Security

How PrivyDeck encrypts your vault

Client-side AES-256-GCM vault design, what we can and cannot see, and what Certified-style claims we do not make. Not an independent audit.

Vault design

Encryption happens in your browser with Web Crypto before upload. Algorithm: AES-256-GCM after PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA-256 (250,000 iterations, SHA-256). 12-byte random IV and 16-byte random salt per item.

Titles and categories are encrypted the same way. The passphrase never leaves the browser — we only store a session hint that one was set, not the passphrase itself.

If you lose the passphrase, files cannot be recovered. We do not hold a key escrow.

What we host

  • account id
  • ciphertext blob
  • file size
  • per-item salt and IV (needed to decrypt locally)

What we cannot see

  • vault passphrase
  • plaintext file bytes
  • plaintext titles and categories

What we do not claim

  • Not an independent cryptographic audit.
  • Not a password manager — do not treat the vault as a substitute for Bitwarden/1Password/etc.
  • Not a VPN and does not hide your IP.
  • Browser XSS or a compromised device can still see plaintext while unlocked.
  • We store ciphertext and size; that is not classical ‘we know nothing about the blob’ marketing.

Questions

How does PrivyDeck encrypt vault files?

Files and their titles/categories are encrypted in your browser with AES-256-GCM after deriving a key with PBKDF2-HMAC-SHA-256 (250,000 iterations). The passphrase never leaves the browser.

Can PrivyDeck read my vault?

We cannot decrypt file bytes or labels. We still host ciphertext, file size, and per-item salt/IV. That is client-side encryption, not a claim that we know nothing about the blob.

Should I store passport scans and recovery codes in the vault?

There is not yet a published independent cryptographic audit. Do not make the vault the only copy of private keys, seed phrases, or recovery codes. See /security.

Is this a VPN or a password manager?

No. PrivyDeck is a personal privacy dashboard. Personal Shield is not a VPN. The vault is encrypted documents/files, not a password manager.