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New free tool lets you send Gmail attachments that self-destruct

Published Jun 16th, 2016 11:22AM EDT
Gmail Tricks

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One of the best things about Gmail — aside from the fact that it offers tons of storage and a terrific feature set for free — is that Google not only allows but encourages enhancements from third-party developers. There are a whole host of essential Gmail plug-ins out there and we’ve covered many of them right here on the site. We recently came across a new one that instantly became one of our favorites, and we’ll tell you about it in this post.

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Digify is a great Chrome extension that adds a number of nifty features to Gmail — as long as you use Gmail in your browser and not in a third-party email client, of course. The focus here is tracking and security, which are obviously top priorities for many users in both enterprise and personal settings.

One of the coolest features has to be the ability to send emails with attachments that self-destruct. This secure feature is built right into the Gmail composer after you install the Digify Chrome extension, and it lets you attach documents or other files that will self-destruct after a predetermined amount of time. So for example, you can send someone a video that they can view in their browser and after 10 minutes, it will vanish. The tool also lets you track how many times your attachment has been viewed.

Digify posted a video that shows how the feature works, and you’ll find it embedded below.

In addition to its Chrome extension, the company also offers free apps for the iPhone and iPad or for Android devices that bring some of its best features to your smartphone or tablet. Digify has a free tier and then offers premium features such as access control, different amounts of encrypted storage, file protection and team tools starting at $10 per month.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.