes, hours, days — or choose view-limit (e.g., 1 download).
  4. (Optional) Enable password protection and add a passcode.
  5. Click Create Link. Copy & share the generated short link and provide the password via a separate channel if used.

Security Checklist

  • Use server-side view counters (do not trust client signals).
  • Hash passwords with bcrypt/argon2; never store plaintext.
  • Serve all pages & downloads over HTTPS.
  • Use signed URLs for cloud storage and set short expirations.
  • Log access events and consider alerts for suspicious patterns (many failed password attempts or many different IPs).
Important: For highly sensitive files (e.g., financial documents, government IDs), consider encrypting the file before upload and sharing the decryption key separately. Temporary links reduce exposure but are not a full substitute for end-to-end encryption.

Business Use Cases

  • Client deliverables: Designers or agencies sending drafts or final assets with limited-time access.
  • Payment instructions: Send bank details or invoices that expire after reconciliation.
  • Hiring & HR: Share candidate files for recruiters with temporary access.
  • Legal & Finance: Exchange contracts and statements with expiry and audit logs.

Developer Notes — Implementation Pattern

Recommended server flow:

  1. Accept file upload, scan it for malware (optional), then store in secure cloud storage with private ACL.
  2. Create DB row: slug, storagePath, expiryTimestamp, maxViews, passwordHash, ownerId.
  3. Generate short link that points to your service (/f/:slug).
  4. On access, check expiry and views; if ok, generate a short-lived signed URL to the file (e.g., S3 pre-signed) and return it or 302-redirect. Increment view counter atomically.
  5. If maxViews reached or expired, return an “Expired” page and optionally schedule file deletion.

Performance tip: Cache slug metadata (expiry, views left) in Redis for fast checks before fetching DB for heavy traffic.

Upload & share temporary files securely with BlinkURL →