Free Secure File Sharing with Send: Share Files up to 2.5GB Privately-FireFox Send Fork

In today’s digital world, data privacy is paramount. While cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox provide easy file sharing, they may not always align with users’ needs for privacy and control. That’s where Send comes in—a secure, open-source file-sharing tool derived from the now-closed Firefox Send project. This tool allows users to share files up to 2.5GB privately, with features like download limits, expiration times, and password protection, making it ideal for secure, temporary file transfers.

What is Send?

Send is an open-source file-sharing solution maintained by the community, built from the code of Mozilla’s original Firefox Send project. Initially launched by Mozilla as a privacy-focused file-sharing service, Firefox Send allowed users to send files up to 1GB securely over the web. However, after Mozilla shut down the project, developer @timvisee continued the project under the name “Send.” Users can access it directly online or even deploy their own version using Docker.

With Send, users can share files of up to 2.5GB with the confidence of privacy and control, ideal for professionals and individuals needing secure temporary file transfers.

Key Features of Send

Large File Limit: Share files up to 2.5GB, catering to a wide range of needs, from document sharing to larger media files.
Privacy Controls:

Download Limits: Set the number of times a file can be downloaded (from 1 to 10 times).
Expiration Timer: Control how long the file is available, from 5 minutes up to 3 days.
Password Protection: Add a password for an extra layer of security.

Open-Source and Self-Hosted: Send’s code is hosted on GitHub, allowing users to customize and self-host the tool for added control.
Command-Line Tool: For users who prefer command-line interactions, Send offers ffsend, a command-line tool for fast, encrypted file sharing directly from your terminal.

How to Use Send for Secure File Sharing

Using Send is simple:

Go to the Send Project website.
Upload your file (up to 2.5GB).
Set the download limit and expiration time according to your needs.
Optionally, add a password to further protect your file.
Click “Generate Link,” then share the generated URL with your recipient.

The recipient can then download the file within the set constraints. Send deletes the file once the download limit is reached or the expiration time passes, ensuring the file is no longer accessible after the intended period.

Why Choose Send Over Traditional Cloud Services?

For privacy-conscious users, Send offers advantages over mainstream cloud storage:

Temporary Sharing: Files can be set to self-delete, making Send a suitable option for temporary or one-time file sharing.
High Privacy Controls: Unlike traditional cloud services that may retain files on servers indefinitely, Send ensures files are deleted after a preset period.
Open-Source Community Support: Since Send is maintained by the open-source community, users benefit from transparency, regular updates, and security-focused improvements.

Getting Started with Send Self-Hosting

For users who prefer complete control, Send allows self-hosting using Docker, providing flexibility in deployment and configuration. This is particularly useful for organizations or developers with specific data handling and privacy requirements.

Self-Hosting Setup with Docker:
To deploy Send, you’ll need Node.js 16.x and Docker. Here’s a simple setup guide:

docker run -v $PWD/uploads:/uploads -p 1443:1443 \
    -e 'DETECT_BASE_URL=true' \
    -e 'REDIS_HOST=localhost' \
    -e 'FILE_DIR=/uploads' \
    registry.gitlab.com/timvisee/send:latest

After running this command, Send will be available on your server, allowing you to share files securely from your own environment.

Accessing the Command-Line Tool: For those who prefer terminal-based file sharing, the ffsend command-line tool is available, making it easy to send files directly from the command line with end-to-end encryption.

Summary: Send for Secure, Flexible File Sharing

Send provides a flexible, secure alternative to mainstream cloud storage solutions, prioritizing privacy, ease of use, and community-driven development. Ideal for users who need a temporary, private file-sharing solution, Send empowers users to retain control over file accessibility without the complexity or cost of larger cloud providers. With options for online use or self-hosting, Send caters to individual and professional privacy needs alike.

For more information or to start sharing securely, visit the official Send project site.